A Gangster's Dream 2 Read online

  Not answering her, Carmelo just walked out of the kitchen with her hand in his. He led her up the stairs to his old room. He sat on the bed and Dream sat on his lap.

  “Okay, who is that and why do you look like you want to put a bullet in him?” Dream asked.

  Carmelo told Dream how he and Shaq used to be best friends and grew up close as hell and were practically brothers. He explained how when he woke up from his coma he felt differently towards Shaq and how he seemed shady. Dream just sat and listened as he told her how Shaq damn near let everything he worked so hard to build crash to the ground and how he stole money and work from him.

  “Wow,” was all she could say. “I’m sorry that you feel like that towards someone you used to be so close with.”

  “It’s not that serious to me, I just don’t want that snake ass nigga around. It’s bad enough that I made him second in command so he gets to be around my product and money. I don’t trust his ass for shit, so I keep a close eye on him. I specifically told his ass not to come around me unless it had something to do with work. I don’t know why he wanna test me like I’m some bitch.”

  Dream rubbed her hand over his waves. Dumb as to how the drug game went, she asked him a question. “Can you, like, demote him or something? Like, get someone to take his place?” she asked.

  “I could, but he knows too much. He would probably do some grimy shit the first chance he got,” Carmelo explained.

  “That sucks.”

  “Yea, but come on. Let’s go eat.”

  The rest of the night went pretty good and without incident considering the fact that there was so much tension, not only between Carmelo and Shaq, but between Carmelo, Caiden and Alex. Everyone kept their mouths shut because they knew better than to disrespect Mama Love. It was her birthday so everyone was holding in their emotions.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Summer was driving around with no destination. She had just left her nana’s and thought about heading over to Carmelo’s. After further consideration, she decided against it. She wanted to give Dream and her Uncle Melo some alone time. She had stopped by her Nana’s house but she was out with some of her friends doing whatever they did. She really didn't want to go home, but she did need to grab some more stuff from her house.

  “Ugh, I might as well,” she said as she drove in the direction of her house.

  When she reached the house she shared with her dad, there was another car in the driveway that she didn't recognize. Not thinking anything of it, she pulled up behind it and got out.

  Using her key, she let herself in and was surprised to see Alexandria sitting on the couch. Summer rolled her eyes and went for the stairs.

  “Hi, Summer,” Alex spoke.

  Not bothering to speak back, Summer kept it moving. She hadn't said a word to Alex since she had popped up unexpectedly at her Nana’s. She didn't have time for her. She had been doing good without her all these years, so she definitely didn't need her now. She went to her room and shut the door before grabbing a suitcase to put some more of her clothes in.

  She heard her bedroom door opening and looked up to find Alex walking in her room. Summer paused and looked at her like she had lost her mind. Alex walked further into the room and sat on Summer’s California king sleigh bed.

  “I would appreciate it if you knocked and asked for permission to come in my room,” Summer said as she zipped up her suitcase and walked out the door.

  “Summer, wait!” Alex called out. “Let me talk to you”

  Summer ignored her as she ran down the stairs and bumped into her dad. Without looking up at him, she tried to walk around him. Not letting her through, Caiden blocked her way.

  “Sum, we need to talk,” he said.

  “Not now, dad,” she said, still not looking up at him.

  “Yes, now. Put the bag down and come into the living room,” Caiden said, not waiting for her to respond.

  Thinking the faster she got this over with, the faster she could get out of there, she put her bags by the front door and joined her dad and Alex, who finally decided to come down the stairs, in the living room.

  She sat on the couch, far away from her dad and across from Alex. Looking straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with anyone, she waited for this to be over.

  “Summer, I want to apologize for putting my hands on you. It wasn’t right for me to do that and I really regret it,” Caiden said.

  Ever since that night he slapped Summer, the whole situation had been eating him alive. He really did regret putting his hands on his daughter but when she said that she wished Carmelo was her dad instead of him. It hurt him.

