by Shan
Soon as they were inside of the car, Quasym pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward their home. He was relieved that Zaria was now out of the hospital and that he could finally get back to work. Thankfully he had Devon’s help or otherwise everything he had worked for would truly have gone to shit.
"So, I guess you going back to work now that I’m out the hospital," Zaria said seeming as if she was in sync with Quasym’s thoughts. She rested her head against the headrest in the car and stared out of the window.
"I just need to check on some things. See how everything is going. I’ve been out of the loop for the past couple of weeks."
"Can you at least wait until I’m comfortable being at home alone first?"
"Cherie supposed to be coming over to be with you for a while. I’m a call her as soon as we get to the house, babe."
Zaria huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned angrily. She was pissed. She didn’t want Cherie staying with her. What the hell was Cherie gonna do if them niggas came back and tried to finish her off? They would both be dead, and Zaria was sure her life wouldn’t be spared again. She knew it was the intention of the shooter to kill her and that if given another chance they would ensure that she was dead.
Quasym glanced over at Zaria seeing that she was heated, but what did she expect him to do? He had a business to run and he if he couldn’t do it then he was sure that somebody else would be glad to take his crown.
There was no way he was about to give up his spot after all that he’d gone through to get it. Unfortunately, Zaria had been a victim and had suffered in ways that he had never intended, but he was prepared for that now. This time he was certain that no one would ever touch her again. That was on his life.
"If it makes you feel better. I hired some niggas to sit on the crib around the clock. Ain’t nothing else gonna happen to you. I promise you that," Quasym reached for Zaria’s hand, but she kept her arms tucked tightly against her body. Seeing that she wasn’t going to reciprocate the emotions that he was sending her way, he reached for the knob on the stereo and heightened the volume.
My niggas been hustlin’ tryna make him somethin’. Ain’t no telling what he’ll do for the paper. Souffle, I’m straight, I scrape my plate. Sade, I’m a smooth operator. Rich Homie Quan’s Some Type of Way blasted through the speakers, and Quasym nodded his head to the beat. Zaria had to understand that this was his life now-this was their life now. The days where he struggled to get by were long and gone. He now could take care of his family the way he’d always wanted and nothing or no one was going to come between that, not even his wife.
***
"Z-baby, wake up," Quasym said to Zaria. He lightly patted her on her shoulder before he jumped out of the car and walked to the passenger’s side. He opened her door and undid her seatbelt.
"Where are we, Sym? Come on now, I’m tired. I’m not up to visiting anyone right now," Zaria yawned the medication clearly taking a toll on her.
"We’re not visiting anyone. I know you didn’t think I was gonna take you back to that house after what happened. This where we will be staying for a little while," Quasym looked up at the two-story townhome and then around at the visibly quiet neighborhood.
"Where the hell are we?"
"Plano," Quasym helped Zaria out of the car and led her down the sidewalk to their new place. Yessenia had done him a favor and searched for them a place every day she left work. He wanted a house, but didn’t want just anything so for now they would rent this place.
He slid the key in the lock and unlocked the door. Twisting the knob, Quasym pushed the door open and looked around thoroughly impressed. He hadn’t been here since he paid the deposit and the first few months of rent and then, the place had been empty. Now it was fully furnished, and it looked like "home". Yessenia had come through for him, and he was truly grateful for her.
"It’s nice, Sym. I like it," Zaria said glancing around.
"Yea, Yessenia hooked it up. I didn’t know she was gonna do all this. I just told her to make sure it had a lil’ furniture up in here so you could be comfortable, but damn she did it big." Quasym looked around a bit more and then placed his arm around Zaria’s waist. "You want to go upstairs or do you want to chill down here? I gotta have the cable company come through, but I can run by Redbox and grab you a few movies."
"I think I will just chill down here on the couch. I don’t want to have to run up and down the stairs just to get something to eat or whatever."
"Well Cherie will be here, but it’s whatever you wanna do. Just want you to be comfortable."
