A Gangster's Dream

by Charmanie Saquea

“Fuck you mean am I sure? Since when you start questioning my moves, Shaq?” Carmelo spat.

  “Melo, all I’m saying is this ain’t you, man. You been in the game how many years? And never have you stooped this low to get at nigga.”

  “All my morals went out the window when that nigga sent his bitch ass flunkies to hit Summer party. He don’t give a fuck about who end up a casualty due to our beef, so why should I? Fuck this talking shit. You coming or you wanna sit in the car and keep battling with your morals?”

  Carmelo didn’t wait for Shaq to respond. He pushed open the passenger side door and stepped out. As expected, Shaq followed suit.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  The sound of Carmelo banging on Ms. Mary’s apartment door echoed through the narrow hallway. After the sound of locks clicking, the door slowly inched open. Ms. Mary appeared wearing a grey housecoat and grey fuzzy slippers with bunny ears. She was a homebody, so that was more like her everyday attire. She smiled at the sight of Carmelo and Shaq.

  “Oh my, I haven’t seen you boys in such a long time. How is it going?” she asked as she stepped aside, granting Carmelo and Shaquille access to apartment.

  “Everything is all good, Ms. Mary. We were in the neighborhood and decided to stop by and say hi. See how you were doing and stuff,” Carmelo said.

  “I’m doing well. You know I ain’t never been one to complain.”

  “That’s good. Wassup with Shondrell? We haven’t see him in a while either.”

  Ms. Mary sighed. “That boy done got himself involved with only God knows who. He supposed to be coming over today. Let me give him a call and see what time.”

  Shaq had made himself comfortable on the couch, and observed the interaction between Melo and Shondrell’s mother. Melo, on the other hand, was ready to get shit over and done with. He watched closely as Ms. Mary punched a few buttons on her phone and placed the phone to her ear.

  “Shondrell, where are you boy… Oh okay, Carmelo and Shaquille stopped by to see me.”

  Melo watched her eyes grow wide as saucers and knew that there was his window of opportunity. Slowly he raised his gun and without thinking, pulled back on the trigger.

  Pop!

  He sent one single bullet flying through the center of Ms. Mary’s forehead. He watched as her body dropped to the floor and watched blood seep through the tiny hole in her head. His gun was accessorized with a silencer, so he was in no rush to exit the crime scene. Carmelo made his way over to where Ms. Mary dropped her phone and used the sleeve of his sweater to pick it up. He was carefully not to touch it with his bare hands, not wanting to leave behind prints.

  He brought the phone close to his mouth before speaking. “Play time is over. You know exactly where to find me.”

  He tossed the phone back down near Ms. Mary’s deceased body and looked back at Shaq. The look he gave him told him that it was time for them to get low, and that’s exactly what they did, using the same way they arrived to make their exit.

  Chapter Nine

  Killing Shondrell’s mother made Carmelo think about his own mother. He hadn’t seen her in a minute. Not only because he had sent her away, but because he was so concerned with what was going on in the street. Although they spoke as much as possible, it just wasn’t enough for him anymore. He knew that the same way he got to Drell’s mother, it was possible for the same thing to happen to his moms. It was unlikely because Caiden and Carmelo made sure that she lived way off anyone’s radar; not to mention that she had been in California visiting her sister away from all the bullshit. She had been home for a few days, so Melo thought it was time for him to make that trip.

  He had a new woman in his life, so it was only right for Dream to make the trip with him. After spending an entire day together shopping and just enjoying each other’s company they found themselves at Mr. and Mrs. Love’s house.

  Just as they were walking up to the front door, it was opening and the last person Carmelo expected to see was emerging from the house.

  “What are you doing here Alexandria?” he asked, clearly annoyed.

  Alex looked from Dream over to Carmelo and smirked. “I’m not allowed to see mom either Carmelo? You and your rules. If you must know though, I came over here to speak with her about you and Summer. I needed advice on how I should move forward with you not wanting me to see OUR daughter.”