  His whole life, he had always came second to Carmelo. Carmelo was always the one who got the attention, he was the one everyone just seemed to not get enough of. It was bad enough that he had to come second to him from everybody else, but when your own child puts you second to her uncle, it hurts like hell.

  “It’s fine, dad,” Summer said, snatching him from his thoughts. Can I go now, please?” she asked.

  “I think your mother has something she wants to say,” Caiden said.

  “Mother?” Summer scuffed.

  “Yes, Summer. No matter how you may feel about me, I am still your mother,” Alex finally spoke up.

  “Alexandria, please. I don’t even know who you are. Until you just decided to pop up out of the blue, I didn’t even know you existed. You wait until I’m damn near grown to decide you want to be a mother all of a sudden?” Summer yelled.

  “Sum, calm down and watch our mouth,” Caiden said.

  “No, dad. I just know you didn’t expect me to open my arms hug her and act like I was overjoyed to see her. I could have walked past her in the street and didn’t even know who she was because I have never seen the woman that birthed me.”

  “Summer, what you don’t understand is I was young when I had you. I was younger than you are now. I didn’t know what to do with a baby. I knew that Caiden would be an outstanding father and that you would be very well taken care of. I thought I was making the best decision for you,” Alex defended herself.

  “You know what? That was the best decision for me because I would rather be raised by my dad and uncle than you any day. Don’t use that I was too young excuse with me because you weren’t too young when you were freaking my dad, so don’t try that I was too young to raise you crap. You should be on your knees thanking my dad and Uncle Melo for raising me the way that they did,” Summer said.

  Alex got up and walked towards Summer. “Summer, I understand that you are upset but I am still your mother and I demand the same respect that you give Carmelo and Caiden,” Alex said.

  “You earn respect, it’s not given to you,” Summer said as she got off the couch and got in Alexandria’s face.

  Not liking the direction this was going in, Caiden pulled Alex out of Summer’s face. He knew both of the ladies were upset and in their feelings, but hopefully they would come around and actually take the time out to hear each other.

  “Dad, I love you and I forgive you, but I have nothing to say to her. Dream has done more for me in the short time that I’ve known her than this one right here has done in sixteen years,” Summer said as she walked towards the front door. “Oh yea, since you’re here, Alex, why don’t you tell my dad about that little talk you and my nana had,” Summer said, referring to the conversation about who her real dad was.

  “What talk?” Caiden asked.

  Alex stood there shocked. She had no idea that Summer had overheard the conversation she’d had with her grandma. She honestly didn’t give a second thought about Carmelo being Summer’s father until he asked her. She knew that she had made a big mistake when she slept with both of the brothers, but she was young then and it was a big mistake. She had no doubts about who Summer’s dad was.

  “Nothing, Cai. I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Alex said just above a whisper.

  Caiden knew that was a lie because in all the years that he had known Alex
, he had never known her to be speechless. She always had something to say, so whatever Summer was talking about had just struck a nerve and Alex was hiding something. He didn’t know what it was, but he also wasn’t going to press the issue. He figured it would come out eventually.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Carmelo received a call in the middle of the night that had him hype. Out of all the people who could have provided him with the whereabouts of Shondrell, he didn’t expect it to be his ex-girlfriend from way back in the day. He was so excited to get that news that he didn’t even properly inform Dream of the move he was about to make. He stuffed whatever he could into a duffel bag, called Trip, told him meet him at the airport and dipped. What he did do was sent Dream a text from the airport letting her know that he had to shake town and would be back as soon as he could.

  <><><><>

  The red-eye flight from New York City to Los Angeles had taken a toll on Melo. He wasn't nearly effected by the 3 hour time difference like he was effected by dipping out on Dream like a thief in the night. The phone call that Melo received in the middle of the night guaranteed he would be able to put an end to Shondrell’s life once and for all. He wasted no time. He figured he’d handle his business and worry about Dream biting his head off when he got home.

