Page 8 of Quasim III: King Inferno

“Baby Doll, come ‘ere” He said and pulled me into his arms, squeezing me like only he could.

Soon as I smelled his familiar scent, fresh laundry, I broke down into his arms. The wails that left my body were unrecognizable because this shit wasn’t fair. This wasn’t supposed to be our life right now.

We had just been in Barbados, watching them drunkenly sing on the beach together. Meer had just sung as we watched Blair come down the aisle to Quasim. How was all of this happening to us now?

“Capri, I know you have to be strong for the Infernos because you are Lady Inferno. You never have to be strong when it comes to me… I’m your big brother and whenever you need to break down those walls, I’m here to break them down for you.” He kissed the top of my head as I sobbed while he held me.

“Cappy, I can’t lose either of them… I cannot.”

“You not losing either of them. Quasim just being fucking dramatic. That nigga owe me like ten stacks because I won a bet… his ass better not die.”

I looked up at him as he smiled down at me. “Cappy, not funny.”

“I’m dead fucking serious… matter fact, let me go ask his new wife where he keep his bread.” He continued as he kissed my forehead a few times, trying to make me feel better. “Meer ain’t going anywhere … he pissy as hell. They not letting him through the pearly gates smelling like that.”

Leave it to my brother to make me laugh through my tears. “I love you, Cappy.”

“Love you so much more, Baby Doll.” He kissed both my cheeks and hugged me tighter.

Neither of us said anything as he allowed me the silence to get myself back together. Once I was good, he kissed my head once more. “Just because you a mommy doesn’t mean you’re not my Baby Doll anymore.”

I smiled up at him. “Thought you replaced me with your niece.”

Cherry wasn’t old enough to speak, and she could get anything out of her uncle. Cappadonna was putty when it came to babies, and all she had to do was spit, and he was coming to pick her up and smother her with kisses. Peach didn’t have to ask for anything because Cappadonna spoiled her the same way.

I don’t know how many times I’ve caught her counting hundred-dollar bills because she had suckered Cappadonna and Capone into donating to her dirt bike fund. At this point, she had enough for the bike, but Meer wasn’t allowing her to get one.

We had dirt bikes at the lake house; however, they weren’t their sizes.

He chuckled. “My nieces and nephews are my hearts… don’t take it personal.”

We headed back into the living room where Blair was staring into space with swollen eyes and a red face. I quickly went and sat by her side, as I held and rocked her while we waited to hear her husband’s fate.

“What is this place?” I questioned.

Capone looked up from his phone. “Private hospital that we own.”

“You never told me about this, Capone.”

He leaned forward. “It’s been in the works since before Capp came home. Shit wasn’t easy, but Ramos helped me get this shit done correctly. The house that was here before was demolished so we could build the basement out more.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about it?”

“Pri, you know me. I don’t speak on shit until it’s done. Getting the machines and equipment, along with making sure this shit was done correctly and on the low, wasn’t easy. Every time we go to the hospital for some shit, they watching us. Detectives come sniffing around, and eventually, that shit gonnaend up on either you, Forty, or Kora’s desk… Eventually that shit gonna catch up to us. Plus, you know how I feel about hospitals… I get my infusions here, and Capella does, too.”

“You just went to the hospital the day you had your seizure.”

“In my defense, I told ya’ll to take me to my hospital and ya’ll thought I was delirious.” He did a somber chuckle and looked down at his phone.

“Nah, I knew what you meant. We was far away from Staten Island, and I didn’t want to risk you having another one on our way. Soon as he was discharged from there, Erin drove him here and he stayed overnight.” Cappadonna replied, sitting beside his twin, squeezing his shoulder.

“Corleon helped with a lot of this… he and Menace have connections far beyond what the fuck we got going on. Those who need to know, know about this spot, and they are charged a lot of fucking money to use it.”

“Why didn’t they bring me here after the fire?” Blair sniffled.

“Ambulance was already on scene so we couldn’t decline their help,” Havoc answered since he was there when Blair was taken to the hospital.

Blair leaned her head on my shoulder. “Capone, thank you.”

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