Page 14 of Quasim: King Inferno

The Vanducci-Cromwelland Inferno’s bike and car block party was the talk of the city every summer. Last summer we had other pressing issues, so even though it still went on, I didn’t get the chance to attend.

I was excited to hang out all night, drink and not worry about chemo the next week. This summer I was really free, and I was able to enjoy everything that happened for me. The only thing that would make this summer the best is if Tookie would stop playing and sign those damn papers. Zoya told me that if he continued to refuse to sign the papers, we had other options that could finalize the divorce without his signature.

Me, Erin, and Alaia decided to drive to Staten Island together. Capri told me she would meet us there. She was getting the baby settled, and didn’t want us waiting for her. The entire drive there we laughed, listened to music, and sped across that bridge.

Alaia was a speed demon, and clearly took after her husband. I had been in a car with Cappadonna, and that man should have his damn driver’s license taken away from him. I guess it came in handy when he had to peel on niggas on a highway.

“You going to see your boo… excited?” Erin teased me and I rolled my eyes while laughing, but secretly excited to see Quasim.

“Nervous to see him… what do I do?”

“You said you not chasing him, so don’t. Keep it cordial, but def don’t be all over him… we make these niggas come to us,” Alaia advised.

“Says the two women who are married. I gotta take any nigga crawling to me,” I joked, shaking off my terrible way of thinking.

In the past, I had that stupid way of thinking, which is how I ended up married to Tookie. I thought because a man showed me love that he actually loved me. Men had a way of showing you what you wanted to see.

It was never what it was supposed to be, only an illusion that they sold you. Then one day, you woke up staring at a nigga that gaslit you into believing he was giving you diamonds, and he had in fact given you beauty supply diamond earrings.

“Capone chased me.” Erin replied.

“And Cappadonna saved me… he chased me, too, though,” Alaia smiled at me through the rearview mirror.

I watched as she switched lanes and sped through the streets of Staten Island. “Quasim doesn’t want to chase me, though. If he wanted to, he would have.”

“He showed up to your last chemo appointment.”

“And then that was all. We speak here and there, but it’s nothing crazy… I scared him when I told him that I wanted to have his babies.”

“I wouldn’t say you scared him, Blair. All you did was show him the possibility of loving again and having that life that he has probably written off.” Erin tried to make me feel better, but I had spent so much time thinking about when I had word vomit, and I was almost sure he was scared.

“Quasim has written off the possibility of having love again. I think with Meer and Capri getting married and having Rayce, it may have opened him up a little bit. It’s scary to love again after experiencing loss.”

“Yeah.

The minute that Alaia’s Maybach truck turned onto the block, there were Inferno Gods coming from every direction and riding beside her. When she rolled the window down, I noticed that it was Cappadonna on her side.

There were cars parked from blocks away with people walking down near the beach for the car and bike shows that were put on. I could smell the barbeque in the air and couldn’t wait to get a plate. The bass in the music playing was so loud and strong I could feel the beat to ‘So Special’ by Mavado within my chest.

Cappadonna pointed to a reserved spot for Alaia, and she backed into the spot with ease. She killed the engine, got out, and walked over toward her husband. Capone came over and grabbed his wife out the car, kissing her on the lips.

“Gorgeous, you gonna get in fucking trouble wearing this sundress.” He eyed her down while licking his lips.

It was so cute how giddy Erin became when her husband approved of her outfit. They had been married for the longest, and their marriage was still fresh and new like when they first met.

“I can’t help that I be dragging this wagon around.” Erin did a stank walk, and Capone grabbed her back toward him.

“Don’t get somebody fucked up out here, Gorgeous.” He threatened before kissing her on the lips and allowing her to go over where Alaia was standing.

“What up, B?” He greeted, after staring his wife down. He walked over to hug and kiss me on the head. “You straight?”

“I’m good, Capone… thanks. I’m glad to be home.”

He nodded. “I heard you were in Hollyweird… other than that, you doing good though, right?”

“I am good, I promise.” I smiled.

The Delgatos had accepted me as family and treated me like it. Capone and Cappadonna treated me like their little sister. I didn’t have siblings or any family, so it felt nice to be accepted.

---