  “Yo, Melo, man, you good?” Trip asked.

  Hearing Trip’s voice worsened Melo’s mood. It wasn't because Trip did anything wrong. It was because in that moment, Melo realized how fucked up shit between him and Shaq really was. When it came to putting in work, if Melo didn't have Shaq by his side, he wasn't with the shit at all. He felt like Shaq was the only nigga on his team that would have his back one hundred percent, no questions asked. That fact that Trip was there instead said a lot.

  “I’m good, man. Just ready to hit this hotel and catch some z’s before we catch up with ol boy tomorrow,” Melo said.

  “Def feel you on that, my nigga,” Trip added.

  The two of them hustled through the semi-empty airport until they reached the strip where cars were loading and unloading passengers. Melo looked up and down the street until he spotted the familiar face he was looking for. With his Louis Vuitton duffle bag gripped tightly in his left hand, he trotted in the direction of his friend with Trip on his heels.

  “This what it takes for me to get you out to California to see me, huh?” Monica said as she leaned against her Benz with her hand on her hip.

  “Chill, Mo. That's how you greet a nigga? Come here, chick,” Melo laughed as he pulled Monica in for an embrace.

  The hug shared between the two lingered until Trip broke up what appeared to be ‘A moment.’

  “I’m Trip, shorty,” Trip said, taking it upon himself to introduce himself.

  “I'm rude. Trip, this my longtime friend Monica. Monica, this my nigga Trip,” Melo said.

  Monica politely said hello to Trip and shook his hand before shooting Carmelo a look that could have killed him on the spot. Him referring to her as his longtime friend was like a dagger straight to her heart. He and Monica knew they were much more than that. She would have been his wife if she was able to handle his life in the street. Monica wanted more out of life than just being hood royalty and she wanted her man to want more. Carmelo couldn't give her what she needed in that aspect, so instead of hindering her and keeping her from being happy, he let her go. They kept in touch from time to time on a platonic level. Most of the time it was just Melo checking up on her seeing if she was putting his money to good use. Carmelo had paid Monica’s way through college and law school. The only thing he expected in return once she graduated was for her to be as successful as possible, and she had definitely accomplished that. She made partner at her law firm before she hit twenty-seven.

  “We staying at…”

  “Carmelo don't play with me. I'm not dropping y'all off at a hotel. I already told you not to book a room because ya’ll were staying with me. You still hardheaded as ever, huh?” Monica huffed as she climbed into the driver’s seat of her car. She waited for both Melo and Trip to get in the car before pulling away from the curb.

  “How you knew to reach out to Carmelo about our little situation?” Trip asked.

  He didn't know any details. Melo called him and told him to meet him at the airport, so that's what he did.

  “I ran into him at a club last night. I asked him about Carmelo and he went off on this long ass tangent about how Melo ain't the same nigga we knew back in the day and all this other shit. He was drunk so his lips were loose. I wasn't paying it any attention at all until he said he was pissed that Melo didn't die after he went through all of that to make sure he did. I don't know what the hell been going on out there and none of it is my business, but Melo and I have history. A history that will always come before anything else. It was only right that I called him up to see what was what, ya know?”

  Trip nodded even though she couldn't see him because her eyes were focused on the road and he was in the backseat. The rest of the ride to Monica's crib was quiet. It was three in the morning and they all were dead tired. More so Carmelo and Trip since their bodies thought it was six in the morning and they had been up since the day before.

  Thirty-five minutes later, they were pulling up to a nice little cul-de-sac. When Monica boasted about how nice her spot was, she wasn't lying.

  “This all you?” Carmelo asked as they climbed out the car.

  “Yep, this is me,” Monica boasted.

  “You almost living better than ya boy,” Carmelo joked.

  Monica joined him in laughter as she led him and Trip into her house. She gave them a quick tour around the property before showing Trip the guest room he would be staying in.

  “Where my room?” Melo asked.

