Page 24 of Quasim II: King Inferno

Quasim rolled his window down and saluted the one leading the bullies. He nodded his head and returned the salute as he pushed forward. He and Bia both took the lead while the rest of the bikes continued to surround the truck. They made a clear path, and Meer rode through so he could take the lead. It was like synchronized swimming; the way they all played their roles and got all the bikes into position. Capri signaled something to Wylie, and I watched him nod his head as he took the side she was on.

She held her hand up and did a signal that they all understood, then she saluted while Meer continued to push forward. “Big fucking Pri.” I watched my sister as she directed everyone while Meer continued leading the convoy.

Yasin took Simmy’s side while Havoc took mine.

I was so proud watching Meer take the lead, a space that had always been reserved for his brother. He led us all down the highway as they made sure we remained in the center of them.

This wasn’t like it was my first time being in the car while motorcycles surrounded me. It was the first time with this many bikes and they all had a common goal - to protect us.

I looked over at Simmy, and he was focused. I’ve always known this man was the head of the Inferno Gods, however, it was a different feeling when you were in the middle of it.

It was how he moved, as if all of this was normal. To him, this was normal, because the goal was to protect King Inferno and the future Queen Inferno. I leaned back and then opened the middle compartment, pulling out some gummy bears.

“Want some, baby?”

Before he could reply, I shoved some into his mouth. “Anjo, what the fuck?” He said between chewing his gummies.

The rest of the ride, we talked here and there. I could tell his focus wasn’t on our conversation, so I eventually pulled my kindle out and started reading.

I don’t know how I went from reading to falling asleep. My kindle had fallen onto the floor and we were now driving through some small town. Quasim’s semi relaxed position was no more.

He leaned forward with his hand resting on my thigh as we continued to maneuver to wherever we were going. The bikes pulled to the side while allowing us to continue and follow behind Meer and Capri.

We arrived at the parking lot of a dilapidated strip mall. I noticed Papa standing in front of the laundromat with another gentleman. There were a bunch of other bikers there while Papa and the other man were leaning on their bikes, talking. Then I noticed the unmistakable viper decal among the sea of different bikes, and my heart rate immediately sped up.

“The fuck?” Quasim muttered.

I had to wipe my eyes a few times when I saw Tookie leaning on his bike next to the man that Papa was talking to. From Papa’s body language, I could tell shit wasn’t all well in his world.

Quasim whipped the truck around so that we were facing them. He put it in park, hopped out, tucking his gun behind him. “Fuck is this?”

“Same shit I want to know before I start coming to conclusions myself, Red.” Papa replied.

All the Gods now surrounded the truck, wondering the same shit. Meer hopped off his bike while Capri remained seated on it. He snatched his helmet off and looked at his father and brother. “Who gonna shoot first?”

Meer pulled his gun out and was heading over toward Tookie, who stood up straight. “Blaze.” Papa called.

Meer fell back. “If you think I’m ever running in the same circles as this nigga, you doing the same shit he doing.” Sim looked between his father and who I now assumed was his uncle, because I could see the similarities between him and Papa.

Tookie stood up and looked around nervously, embarrassed that his secret was exposed not only in front of his people, but all the other gangs.

Quasim came back near the truck, walked around it and opened my door. He held my hand as I stepped out the truck. Once my feet hit the broken pavement, all the Gods put their feet on the ground and stood as I walked around the truck.

Capri stood up with them as I walked past her while Simmy held my hand. We stood next to Papa. “How you doing, B?” He kissed my temple and then settled back onto his bike.

“I’m good.”

I felt like royalty, the way the Gods treated me. I’ve witnessed it when it comes to Quasim. He always led the way, and when he pulled up on them, someone would always move their bike to let him park in the front. I mean, I always felt important whenever I had one following behind me, or when they surrounded me while I was in a car. This time, it felt different because my best friend stood up with the rest of them when I got out of my truck..

Red started coughing into his handkerchief and leaned back on his bike. “I’m dying, Quinton. All of them years of chain-smoking and doing whatever the fuck I wanted has come back to me.” He let out a sad chuckle.

In his eyes, you could see how sad he was about his fate, yet he couldn’t help but make a dark joke about his situation.

Quasim and Quinton’s expressions never changed. I looked between them both and saw not an ounce of remorse in either of their eyes. Red saw the same thing and coughed, wiping his mouth before leaning forward.

Tookie hadn’t taken his eyes off me since I stepped out of the car. I hated this man so much. It smelled sour because he was near. All of the pain he put me through played on a loop in my mind.

I remember being so afraid of him, and now as he stood a few feet away from me, I was no longer scared of him. Why was I ever scared of a man like him anyway?

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