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Missing when he did the same to me. In the mornings, when I rolled over with my hair sticking straight up, he admired me.

It was like he couldn’t process that I was his wife, and I was all his.

He would pull me into his arms, kissing my forehead a few times before patting my ass, and then getting up to pray.

We both would pray together before he went to take his morning shit, and I went to make his coffee. Despite us not having a permanent place to live yet, we had settled into a small routine when we came back from Barbados.

All that was missing was Elijah, and once he was back with us, all three of us would settle into a routine before the baby came. It was all I had ever wanted and prayed for when it came to loving Simmy.

“I know you’re in there, baby… I’m waiting for you to come back to us. Kiss Harley for me,” I kissed his hand, and fixed his blanket while staring at him.

The sound of the machines breathing for him made me sick to my stomach. How was this my reality right now? I remember when I dreamed about becoming pregnant again and being married, and this wasn’t what I had dreamed about.

Watching my husband in a bed with a million tubes coming from him is not how I imagined our newlywed phase to go.

I hated to see him this way and just wanted him to wake up.

It had been a week since he came out of surgery, and the doctors told us everything was touch and go.

He was shot three times in his chest, and once in his shoulder.

They were able to remove the bullets, and the damage wasn’t as bad as they thought. It was up to him to wake up.

Hassan was right there and had removed two of the bullets. He took personal leave from the hospital, and had been here around the clock, even sleeping in the room that was reserved for the doctors and nurses.

Capone thought of everything when it came to this private hospital, and it was something that I was appreciative of. I didn’t have to have a ton of strangers around my husband when I couldn’t be here. Every doctor, nurse, or staff member had been carefully vetted, and were trustworthy.

Capone had them make up the bedroom that was connected to this room for me, so that’s where I slept.

Capri slept with me at night and held me because sleep didn’t come without tears.

She spent her time between being here with me and then back at the compound with Meer.

I told her she didn’t need to be here; she needed to be with her husband, but she refused.

She was my sister.

We may have had different parents, but she was as close to a sister that I would ever get. Capri Inferno was too good for this world and put everything and everyone before herself. Here she was, worried about me when she had children and a recovering husband at home.

“You ready, B?” I turned to look at the doorway and Cappadonna was standing there.

He was leaned in the doorway and then abandoned it and came over toward the opposite side of Sim.

He leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

“I want my money, nigga… go on and get your nap in, but I need my bread, and I only want it from your hands, Q.”

I smiled. “Capp, really?”

Capp smiled and held his arms out and I went and hugged him.

He gave me a tight squeeze and then kissed me on the head.

“He’s strong, B… I’m not worried. Nigga been running for so long that he need a little nap.

Prayed for him last night and Allah told me he’s straight…

I believe that. I’m gonna look at his scans and paperwork and make sure shit is right…

they don’t call me Dr. Delgato for nothing, feel me? ”

My head snapped up and I looked at him. “Cappadonna, nobody calls you Dr. Delgato.”

“B, just because I’m a dentist doesn’t mean that I’m not skilled in any of this… Hassan ain’t the only doctor around this bitch.”

Even in a moment when I was sad beyond relief, I couldn’t help but to laugh at him. “When the hell did you become a dentist, Cappadonna?”

“Long story… just know your husband is well aware. I’ll put you on over sparkling lemonade, since you pregnant and I don’t drink.”

I hugged him again and sighed. “Thanks, Capp. I really did need that laugh. Feels like I’ve been holding my breath since everything happened.”

“Aye, you are family, Blair. I went from having one baby sister to having two. Like I’m there for Baby Doll, I’m here for you, too. One call and I’m blowing through lights for you, too… We’re family, Michael. I love you, B.” He kissed the top of my head. “You ready?”

I ignored his ass calling me Michael and stepped back to get myself together. Walking back over toward Sim, I kissed his hand and took a deep breath. Cappadonna stood by and looked at me for the next move. “As ready as I will ever be.”

“After you, Queen Inferno…. King, you already know I got her,” He looked at Quasim, and followed behind me.

