the two women was hard for Zyir, and although he wanted to cut Illiana off completely, he knew that he would have to do it slowly. The last thing he wanted to do was create a riff between the Garza Cartel and Carter’s operation, because he had made the mistake of becoming sexual with Illiana.
“You don’t have to compete, Breeze. She doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m only worried about you right now,” he said. “Okay?”
She nodded her head. “Okay.”
“I know what you need, ma. You need to get out of the house. Is shopping still your favorite pastime?” he asked playfully.
“I haven’t been in so long I might not remember how to do it,” she replied with a laugh.
Zyir reached into his pocket and began to pull out a knot of cash, but he stopped himself. He didn’t want to put any money in Breeze’s hand. Although she had shaken off her addiction, her sobriety was important to Zyir, and he did not think she was ready to have cash in her hands.
“I’m going to arrange for a driver to take you and Illiana shopping today. I’ll leave some money with her, and you can go relax. Enjoy a day out on me. The sky is the limit, so get whatever you want,” he said.
Breeze nodded and closed her eyes as Zyir kissed her forehead before walking out of the room.
The limousine was silent as Illiana and Breeze were escorted to Bal Harbour’s elite shopping boutiques. It was obvious that the girls did not care for one another. Their only connection was Zyir, and each felt like her position in his life was threatened as long as the other was around.
Illiana sipped on champagne as she looked Breeze up and down from behind the tint of her Chanel shades. As the limo pulled curbside, Illiana stepped out of the car and did not wait for Breeze before she strutted into the boutique. Expecting to be catered to, she was taken aback when the salespeople bypassed her to service Breeze. The Diamond family’s legacy was known throughout the city, and as much as Breeze used to frequent the shops, her face had not been forgotten. The salespeople waited on her hand and foot, while Illiana shopped alone, heeated.
Breeze was overwhelmed by all of the attention, but it felt good to knock Illiana off of her high horse. For the first time since her return, she was receiving the type of respect that her last name demanded, and it felt good. She could feel Illiana’s envy all the way across the room. Soon Breeze was back in her element, and she found herself buying up everything in sight as she went from designer shop to designer shop. Before she knew it, the day had passed by and they were back in the limousine headed home.
Illiana was steaming, and she was determined to knock Breeze off of her high horse. She rolled down the window that separated them from the driver and said, “I need to make a detour to Sixty-third Street.” She was about to take Breeze to the infamous Pork ‘n Beans Projects in Liberty City. Tired of playing nice, Illiana had something sinister in store for Breeze that would be sure to banish her from Zyir’s life forever.
The luxury Chrysler limousine seemed out of place in the dilapidated housing community, and the weary corner boys looked on curiously as it rolled to a stop.
“What are we doing here?” Breeze asked Illiana as she peered out of the tinted windows.
“I just need to cop a little something to take the edge off,” Illiana replied devilishly as she saw a familiar spark go off inside of Breeze. “You need anything, or you good?”
Breeze shook her head as she felt the familiar tingle of anticipation fill her loins. All of a sudden, her craving came back full force. “No, I… I’m good,” she replied.
Illiana shrugged her shoulders and got out of the car, taking only a hundred dollar bill with her. She quickly copped Breeze’s drug of choice and hurried back to the limo.
“I got you a little something just in case,” Illiana said as soon as she stepped back inside. She opened her hand to reveal the tiny packs of dope that she had inside. Breeze’s eyes widened eagerly as she reached out her hand to grab them, but she resisted and snatched her hand back as if it were on fire.
“I can’t. I promised him,” Breeze said as she tried to convince herself to do the right thing.
“Who said anybody besides you and me has to know?” Illiana replied. Breeze didn’t respond, but Illiana already knew that Breeze was going to indulge.
She could not wait to get back to Zyir’s place and get high. She was so anxious that she began to fidget in her seat.
Illiana had just sent Breeze spiraling back down into the abyss, hindering her recovery. There was no remorse to be felt by her, however. Life was a game of chess, not checkers, and Illiana didn’t care how many queens she had to destroy in order to win.
Zyir walked into his place, exhausted from a long day of hustling. His home was unusually quiet, and an eerie feeling passed over him as he entered. It was two A.M., and he knew that Breeze and Illiana were probably asleep. He knocked on the guest bedroom door. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he had to see her face before he went to bed. Ever since Breeze had been back, seeing her face had been like a blessing to him. Her smile made him smile, and he wanted to see how her day had gone before he retired for the night.
When she didn’t respond, he opened the door and eased inside. Her bed was perfectly made, and he frowned when he saw her sitting on the floor in the dark with her back leaned lazily against the bed.
“B, you a’ight in here?” he asked as he stepped inside.
He turned on the light, and what he saw enraged him. Breeze was on the floor, in a deep nod, as drool ran out of the side of her lip. The belt she had used to produce a vein was still tied around her arm, and the empty packs of heroin littered the bedroom floor.
Zyir bit into his bottom lip to stop himself from screaming out loud as he rushed over to her side. “I told them niggas. I told ‘em,” he mumbled as he saw red. The burner on his hip was calling his name. There was no doubt that he was going to murder a nigga tonight.
“Breeze, wake up, ma. Wake up,” he said as he picked up her frail body from the floor. “Breeze!” he shouted as he slapped her face gently to stir her from the nod.
He carried her wildly into the adjoining bathroom as he placed her in the bathtub and turned on the shower. The shock of the cold water woke her up.
“You promised me, ma,” he said in defeat as he got on his knees to stare her in the eyes. He gripped the sides of her head tightly. He was so angry with her, so disappointed in her. “You were doing so good. Fuck was you thinking, Breeze?” he shouted.
“I’m sorry,” she replied, her eyelids still low. “I can’t stop.”
“Who gave you this shit?” Zyir screamed like a maniac. He was so livid that he thought about striking her, but he could not bring himself to do it.
“Who served you?” he asked.
A slight smile spread across her lips as Breeze whispered, “Your fucking girlfriend did, okay! I was trying, but I’m not strong enough to kick this, Zyir. Illiana gave it to me. I could have said no, but I took it. I wanted it.”
Before Breeze could finish her sentence, Zyir was up and out of the room with a flash. He was so out of his mind that he didn’t stop to think before he burst into his bedroom. A sleeping Illiana was caught by surprise when Zyir pulled her out of his bed by her legs.
“Bitch, you gave that shit to her?” he asked. Not waiting for an answer, he smacked fire from Illiana.
“No! Zyir, she’s lying!” Illiana screamed as Zyir’s open hand closed and came barreling across her face. She saw stars as he attacked her relentlessly. “No! Please stop!” she hollered, but the soundproof walls intercepted all of her pleas. She had no choice but to take this ass-whooping.
Zyir went bananas on Illiana. Beating a woman was so out of his character, but he had snapped. All he could see was an addicted Breeze as he punished Illiana.
She curled up in a fetal position and tried to cover her face as Zyir loomed over her, raining punches down over her.
“You dirty bitch,” Zyir raged. He straddled her and wrapped his hands around her neck as he squeezed the life
