Page 69 of Quasim III: King Inferno

“A serial killer’s playground is the something new?” I shrieked.

Zoya laughed, as if her new address wasn’t something to be concerned about. “I made an offer on this place last year. The sellers dragged ass, then took it off the market. Two months ago, they reached out to the family’s realtor and asked if I still wanted to make an offer.”

“The news is swarming with this lunatic on the loose and that didn’t sway your answer?” Capri looked at her. “They probably wanted to sell with all the bad press that Red Hook is actually getting with these bodies.”

“We live in New York City… there is always something happening there, and half the time, it’s not broadcasted on the news. This building has great security, and I am armed and know how to use it.”

The silence filled the room as Capri went back to looking in the mirror and I looked down at my phone.

Junkie: How are you holding up? I care, Blair… don’t act like I don’t.

I rolled my eyes because the nigga never cared, and in the small chance that he did care, it was always about himself. How else could he get into a better position than he was before? Tyshawn was a roach, and he would weasel himself into any home with food and a warm place behind the fridge for him to hide.

It was a risk to even reach out to him and pretend that I was so distraught. Hell, I thought he would have realized that it was set up and left me alone.

Not Tookie the neighborhood junkie.

The man wanted me to hurt, and he wanted to be the person that I eventually crawled back to. I don’t know how many times he had told me that I would be back. How I would need him before he ever needed me.

When I decided enough was enough, I told myself I would never return back to him. The lowest time of my life was when I had to return to the same man that took my son from me. Having to bend and accept whatever he offered because my self-worth and brains were in the trash.

I had worked so hard to undo all the damage that man had caused, and I refused to ever crawl back to him. For the sake of my king, I’d pretend and fill his head with the same lies he once told me.

Tyshawn wasn’t going to escape untouched, and if I had my way, which Simmy usually let me have, he wouldn’t be breathing for much longer.

“Since you’ve been applying more pressure on Lucia… what has she been like?” Zoya crossed her legs as we both turned our attention back to Capri.

“Nervous… even more now since I put her on the spot at the press conference. Lucia aside, that shit was something that was disgusting. As a woman, how do you even cosign some mess like that? Those women were tortured and forced to do things so the rich could have children… fucking sick.”

“Thea was one of those women.” I mentioned.

Capri spun around on her one heel. “Blair, please don’t tell?—”

“Let me play devil’s advocate here… as much as what she allowed was horrible, she was a broken and hurt person. Hurt people often continue the cycle of hurt. Does she deserve to breathe? Hell no, end her ass so the cycle can end with her. Just pointing out that she was failed, too.”

“I don’t give a damn about what she went through. Not after what she did to my baby… Elijah is such a sweet boy, and every time I stare at him while he’s asleep, I wonder how someone could just be so selfish and allow hurt to find its way to him.”

“At some point, she stopped giving a fuck about that boy. Why should anyone care about what she went through? Istopped feeling bad the minute I heard what she allowed. Giving that boy alcohol before Mercer arrived… bitch knew what she was doing.” Capri stomped unevenly back into the bathroom.

“All of this aside, how have you been? Been taking care of the baby and yourself, Blair?” Zoya stared at me.

I smiled. “I’m trying to.”

“Girl, not trying… I need you to do. A lot has been going on, and I know the situation and place you find yourself in, but we all want a healthy you and a healthy baby… okay?”

“Oh fuck!” Capri screamed from the bathroom.

We both jumped up and ran to the bathroom where Capri was staring down at the marble countertop. Walking slowly toward her, we came into view of a pregnancy test resting on the counter.

“You’re knocked up, too? At this point, I minds well give Goon those chocolate babies,” Zoya snatched the test up while staring at it.

I watched Capri go through every emotion possible. She held onto the edge of the countertop and stared down at the place the test had been sitting. Her hair covered her face as she gripped the side of the countertop without saying anything.

“Pri…” I whispered.

Zoya rubbed her back, while I placed my hand on top of hers. “That pissy muthafucka finally got my ass again.”

The silence in the room caused all of us to burst out in laughter. She finally picked her head up and turned to sit on the sink, while me and Zoya watched her. Putting her hair up in a messy bun, she swiped away the tears that fell down her face.

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