Quasim: King Inferno

Prologue

Blair

I remember the moment I found out I had cancer. I remember the fear. Everything was unknown, and I didn't know if I would survive. Most people hear their diagnosis with a friend or family member by their side. I had no one. There was no one there to wipe away my tears and tell me everything would be alright.

When I sat in my doctor's office with tears streaming down my face, trying desperately to hold onto his encouraging words, I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. All I saw was darkness. And honestly, that was all I felt I deserved.

My life had never been easy. Since my mother passed away and left me behind, I've had no one in my corner. The people I considered family hurt me, and I allowed them to hurt me continuously. I put my faith and love into the wrong people, and it burned me every time. I wanted to be loved so badly that I accepted mistreatment because I felt it was what I deserved. Moving from foster home to foster home, never feeling love, you learn to settle for whatever scraps someone tosses your way.

When I dropped out of college, I never thought I would see Capri Delgato again. But God has a way of moving people into our lives when we need them most. He put Alaia in my studio. He placed her there while we were both going through absolute hell, yet we both continued to put on a smile.

We hid the pain and trauma we were going through from each other—too scared of the judgment we might receive. Alaia was the first person I talked to about my cancer, and she had been there for me since day one.

I never thought Alaia would lead me back to Capri, or that our friendship would transform into a sisterhood. The Delgatos and Infernos took me in and gave me the family I'd always wanted. The women nurtured and loved me like no other, and the men protected me like one of their own.

Quasim Inferno.

He protected me like I'd always wanted to be protected. Although he acted scared of me most of the time, in those small moments when he allowed himself to feel and truly live, I could see our life together.

"Ring that shit off the wall, Michael Myers!" Cappadonna clapped his hands, holding one of his twins while Alaia held the other.

Capri and Quameer stood there with Peach, while I held my beautiful goddaughter. Capone and Erin, along with Aimee and Capella, stood nearby, all of them waiting for me to ring the bell. I appreciated and loved them for being here, but the one person I was looking forward to seeing wasn't there.

Quasim and I hadn't spoken in a few months. Other than the usual check-in text messages, we hadn't been around each other. I choked back tears as I looked at the bell I walked past every week, never thinking I would actually be able to ring it.

I remembered all the nights of being too sick to sleep in my bed, so I slept beside the toilet. Watching my hair fall out right before my eyes. I would never forget brushing my hair while clumps came out with each stroke. Losing weight, never being able to keep food down. I felt like a shell of who I used to be.

Walking into every chemo appointment, never knowing how to feel. That bell watched me every time, and at times, I felt like it was a joke. Something put there to make us feel a little bit of hope in a time when we had lost it all.

"I'm here… I'm here," Zoya rushed in.

I handed the baby back to Capri as I hugged Zoya. "Thank you, Zoy."

"Fuck you, meanie. I'm here, too… what up, Ms. Lawyer?" Goon's voice came through Meer's phone.

"You're family, Blair… we wouldn't miss this shit for nothing," Meer told me. I hugged him before slowly walking toward the bell.

My team of doctors and nurses stood near the bell, waiting to cheer me on. They knew how much I went through and saw things that I never shared with my friends—the parts that weren't always good.

Tears poured down my face as I grabbed the rope. The ringing was proof that I'd won the battle I'd been fighting. Everyone clapped and cheered while I closed my eyes and thanked the Lord. He saw me through all of this, and I would continue praising Him.

When I opened my eyes, Quasim was standing there with my favorite flowers in his hands. Sunflowers. He smirked as a tear fell down one side of his face, and more fell down mine.

"You didn't think I wouldn't come, my love? Come on now." He held his arms out, and I rushed into his embrace. He hugged me tight. "I wouldn't fucking miss this for the world. You fought hard for this, baby… no more. I prayed for this, and God is finally hearing me."

Tookie

The love of my life stared at me like I was a monster. She didn't look at me the way she used to, staring into my eyes with adoration. I used to be the love of her life, and now, as she stared at me from across the room, I could tell that love had been replaced with hate. She wanted me away from her. Out of her life.

Many times before, she had told me this, and then she always backpedaled. She allowed me back in. Allowed me to make her feel good and make promises that I swore I would keep that time. I wanted to keep every promise I made to Blair, but my anger often got the best of me, and I flew off the handle.

She was often the one on the receiving end when I lost control. A broken rib. A busted lip. Blackened eyes. Even when she stared up into my eyes with fear in her own, a bloodied lip or a blackened eye, she was still the most beautiful thing to me. Blair needed me, so she accepted my apologies. She knew I was sorry and that my mind went somewhere else when I was angry.

She used to need me.

Since she reconnected with Capri's stubborn, independent ass, she had been on some new shit. No longer needing me. No longer wanting me around. When I had her and her friend kidnapped, I didn't want her hurt.

She forced my hand.