by Ashley
Emilio Estes looked back and saw the limo pull up, and he watched as it came to a slow stop. Estes knew exactly who it was; it was the crew responsible for the very funeral he was at. Emilio, being in his mid-sixties and not willing to step back into the streets, conceded defeat and pulled his white handkerchief from the top pocket of his suit.
To many, it looked as if Emilio was just removing a hanky, but veterans of the street game knew what that small gesture meant. Emilio wanted the bloodshed to stop, and signaled that he would not retaliate. The war was finally over and The Cartel was no more. Literally, he was waving a white flag. It was officially The Cartel’s last chapter.
* * *
Breeze, Zyir, Mecca, and Carter were behind the tint of the stretch limo, watching their own funeral service. They had faked their own deaths, knowing that the Garza Cartel was too much for them. Carter knew that his suspicions about Murder were correct, and he had one of his goons trail Murder. He eventually found out that Murder had placed bombs at the warehouse. Carter then used that to his advantage. It was a risky plan, but it worked. As far as the Mexican beef, it was a war that they could never win so they outsmarted their enemy, rather than outshooting them. Carter came up with the plan to fake their deaths, and it worked like a charm.
Carter knew that the Garza Cartel would be watching them when they went to the warehouse, so he orchestrated a plan to sneak out of the back just before he blew the place up. He paid a coroner for four dead bodies that matched closely to himself, Zyir, Mecca, and Breeze, and placed them at the scene to be found by the authorities.
His plan had worked perfectly. They all sat in the limo with champagne glasses, celebrating their victory.
“This is to new beginnings. The Cartel is no more,” Breeze said as she raised her glass. Everyone joined her as she began her toast. With the support of her family, she was doing so much better. She had vowed to never touch another drug in her life, and so far, she was beating her addiction. She was more than ready to leave everything behind.
“To The Car-” Mecca started. He forgot that The Cartel was news of the past. “My fault. That gangster shit still in me,” he said while smiling. “To family,” he said as he raised his glass a tad bit higher.
“To family,” everyone said in unison, repeating what Mecca had just said. Another limo pulled up behind them, and they all knew that it was Felipe and his people. They had come to confirm their deaths.
Carter laughed and signaled for the driver to pull off. They had to catch a flight to Brazil. The Cartel was officially dead to the world.
2 Weeks Later in Brazil
Zyir looked at Breeze as she approached him with a flowing white dress and a veil over her face. Breeze had never looked more beautiful to him than she did on that very day.
Mecca walked on her right side, where their father should have been, and he gripped her hand for support. It was her wedding day, a day that their mother and father had looked forward to since Breeze was a young girl. Although they could not be present, Mecca felt their spirits in the air.
“They’re looking down on you today, Breeze. They’re here,” Mecca whispered.
Breeze knew that he was speaking of their parents, and smiled as her eyes lifted to the sky to acknowledge them.
Carter was next to Zyir, acting as his best man for the ceremony. The only witness present outside of The Cartel family was the Catholic priest of the church they used.
Zyir smiled from ear to ear as he patiently waited to be joined by his bride. As they approached, Zyir looked at Breeze and promised himself that he would take care of her forever and a day. She made him happy, and he was determined to return that favor for a lifetime.
Zyir asked Breeze to marry him while they were on the jet coming to Brazil, and she graciously accepted. It didn’t take long for them to start planning for the small ceremony and make it happen.
Breeze approached Zyir, and they stood face to face, looking into each other’s eyes.
Breeze was full of tears because not only was she overwhelmed with happiness, but also great sadness. She wanted to share this special day with her family, but she only had a few people left. This day had brought about mixed emotions for her. She had never missed her parents and Monroe more than she had today, but the man who stood before her gave her strength. In his eyes, she saw her future, and it was filled with love. Her newfound joy with Zyir allowed her to push the sadness out of her mind, and she smiled from ear to ear.
The priest began the ceremony, and it was nothing but love in the room. They were a match made in heaven.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the priest said as he smiled and nodded his head at Zyir.
Zyir then slowly raised the veil that covered Breeze’s face and exposed her magnificence. He put both of his hands under her chin and kissed her.
Carter and Mecca clapped as Zyir kissed his wife. They both turned toward the door and started to walk down the aisle, but before Zyir took two steps, he turned back to Carter and whispered something that was one of the hardest things he ever had to ask him.
“Do you want me to take care of it?” Zyir asked.
Carter watched as Breeze hugged Mecca and looked at Zyir.
“Nah, I got it. Enjoy your wedding day. I will see you when you get back,” he said calmly and smoothly, all with a small smile on his face. “I love you, Zy, Carter said to his protégé that was now a man.
“I love you too, big homie,” Zyir replied.
* * *
Breeze approached Mecca as he held his arms out. He had tears in his eyes. Crying was something Breeze never saw Mecca do.
The tears in Mecca’s eyes were ones of joy rather than pain. It felt good to see his sister smiling for a change. He saw that Zyir made her happy, and that was what was important to him.
He glanced at Zyir, who was talking to Carter, and smirked, knowing that Zyir would take good care of his sister. Mecca then focused back on the approaching Breeze.