  Carmelo knew she was going out her way to make sure Dream knew who she was and that Summer was his daughter. He was thanking himself and God that he made the decision to tell her.

  “Honestly, I didn’t come here for the bullshit. I don’t want you around my mother and I definitely don’t want you around my niece,” Melo said.

  “Get used to it. I’m going to see Summer whether you like it or not,” Alex spat.

  “Honestly Alexandria, it has to be a better way to deal with this. I get that you want to see and speak to your daughter, but it has to be a better way to handle it,” Dream said trying to reason with her.

  “And this concerns you how?” Alex retorted.

  “This my girl, and she pretty close with Summer. She would know what is best for her before you would. Now, if you would excuse us,” Carmelo said before turning the knob on the door, leading Dream inside and leaving Alexandria on the porch, alone and in her feelings.

  “Mama!” he called out as they walked through the door.

  “What you yelling for, boy?” she asked as she walked out of the kitchen.

  “What you doing, old lady?” he asked with a smile as he kissed her cheek.

  “Just doing old lady stuff like cooking. It's about time you came to see me. I guess the pretty lady let you up for some air.” She looked from Dream to him and smiled.

  “Mom, I would like you to meet Dream,” He said.

  “Hello, Mrs. Love. It’s nice to meet you. You have a wonderful home,” Dream said.

  “Nice to finally meet you as well. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to put a face to the name,” Catherine said.

  Carmelo laughed. “Who have you been speaking to?”

  “You know my granddaughter can’t hold water to save her life. Every time I spoke to her, she had a new Uncle Melo and Dream story. All I wanna know is why I’m just meeting her?” she said with a side eye.

  “I don't know, ma. I just wanted to see where it was going first before I brought her around. You know I just can’t be bringing any ol chick around my mama.”

  “Well, yea that’s true. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever met any female you have dealt with. Dream you’re definitely the first.”

  “That's because they weren't worthy,” he said seriously.

  “I feel special,” Dream added.

  “Carmelo, you just missed Alexandria, you know she moved back in town,” Catherine said, giving him a knowing look.

  “We ran into her mom. But look, can we discuss that another time?”

  “Of course, today is about me getting to know Dream. Come on in this kitchen so ya’ll can eat. Carmelo, you seem to always pop up when I cook. You just be sensing your mama’s food, don’t you?”

  Carmelo and Dream laughed as they followed her into the kitchen. For the rest of the evening, the three of them enjoyed a meal and each other’s company. A few times, Carmelo’s mother tried to bring up Alex and the drama she was trying to brew, but he quickly reminded her that it wasn’t the time. She thought it was because Dream was there, but it wasn’t. Melo had already told her everything so nothing was a secret. He didn’t want to discuss it with his mother because he knew she would tell him to come clean with Caiden and Summer, and he just wasn’t ready to do that.

  Finally, Catherine and Dream found things that they had in common; of course fashion was one of them. They ended up talking about clothes for hours. Melo didn’t mind. He allowed the women in his life to bond while he caught up on Sports Center. It was nearly midnight when he decided it was time for him and Dream to head back to his place. Catherine liked Dream and made her pro
mise that she wouldn’t be a stranger before seeing them off.

  Chapter Ten

  It had been quiet on the beef front since Carmelo bodied Shondrell’s mother. He knew that the nigga was only quiet cause he was mourning his mother and planning her services. It was whatever with Carmelo. He knew the beef was far from over, but the brief time of peace was exactly what he needed.

  He started spending more time with Dream than he would have been allowed to if he was still constantly worried about what Drell was going to do next. Even Alexandria had seemed to disappear, which was good. Shit was going so good that Carmelo wasn’t ready nor was he prepared to shake it up, in the event that Alex forced his hand. She was living in New York now. He knew that just like Shondrell, she wouldn’t be keeping the peace for long. He was going to enjoy it while it lasted though.

  Since meeting, Dream and Catherine had to become extremely fond of each other. They made Saturdays their girls’ day out where they would go out and do whatever it was that chicks did, with Summer in tow. Saturday was the only day Melo spent away from Dream, unless she was at work and he was out checking on money, and that’s how he liked it.