  “Oh, that’s where we at now, Carmelo? You too good to share a bed with me? Last time I checked, that was one of your favorite things to do,” Monica asked with one hand propped on her hip.

  Carmelo gave her a once over. He licked his lips seductively as he took in her beauty. Monica was bad in every sense of the word. She had a nice, even-toned chocolate complexion, thick, succulent lips, and almond shaped dark brown eyes. Monica was on the thick side but every part of her was perfect to Carmelo. She had the characteristics that a lot of females lacked and that’s what drew him to her back in the day. Monica had drive, ambition, and she was loyal. Melo had love for her, no doubt, but he was in love with Dream. Sharing a bed won’t hurt none, we just sleeping, Carmelo tried to convince himself before telling Monica to lead the way.

  “That the bathroom over there?” Melo asked pointing toward the door on the other side of the bedroom.

  “Yea.”

  “Aight, Imma take a quick shower and wash the flight off and shit.”

  “Can I come?” Monica asked with sinister smile on her face.

  Carmelo’s brain was screaming, Don’t do it, but his dick was twitching.

  “It’s your crib, ma. I can’t tell you not to jump in your own shower,” Melo laughed as he headed to the bathroom with his duffel in hand.

  He heard Monica approaching him and thoughts of Dream hit him. He spun around on his heels and stopped her dead in her tracks.

  “Nah, Mo. I can’t even go there with you,” he said with a sad face.

  “You got a girlfriend?” Monica questioned.

  Melo’s first instinct was to lie because he remember telling Monica on plenty occasions that when he was ready to settle down it would be with her. But, shit, things change and so do people.

  “Yea, I do. A nigga in love too,” Melo said.

  He threw that out there just so Monica would know how serious things were with him and Dream. He stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, leaving Monica alone with her thoughts. His dick was cursing him out, but for once in his life he was thinking with the right head. He had gone through enough to get where he was with Dream and he wasn’t about to fuck that up, even if it was Monica.

  When Melo got out of the shower, he w
alked back into the room to find Monica passed out on her bed. He didn’t even think twice about his next decision. He walked straight out of the room, down to the living room and called it a night on the couch.

  <><><><>

  The next afternoon Carmelo, Monica, and Trip sat around her living room while she gave them the run down on what she knew about the place Shondrell was staying. Apparently, he was staying in a little apartment in downtown Los Angeles with his sister, who was a student out there at UCLA. Monica went as far as calling up the school pretending to be Shanelle’s mother to get her schedule. Melo and Trip didn’t want to show up at her crib while she was there. Their beef didn’t have anything to do with her. Trip and Melo went over their plan of action and were ready to make their move.

  “Melo, be safe, please,” Monica said before standing on her tiptoes and leaning in for a kiss. Carmelo sensed what she was doing and quickly turned his head so that her kiss landed on his cheek.

  “I will, Monica. Thanks for letting us stay here and shit.”

  “Wait, so you not coming back tonight?”

  “Nah, we out right after this. I gotta get back home to my shorty. But if you ever slide through the east coast, hit my phone. We can do lunch or something. I’ll introduce you to my shorty.” Carmelo hugged her and followed Trip out to the car that was waiting for them.

  Monica had even arranged for her driver to drop them off where they needed to go. From there, they would find their way to the airport and back home.

  The car pulled up to a nice little gated apartment complex. Carmelo and Trip thanked the driver then climbed out with their duffel bags in tow. They walked around the block and slipped on black hoodies. They may have stood out in the eighty-five degree California weather, but their main concern was concealing their identity. They entered the apartment complex through the back entrance without any issues. They were warned ahead of time that the stairwells and elevators had cameras so they decided on the steps since they would be able to scale the wall and conceal themselves from the camera.

  Finally, they made it up to the seventh floor. Quickly, they scanned each door looking for the letter F as they walked through the hallway. When they came to the door marked 7F, Trip stood to the side while Carmelo covered the peephole with his hand and knocked.