Page 87 of Quasim II: King Inferno

“Missed my baby, needed her to wash my hair and oil my scalp.” His head was back, so he looked directly at Ryder. “Right, Peach?”

She smiled and kissed her father’s burns. “Yes, but you do need rest… me and Elijah are going to the beach soon.”

His eyes popped open. “You ditching me when I came here for you?”

Ryder smiled. “We can spend now together, daddy.”

He pointed to his cheek, and she kissed it. “Go grab my wrap so I can wrap my locs.” Ryder ran upstairs to get what her father wanted. “You give birth to her, and this is how she acts with you… just leaving you.”

I stared at my future brother-in-law and tried to think about what he had just said. “Meer, you didn’t give birth to that girl.”

“Unlike Naheim, I don’t have a baby mama… I’m a fucking seahorse… I spit Peach out myself.”

Capri eased herself down the stairs as I stared at her. “Baby, I’m gone… go and get some sleep, please.”

“Shit, don’t have no choice since Peach leaving me and now you… Cherry over there with your mother.”

“Don’t you dare let Goon meet her until I’m back.”

I gasped. “Goon’s out of prison?”

“Fuck you mean, Queen… they can never hold a nigga down long.” He yawned, as he came from a back room.

I rushed over toward him and hugged him. “Gerald, I put money on your books, and didn’t even get a letter. I know you didn’t need the money, but I just wanted to do something.”

“I sent you roses to the studio.”

I tried to remember when I got flowers, and then I smiled when it connected. The flowers that had arrived on the day that I wasn’t there. Syn had put them on display on the counter and I never thought to read the card because I assumed it was from Zay.

“You know… I thought that was from somebody else.”

Goon laughed and went into the fridge to grab something to drink. “Ready?”

Cappadonna came in from the backyard dressed ready for a run. “Hell yeah… don’t let up on me either.”

“Nigga, fuck you thought? Six miles… I wanna run past that new resort that’s further down. Heard they got some cigar lounges shit we can take Sim to tonight.”

“Good morning, lovers and Meer.” Zoya sang as she came down the steps, dressed in a one-piece black swimsuit, and a Celine sarong wrapped around her with matching sandals. Her hair was pulled up in a high pony, and she wore a dark pair of shades.

“See, you always being shady.”

“I asked you for an extra blanket last night and you gave me a towel, asshole.”

Capri continued to limp around the counter while she laughed. “Why didn’t you text me?”

“You know exactly why.” Zoya pulled her glasses down and gave her the evil eye. I watched as she realized that Goon was standing in the kitchen. “Gerald, what th…”

“What up, Ms. Lawyer?” He smirked, as he came around the counter. “I can’t get a hug or nothing… damn?”

Zoya floated across the kitchen over toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he hugged her. “Are you alright? How is your mental?”

Goon smirked. “Better now… but if you cold, I got you tonight.”

She shoved him and laughed. “Whatever, Gerald. Camron didn’t tell me anything.”

“Asked her not to… you look good as shit.” He licked his lips as he took her in, and she was blushing, which wasn’t the case with Zoya.

“I’m ready whenever you guys are,” Syn and Kobe came out of the room they were sharing. It was crazy how these two were connected at the hip already.

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