  On one of the many days they spent together, Carmelo and Dream were down in his weight room working out together. While he was pumping iron, she was running on the treadmill with her headphones in and August Alsina's Testimony album blasting in her ears. While working out, Carmelo was watching ESPN to catch up on what he missed due to Dream watching her girly shows.

  In just a few short weeks, Dream had pretty much came and took over his pad without her even knowing it. Carmelo didn't mind though, he thought it was nice to have a female's touch around the house. One of the monitors on his screen showed Shaq pulling up in his driveway. He wasn't worried about getting up and opening the door because Shaq and Caiden had spare keys.

  "Nigga I got two freaks for us..." Shaq's sentence faded out once he noticed Dream on the treadmill. He looked over at his best friend with a questioning look. Carmelo never allowed any female in his house if it wasn't Summer.

  "What?" Carmelo shrugged.

  "What? Nigga, that's what I wanna know. What is this?"

  Carmelo glanced over at Dream just as she started singing, "She got a Bugatti body, yea she a beast in the streets."

  He chuckled because she still hadn't noticed Shaq was standing there. "What you mean, what is this? I'm Melo, and that's Dream. But you already knew that."

  "Don't get cute with me. I'm trynna figure out when the hell did we start letting females in our shit?" Shaq asked.

  "When I started paying the fucking bills," Carmelo said. He didn't like people questioning him about his business or what he had going on. He looked out the corner of his eyes and noticed Dream walking in their direction.

  "I'm about to grab some water, you want something?" she asked.

  "Yea, grab me some water, too," he said as he slapped her on the ass as she walked up the stairs. He didn't miss the look of disgust Dream gave Shaq as she walked past him.

  He looked at Shaq with a raised eyebrow. "What's the beef?"

  "With who?" Shaq asked.

  "Nigga don't play dumb. What's the problem with you and Dream?"

  Shaq looked behind him before speaking. "I didn't wanna tell you but ya girl ain't what you think she is. She can play that good girl innocent role around you all she want, but I know what's up."

  "You talking in circles."

  Shaq sighed. "She was over to the crib with Kierra the other day. They had some girl shit going on, but Kierra had to make a run. Dream took that as an opportunity to come on to a nigga. I told her it wasn't about to go down like that. She got mad because I wouldn't give her the dick so now she hate a nigga guts."

  Carmelo looked at him through squinted eyes. Dream came back down the stairs with two bottles of water and an apple in her hand. Dream handed him his water and took a bite of her apple before trying to walk away.

  "Hol up, ma, let me ask you something."

  "What's up?" She shrugged.

  "So you tried to fuck my boy?" he asked flat out. He didn't see the need to beat around the bush.

  Dream chuckled. "Oh that's what he told you? Funny, because I remember it being the other way around.” She turned to address Shaq. “You were the one who was talking all this wacky back shit about him not being the type to settle down. You said he was going to do him regardless of how I felt, so I might as well leave him alone now and get with a real nigga." She stopped and put her hand up. "I don't even know why I'm even talking to you."

  She turned and looked at Carmelo. "I don't know what lies he was down here spitting, but I have not ever tried to fuck him. He's my girl’s nigga and I don't even get down like that, he's not even my type. I'm not that bitch he trynna make me out to be," she said, looking him straight in the eye.

  "That's your word?" he asked.

  "My word is bond. I don't have a reason to lie," Dream said.

  Carmelo sighed. "Alright, why don't you go home for a couple of days and I'll call you later," he said.

  Dream stepped back and looked at Carmelo in disbelief. She just nodded her head at him before heading up the stairs. Shaq smirked at her back before turning his attention to Carmelo. "See, I knew you would do the right thing. I been trynna tell you these hoes ain't shit."

  Carmelo didn't say anything as he heard his front door slam then he looked up at the monitor to see Dream jump in her car and speed off.

  "Like I was saying though, Melo, I got two freaks that wanna have a good time tonight. What you say?" Shaq asked.

