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.
Once a junkie, always a junkie, Illiana thought. She placed the packs on the seat beside Breeze and watched in amusement as Breeze slowly but surely picked them up and tucked them inside her jean pocket.
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.
She can’t help it. It’s not her fault, he kept telling himself.
“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 out of her. Zyir didn’t come back to reality until he felt someone’s hands pulling him off of her. He heard Breeze sobbing by the doorway.
“Zyir!” Carter yelled as he hemmed him up. “Chill out!”
Sweating profusely and breathing erratically, Zyir was an emotional mess.
“Is she dead?” he asked as his rage subsided. He noticed that Illiana wasn’t moving. “Fuck!” he yelled.
Carter kneeled over her still body to check her pulse and answered, “She’s alive, but I’ve got to get her to a doctor. This is bad, Zyir. You know who she’s connected to. Fuck was you thinking?” Carter knew that if Breeze had not called him, then Zyir probably would have killed Illiana.
“I wasn’t. She gave Breeze dope and I lost it!” he whispered as he looked back at a fearful Breeze. He quickly turned his head. He couldn’t even look at her right now.
“You know what this means, right?” Carter asked.
Zyir nodded. “I’m sorry, bro. I spazzed.” Wearing his heart on his sleeve was so uncharacteristic for Zyir, but Breeze was his weak spot. Ever since she came home, he had been a loose cannon, acting without thinking about the repercussions.
“As long as you’re prepared to deal with the consequences. This is the beginning of another war, and this time, we can’t afford to lose.”