Zaria walked over to the sofa and slowly sat down. She looked up at Quasym and could see that he was itching to leave her. She was disgusted. She haven’t even been out of the hospital a good hour, and already he was ready to run to the streets. She clicked her tongue, rolled her eyes, and began fiddling with her fingernails.
"Don’t start that shit Zaria. I understand that you pissed, but I got a business to run. Niggas most likely thinking I done gave up and I gotta let them know that ain’t happening. Not only that my boss is asking me questions that I can’t answer until I get out here to see what’s going on"
"A’ight Sym, I hear ya!" Zaria yelled before she knew it. She wasn’t tryna to get upset with him, but before she was shot-Tianna claimed that Quasym and her were fucking around. He denied that anything happened between them when he went to her apartment, but Zaria wasn’t so sure.
Not only was she feeling a little insecure, but she was scared. She didn’t want to be without Sym. Fuck his fake ass bodyguards and fuck Cherie. She appreciated her sister for doing this for her, but she wanted her husband to be by her side. What was so wrong with that?
"You hear me? Then why the fuck you still got that frown on your face? You act like a nigga out here running around on you or something. I’m getting money. Look around!"
"Well let’s be sure that’s all you doing."
Quasym shook his head. He knew where she was going, and he didn’t wanna hear that shit. He snatched his cell phone out of his pocket so that he could send Cherie a text. He was ready to go. Zaria was trying to start a fight when one wasn’t even called for.
"Just go! You don’t even need to wait on my sister! Just go!" Zaria’s voice was shaky as she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.
"A’ight, fuck it. I won’t go," Quasym slid the phone in his pocket and took to the stairs two at a time. He was frustrated as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and kicked off his moccasins. He forced out a ragged breath and sat down on the naked bed, loosening the cuffs around his arm. "Don’t nobody want no fuckin’ Tianna. If I wanted Tianna, I could’ve had her by now. Fuck her!"
Quasym grabbed his shoe and tossed it against the wall. He jumped up from the bed and headed to shower. He pulled open the shower door, turned the knob all the way in the red and pulled it out allowing the water to spray out at full force.
Stripping down to nothing, he stood in front of the mirror and looked over the part of his body that he could see. His pecs were perfectly formed with a curve under them showing the depths of his muscles. A thin hair line ran down the center of his chest stopping at his small navel. Rotating his neck from side to side, he placed his hand over his firm and flawless six pack.
"Why are you on your feet?" Quasym asked noticing Zaria’s reflection through the slightly fogged mirror.
"I don’t wanna be left with Cherie or the dudes you got sitting on the house, but I know you gotta do what you have to do. I ain’t tryna pick a fight with you, Sym, but you know I just went through something very traumatic and its…"
"I’m not tryna hear that shit Zaria. I could see if you wanted me to stay here because you were scared of being alone, but you worried about me fucking some bitch. You don’t understand that I’m the process of building a fuckin’ empire. I can’t get ghost out here just because a nigga come at me or my fam. That shit is not a good look."
"I know baby. I know you got b
usiness to tend to."
"Exactly, I have business to tend to. Not no fucking Tianna or any other bitch that says they are fucking me. I know I’m not the most trustworthy person, but don’t try to make me look like no hoe ass nigga because I’m tryna get money," Quasym turned around to face her.
"Okay, whatever. I just wanted to come up here and tell you that if you want to leave then fine. I ain’t gonna be salty about it," she said looking down at his dick.
"Don’t be looking at my shit. You ain’t getting it. Take your ass downstairs and chill the fuck out."
Zaria laughed, "Whatever. If I wanted it, I could have it. Don’t try to play me."
"Call up Dominoes and order a pizza, and I’m a run to the Redbox," Quasym placed his cell phone on the cabinet and hopped into the shower, pulling the glass door shut behind him.
Zaria looked over at his phone and then looked over at the shower. She stepped lightly toward the cabinet and grabbed the cell phone. She went to unlock the phone and then shook her head. Damn, Z, Sym is not cheating. You’re starting to sound like Yessenia’s crazy ass. Get it together. She thought to herself and then placed the cell phone back down and left out of the bathroom. I’m alive, and I’m pregnant and I’m the wife. I’m not about to let that bitter bitch ruin my happiness.
