Page 148 of Quasim III: King Inferno

Promise had her little hijab on to match her mother, and CeeCee was running with Cooper. Gams and Augusta were waiting for them at the back of the house. “Come on so we can wash up and eat.” They clapped, and the kids ran in their direction.

“Where the twins?”

“Cranky as ever… mommy and pops said they would watch them. They are having date night on the beach.”

Capone got comfortable on one of the couches and rested his head back with a beer in his hand. “My son asked me for a grill.”

“I mean… you have one and every nigga out here do… he trying to be swagged out.” Goon chuckled, as he pulled Zoya’s leg over his.

“Nah, he need to go back to liking Sonic and shit… he getting too damn old.”

I nodded my head and held the beer Anjo slipped into my hand, before she came to sit on my lap. “Where you been?”

“I needed to take a shower and get all that sand off.”

I kissed her neck. “You wasted your time… bout to get sand right back in those places, my love.”

She blushed. “Hmm, we’ll see about that.”

Aimee and Capella sat on the same couch as Capone, while Cappadonna and Alaia got comfortable in the armchair. “Wouldn’t be a trip without karaoke, huh?”

“And we not doing Juicy Fruit… get a new song, Pops,” Aimee called him out.

Corleon chuckled as he came out the house. “Starting to think this nigga getting royalties with the way he be wanting to listen to it.”

He took back one of his shots and settled into the couch. “We together now? I missed some chapters.”

“No, we are not.” Zoya quickly answered.

“Alright, family… karaoke, you already know the rules and Meer isn’t allowed to participate… Sim, you’re alright cause you flat.”

“Erin?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“I’m taking Elijah to swim with dolphins on our vacation to Jamaica.” I lied to her, and her face dropped.

“Winnie… remind me to call CPS, cause clearly, they ain’t fit over there. Do you know that dolph?—”

“Erin, please!” We all shouted while everyone laughed because she was about to go into a whole lecture about shit, we already knew.

“Get your damn wife… always walking around throwing out animal facts.”

He finished his beer. “Leave my wife alone… sue her for wanting to keep us prepared.”

“Winston, please,” Capri yelled, as she got on Blaze’s lap.

Erin patted the mic. “Anyway, who wants to go first… Zoya?”

“Hell no.” she blurted.

“I’ll go… got something I need to sing to her.” Goon removed her legs and got up there, using the phone to find the song.

We busted out laughing as he busted out his little two step when the beat dropped. “Baby” by Jagged Edge played, and as he sang it to her, she couldn’t hide the smirk and blushes that came up on her face.

He stared right into her eyes as he sang the words to her. I knew like hell that nigga meant every single word. His ass had been chasing Zoya since the day she represented him when he and Capella got locked up.

I knew it wasn’t easy for Zoya. Although Menace did everything he could to protect his siblings and to make sure they never wanted anything, that comes with some emotional trauma, too. The loss of her parents early, and never really knowing affection, is why she was closed off from it now. Dating men she knew her brother wasn’t fond of meant it wasn’t real.

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