Page 48 of Quasim: King Inferno

“Eli, I wouldn’t leave you unless I had to… feel me?”

“I feel you. But can you try really hard not to leave me?”

I smiled as I took a sip of my least favorite alcohol. “I’ll try the hardest… you need to go to bed. Said your prayers?”

“Uh huh.”

“Liar.” I heard Havoc in the background.

“Um, I’m going to right now.”

“Night, Eli. Put Havoc on the phone.”

I shook my head and relaxed on the couch. “He wanted to call you because he got worried… shit, I’m worried, too, because why the fuck I’m still here, nigga?”

“I’m at Blaze’s crib for the night… appreciate you holding him down. I gotta find me somebody to keep an eye on him or some shit… would that be a nanny?”

“Yeah, a nanny or family. I’m never complaining, and I got him, too, but I like to unplug at night and now I gotta keep myears on to listen out for his ass.” He referred to his implants, and how he liked to take them off at night.

Havoc was perfectly comfortable with not hearing a damn thing. He got through life perfectly fine without his hearing, and only put it on to make it easier for other people. If it was up to him, he would have all of us scrambling to learn sign language, or having Yasin translate for us. I knew more than everyone else, because I was patient and needed to know my crew.

“Not fair for you to be babysitting when you got a life of your own.”

He sighed. “Shit, not really. Aimee’s ass won’t give me her shorty’s number… hating ass.” He snickered.

“The fuck you waiting for her to get it… go get that shit yourself… take control.”

“Could say the same shit about you and B, but I mind my fucking business… right?” He laughed.

“Night, bitch.” I ended the call and tossed my phone onto the coffee table while taking back this gin.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, thinking about my baby. Fuck, seeing how hurt she was had hurt me. I promised myself I never wanted to hurt her, and here I was doing the shit. If I couldn’t get my shit together, then I needed to leave her alone.

Easier said than done.

I was wondering how Blaze would feel if I put his favorite rapper on a fucking shirt for fucking with what was mine? I chuckled to myself as I closed my eyes, prepared to sleep out here tonight because I needed to be alone.

I didn’t know what the fuck Thea had going on over there, but when I saw the cops at the crib, I was thankful that Elijah was with me. Instead of sticking around, I packed our clothes, and we headed up to my lake house.

Before we got on the road, I stopped by Gam’s house to pick her and my mother up to take them to the lake house. If it was up to Gams, she wouldn’t have left the lake house at all. She would have remained there throughout the year.

Elijah’s school had let out last week, and Peach had one more week to go before she was done for the summer. The only thing I received from Thea was a text message asking for an extension on the rent, and I replied asking if she wanted one on her life, too.

That money was sent right to my account within an hour. If she wanted to chase a high instead of being a mother, then her ass could pay that fucking rent. I pulled in front of Gam’s house and noticed her at the mailbox.

My car wasn’t practical with a nine-year-old, so I went and bought myself a Yukon Denali with all the bells and whistles. Yeah, I was taking this parenting thing a little too seriously, but with the way Elijah was content in the back with his new iPad and cellphone, I’d be extra to keep that boy happy.

Ryder insisted on him having a cell phone so that they could talk to each other. After the shit that happened with Alaia, Blaze made sure she wore an I chain at all times. Even Rayce had one around her neck.

I stared at Eli through the rearview window and looked at the E chain around his neck. Thea was sneaky and I didn’t trust that bitch, so I always knew where my guy was. I had this funny feeling like Harley sent Eli to me or some shit.

Like, he was meant to cross paths with me, and I was meant to look out for him. If my baby girl sent him, then she already knew he was in good hands, and I was going to protect him. I put the truck in park and hopped out.

Gams was studying the truck unsure who it was. “Chill out, old lady… don’t pull it out on me.” I laughed and kissed her on the head.

She smiled up at me. “meu maior bebê.”

“minha senhora favorita.”

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