I headed out the room and down the hall into the living room where Havoc and Kincaid were sitting. The minute they saw me, they stood up. “Capri meeting us there.” Havoc informed me.

Recommendation: Listen to Who We Be by DMX

I nodded my head as I continued to the garage where Cappadonna’s Durango was parked, waiting for us. He was right behind me and held the door open as I climbed in while he rounded the truck. We waited for a second, and when we heard the sound of bikes, he hit the button and opened the garage door.

Capp looked over at me, and I nodded. He sped out the garage and through the gates with Havoc and Kincaid behind him.

No sooner than we left those gates, bikes surrounded us.

Capp nodded as Havoc took the back of the car.

My chest tightened when I saw Papa round to my side before taking lead.

His silhouette reminded me so much of Sim’s when he was on his bike.

He took the lead, as Des took my side. He saluted to his oldest son and then looked back at his second son, who was following closely in his challenger.

The car was lined with more IGs than usual.

It made sense, Quasim was down, and they needed to make sure that I remained protected.

I leaned my head back and placed my hand on my stomach.

Touching my stomach reminded me that I was carrying a piece of me and a piece of my husband.

He was with me always. Quasim needed to pull through this, but until he did, we were going to make sure that his presence was felt throughout the entire east coast.

Papa put out the word that King Inferno had passed. As much as I didn’t like to even think or say the words, I understood why he did it. If they knew he was alive, they wouldn’t stop until he was dead. They would become relaxed if they knew that he was gone and the IG’s were mourning.

We sped across the Verrazano bridge into Brooklyn.

The minute we whipped around the exit onto the belt parkway, Reapers came out of nowhere and further held down the truck.

When I saw that blacked out bike, I knew it was Capri.

I saw her black timbs as she whipped in and out of traffic, leading the Goddesses, as they mixed in with the Reapers.

“There go Baby Doll,” Cappadonna said, as he continued to push his truck to faster speeds. He whipped through the slow traffic on the belt as the bikes sped down the middle of the lanes with ease.

Soon as traffic loosened up near Coney Island hospital, he caught up to his sister and saluted her. She nodded and returned the gesture, whipping in front of him.

You could feel how proud Cappadonna was seeing his sister.

He beeped his horn and kissed his fingers when he saw the helmet with that A on the side.

Aimee was riding Marley’s bike, while Marley was on the back.

Capri had been teaching Aimee how to ride for months.

I was tired of hearing both her and Meer complaining about the way she was teaching her.

According to Meer, his way was the only way, and Capri argued that he may have taught her, but she adapted her own way on how she rode her bike.

With the way Aimee was behind Capri, I could tell she was slightly nervous, but Marley had tapped her shoulder and signaled something to her, and she fell back, giving Capri space to lead. Kiki was right beside them, and they both kept their distance, allowing Capri to lead them.

I knew I wanted to learn how to ride, but I wasn’t ready for it. Until I decided that I wanted to ride, Capri was the head of the Goddesses. Like the Gods ran for the king, the Goddesses did the same for the Queen.

I looked out the window and smiled when I saw Capella in his truck on the side of his father, while Capone whipped around toward the back to come on the other side.

Capella made a V with his finger and flicked his tongue while looking at Aimee.

Cappadonna beeped the horn. “Capella don’t make me take us all out right now. I’ll drive us off the road.”

He smirked, sharing that same smirk as his father.

“My bad, Pops!” He hollered back. It was so refreshing seeing Capella and Aimee have that healthiness in their marriage again.

Each time I was around them, I could see the work was being done and they were figuring it out as all married couples did.

They were young and would continue to stumble in marriage. Long as they had the guidance and chose each other, I knew they would be good.

All three lanes had Delgato men, while Capri was leading them to our destination. “I know Meer is driving himself crazy.”

“He gotta trust that her brothers and every nigga out here going to make sure she straight. He gonna be out for a little while on his bike.”

“Don’t mean he won’t hop in a car and still handle business… he’s gonna want that lick back for his brother.”

“And I would never stop him from doing that. I don’t care if I had a bullet in my eye, I’m spinning some shit behind my family.”

“As you should.”