  "I say you need to roll on up out of here too," Carmelo said as he went back to lifting weights.

  "Huh?"

  "You heard me."

  Shaq looked at Carmelo with the same look of shock that Dream had worn two minutes ago. Carmelo didn't do bullshit and that's exactly what this whole situation was. He believed Dream, she stood there and looked him in the eyes and he could tell she was telling the truth. He and Shaq been boys since they were in third grade. They did their share of everything together, from selling bud, escalating to coke, fucking bitches, bodying niggas, everything. They’ve spent so much time together over the years that they knew each other like the backs of their own hands. Melo knew when Shaq was lying the same way Shaq would know if he was spitting bullshit. The thing was, Melo never would have thought that his own best friend would sneak diss him just to get some ass. It was just way too much pussy in the world for that. To make matters worse, the chick belonged to Melo. If no one else knew, Shaq should have known that meant she was completely off limits. Chris got it twisted, cause clearly niggas wasn’t loyal either.

  Chapter Eleven

  It had been three days since Carmelo had last seen or heard from Dream. He had called her, but she just sent him to voicemail. Summer had asked about her and he had to break the news to her. Of course she was mad at him and went on a rant about him needing to go see her and apologize. He was trying to figure out when he started letting a little girl dictate his life. She may have been a teenager, but she knew exactly what she was talking about. Melo knew if he had any chance on keeping Dream and making their relationship work, he had to step up and apologize for being a dick.

  Carmelo pulled up Dream’s boutique. He was coming to see her and apologize because he truly missed her. He knew that it may have seemed like he actually believed Shaq and was taking his side versus hers, but that wasn't the case. He just wasn't the one for some bullshit, so he just told both of them to leave.

  He walked in the shop and Dream was helping a costumer. She glanced up at him but didn't look as if she was happy to see him. Carmelo knew she was mad and she had the right to be. He nodded his head towards the back, letting her know that's where he’d be. He looked around at all the different dresses and other items they had back there.

  “What do you want?” Dream asked.

  “Is that how we talk to each other now? I thought we were better than that.”

  Dream folde
d her arms across her chest and looked at him as if she was uninterested in what he was saying. Carmelo sighed and pulled Dream into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her waist while letting his hands rest on her ass.

  “I'm sorry, I know I was wrong for asking you to leave like that, but I don't want you thinking that I believed him over you. That wasn't the case. I just asked you to leave because I didn't need the issue to get out of hand. I miss you, please say you forgive me.” He pouted like a little kid.

  Dream looked up at him with those eyes he loved so much and smirked. Carmelo started slow grinding into her. “Pleaseee!”

  Dream couldn't help but to bust out laughing at him. “I can't take you serious.” She shook her head.

  “So you forgive me?”

  “Hmmm.” Dream tapped her chin. “It all depends.”

  “On what?” Carmelo asked with a raised eyebrow.

  Dream put her mouth close to his ear, “I'll let you know tonight…in bed,” she said before lightly licking his earlobe and walking away.

  Carmelo stood there with a smile on his face. “Ol freaky ass.” He shook his head.

  “I get off in a little bit… My place or yours?” Dream purred.

  “I got a few things to handle, so meet me at my crib.”

  “Sounds like a plan, baby,” she said as she sashayed toward the front of the shop.

  He walked out from the back of the shop just as Dream was walking behind the counter to ring up a costumer. Their eyes met and Dream hit him with a wink and a sly smile. Carmelo was happy that he got back on good terms with his Dream. She was starting to become such a big part of his life that the past three days felt funny without her. As he climbed back into his truck, all he could think about was the quicker he handled his business, the quicker he could make it back to his crib and slide up in the pussy he loved and missed so much.

  <><><><>

  Carmelo pulled up to his trap house on Flatbush. He was doing a drop by on niggas to make sure shit was running smoothly. He walked in the house using the back door and was wondering why drugs was left on the table unattended. He heard laughter coming from the front of the house, so he headed that way.