***
. Later that night, Quasym had his arms wrapped tightly around Zaria. He’d decided to not leave on her first day home and figured it was best if he made sure was comfortable before heading back to the streets.
He had to admit that it was kind of selfish of him, and he felt more than horrible about the way he had talked to Zaria earlier that day. He had been gone two weeks so a few more days wouldn’t matter. They laid on their new sofa, eating pepperoni pizza from Dominoes and watched a few Redbox movies. After falling asleep on the sofa, Quasym carried Zaria up the stairs to their bedroom.
Now as he lay with his wife closely tucked to him, he felt like he was finally accomplishing something in life, and that caused a smile to enter his face. One of his main goals was to provide for his wife when he got out of prison, and he was finally doing that. He wasn’t going to get too hyped up about it because it had only been a few months. He needed to provide for her for a lifetime, that was his eternal goal.
Quasym kissed Zaria on her ear and moved his hand down to her stomach. It was still flat, but he closed his eyes imagining that she had a nice-sized baby bump and that his little son was growing inside of her.
He had a daughter already, and now all he needed was a little mini-mi and he was good. He dozed off quickly with dreams about everything that he knew was in store for them, but just as quickly as he had fallen asleep he was awakened by the ringing of his cell phone.
He rolled over in bed and faintly moved his arm from underneath Zaria. Grabbing his cell phone from the nightstand, he checked his phone and noticed he had several missed calls and messages. Damn, was I sleep that long. Feel like I just closed my damn eyes. Quasym thought as he unlocked his cell phone and went straight for his messages, reading them one by one until he got to the one that made him sit up in bed. He located Marco’s number in his contacts, pressed down on the phone number, and placed the phone to his ear.
"What up, Boss Man?" Marco answered after only a few rings.
"Damn, I’m at the crib laid up and shit. I just saw your message. So what’s up, you take care of that?"
"Nah, that shit not happening until tomorrow. Don’t worry ‘cause I will be there. How is your ol’ lady doin’?"
"She good man. Kind of freaked out, but that’s to be expected. I’m a chill out here for a couple of more days then I’m a come through and fuck with y’all."
"Shit, don’t rush it my nigga. Take care of home first. These streets gonna be here, and we easy out here believe that," Marco told him.
"Yea, I know y’all got it, but the plug been on my ass these past few days and shit I ain’t tryna hear nothin’ from that nigga if it ain’t about no money. Ya’ feel me?"
"We ready for you whenever you decide to come back."
"Shit, a’ight. Holla at me as soon as that situation is handled bruh. You know I’m counting on you for that one."
"Hell yea, no doubt. This the time for me to do what I do best. Best believe I’m gon’ come through. I got that shit handled. Tell your ol’ lady she can relax on that level. No doubt."
"A’ight then bruh. I’m a be looking for that call tomorrow so get at me."
"For sure," Marco said and hung up the phone. He placed the cell phone down beside him and then tucked his hands behind his head, as he looked up at Cherie’s chest. "My bad. Now as you were."
Cherie laughed, "You know Sym will kick my ass if he finds out I left his house when he said I could to come and fuck you."
"So you haven’t told him about us yet?" Marco asked.
"I mean I haven’t said nothing to him and my sis, but I’m sure they know. Everybody else knows. It’s not a secret or anything like that. I just ain’t mentioned it," Cherie said as she ran her manicured finger down Marco’s chest. She leaned over and kissed his lips and slowly moved up and down on his dick, trying to harden him again.
"Yea, let’s just keep it to the people who know now and I’ll holla at him about it. I don’t want him to feel some type of way being I’m fucking his little sister and ain’t said shit to him about it," Marco groaned. He pulled his hands from beneath his head and gripped a handful of Cherie’s ass.
"We ain’t even cool like that but, whatever," she said covering his lips with hers. She squeezed her muscles together and bounced up and down on him, moaning softly each time he filled her.
Cherie really liked Marco. Surprisingly she could see herself being with him, but there was one problem. He had yet to give her any money, and she wasn’t even sure if he had any. They’d only had sex a few times and each time; she had to meet him at a hotel. The nigga sex game was on point; she loved his swag, and his personality was fulfilling, but what did that matter if he was broke?
She needed to see some kind of sign that said he was working with something or else this little "relationship" they had wouldn’t last long. What if he lives with his mama?
"Ahh, shit baby. You gonna make me cum if you keep that shit up."
"That’s what I’m supposed to do…make this dick cum," Cherie gripped her hands onto the headboard and rode Marco hard. She closed her eyes tightly, and her mouth fell open. A wave of her ecstasy took over her, and she moaned out her pleasure feeling herself cum all over Marco’s dick.
"Mmhh! Mmhh!" she moaned.
"I’m about to cum! Ohhh shit! I’m finna cum!" Marco gripped Cherie’s ass tighter pulling her down on him a couple of times before he completely lifted her up, spilling his seeds onto his stomach. "Shit, I knew it popped."
Cherie looked down at the broken condom around Marco’s dick and then up at him, "Damn; you pulled out in time right?"
"Yea, I did. I kind of felt like it popped. Your pussy was tooooo wet all of a sudden," Marco said and slapped her on the butt. "Go grab me a wet towel."
Cherie hopped up from the bed and walked into the hotel room’s bathroom. She grabbed one of the towels from the rack and then wet it with warm water, "So, when I’m a get a chance to come to your house? Hotel room is cool and all, but I get tired of having to check out by eleven and shit."
"I’ll just pay for the room for a couple of more days. I only got it ‘til eleven ‘cause I ain’t know what you be having to do, and you know I gotta beat the streets early. You welcome to chill as long as you like though. Ain’t no problem with me."
Cherie rolled her eyes. Yea, this nigga must live with his damn mama or something. Ain’t no way we gonna keep fucking up in a hotel like I’m some prostitute. If he don’t live with his mama then he must got a bitch. Either way it goes, I need to see the crib soon or else he won’t be seeing no more of me. I don’t give a fuck how good the nigga dick is. He better start showing me something that’s gonna keep me around. Especially now
that Quasym got Zaria sitting over there in that big ass townhouse riding around in that BMW. Nigga gotta catch up or else he gonna get left behind. I cannot let my sister get ahead of me or else my mama really gonna start tripping.
"Nah, I wanna go to your crib. I wanna cook for you. Bring you breakfast in bed and all of that."
"In due time ma’. Besides I ain’t no breakfast eating nigga."
"You ain’t no breakfast eating nigga?" Cherie rose a brow as she walked over to him and tossed the warm towel onto his stomach. She cleaned every trace of sperm off of him and then tossed the towel onto the floor. "Did you forget Waffle House?"
"I only went with you that morning ‘cause you asked me to. Other than that, the only thing you can make me for breakfast is a blunt filled with Kush and I got plenty of that in my pants pocket."
"You know I live with my mama and it’s like ten minutes from the hood. Before then we used to live in the projects for a very long time."
"Yea, I lived in the projects most of life too. Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of babe. Some people just end up being a product of their environment with no way out."
"What?" Cherie asked confused. "Ok, whatever."
Cherie climbed into bed next to Marco and laid her head onto his chest. Okay Marco, I’m giving you two weeks to show me something or I’m out.
Chapter 18: Social Media Can Get You Killed
"Let me have a Corona no salt and then bring us some of dat’ chips and salsa for an appetizer," Hova’s accent was dripping as he glanced over the menu. The waiter nodded his head and walked away leaving Hova and Samantha alone.
"Baby, I got some good news to tell you," Samantha said as she looked up from her menu to Hova.
"What’s that?"
"I got the call back from the social worker last night. They’re gonna let me adopt Davina. They said that my mama will not contest the adoption and in a couple of weeks she’ll be able to come and live with us.
I’m so fuckin’ excited right now. That’s why I was like let’s go to Applebee’s tonight. I wanted to surprise you. Naomi and Tim might be joining us."