“I love you, sis,” Mecca said as she slid into his arms and into his warm embrace. Mecca was so happy to see his sister in the pretty white dress, and he knew that his mother and father would have been proud of her if they were still alive.
Their family had been through war and rain, but now it was time for sunshine. He was her only remaining full-blooded relative, and he knew that he symbolized more than himself. He was there on the behalf of Monroe, Taryn, and their father, Big Carter.
“I love you too, Mecca,” Breeze said as she rested her head on his chest and hugged him tightly. Her eyes were closed, but a tear managed to slip down her cheek. She enjoyed that moment like it would be her last. The drama and turmoil that she had been through over the years with the ills of the drug game and the family business had her jaded.
She thought about being in the basement of Ma’tee’s home and being hopeless and ready to die. She thought she would never escape his grasp, but to be married and starting a new chapter in her life brought joy to her heart.
Mecca wanted to confess to his sister and tell her all of the wrong he had done, just as he had done with the priest, but he could not bring himself to let Breeze know that he had betrayed the family in such a heinous way. How was he supposed to tell her that he had murdered his own twin brother and reignited the beef with the Haitians? All of Mecca’s betrayals eventually led to the death of Taryn and Breeze’s own kidnapping. How could he tell her this? He couldn’t, because he feared that she would never forgive him, and he needed his sister to look at him with admiration as she had always done.
He needed her love like he needed the air in his lungs, so as he stood before her, the only words he could let slip out of his quivering lips were, “Sorry. I’m so sorry.” He gently grabbed her shoulders and looked into her beautiful eyes. He saw his father’s features in Breeze, and also their mother’s, and it tore Mecca’s insides apart.
Breeze looked into Mecca’s eyes and felt his pain through the windows to his soul. She di
dn’t understand fully what Mecca was sorry for, but something told her not to ask. Breeze just smiled and nodded her head.
“It’s okay, Mecca. I forgive you,” she whispered as she wiped the single tear that streamed down his clenched jawbone. She didn’t know what she was forgiving Mecca for, but she understood that he needed to experience forgiveness. She felt obligated to let him know that whatever he had done, it was in the past.
Zyir finished his brief conversation with Carter and headed over to Mecca and Breeze. He approached Mecca as Breeze stepped back and gave them room to converse.
“Congratulations,” Mecca whispered as he looked at his comrade, Zyir.
“Thanks, fam,” Zyir said with a smirk on his face. He embraced Mecca and hugged him tightly as he cherished the moment. He knew Mecca was a gangster, and real always recognized real. Needless to say, Zyir respected Mecca and vice versa.
Mecca noticed that Zyir hugged him tightly, and Mecca felt the genuine love coming from his new brother-in-law. The moment was almost enough to make Mecca cry again, but he held his composure and respected the authenticity of Zyir.
Zyir hugged Mecca like it would be the last time he would see him. “I love you bro,” Zyir said as he released his embrace.
“I love you too. Take care of my sister, a’ight,” Mecca said as he winked at Breeze.
“I got you,” Zyir said as he held out his arm for Breeze to latch on. Breeze did so, and they strolled down the aisle and out of the doors, where a cocaine white limo was waiting for them at the foot of the steps. The newlyweds were off to board a private jet to Rome for a weeklong honeymoon.
Carter and Mecca watched as they disappeared behind the large double doors of the sanctuary, both of them with smiles on their faces. Mecca looked to Carter and rested his hand on Carter’s shoulder.
“That’s our baby sister right there. I’m glad to see her happy,” Mecca said with deep sincerity.
“Yeah, Zyir’s a good dude. I raised that kid. I know that he’s one hundred percent… no cut. He is going to take care of his family no matter what,” Carter stated with a blank expression on his face.
Carter’s words were like a dagger straight to Mecca’s heart, as Mecca thought about his ultimate betrayal of his own family. He knew at that very moment that he wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Zyir or Carter. It was the hurtful truth that he would have to live with for the rest of his life.
“We all we got,” Mecca said as he looked into Carter’s eyes.
Carter noticed that Mecca’s eyes didn’t reflect that of a killer’s. Mecca looked as vulnerable as a lost young boy, and his words were heartfelt and without prejudice. Mecca truly meant what he had just said. He had made the transformation. Mecca was ready to leave the gangster life alone and live life without regrets. He hoped that the new country of Brazil could give him peace of mind and rinse him of the blood that seemed to stain his hands back in Miami.
The priest walked up to them and prepared to exit the church. He shook Mecca’s hand and then Carter’s.
“Thank you, Father,” Carter said as he gripped the priest’s hand. The priest exited the church, leaving Mecca and Carter alone.
Mecca put both of his hands in his pockets and turned on his heels.
“Excuse me for a second, bro. I have to make a quick phone call,” Mecca said.
Carter nodded his head and watched as Mecca faded into the back of the church where the dressing room was located. Carter thought back to the day that he was in the confessional booth and Mecca told on himself. He thought about how Mecca had killed the only love of his life, Miamor. He also thought about how Mecca cold-bloodedly killed Monroe.
Carter shook his head, not believing the disloyal acts of his only remaining brother. Images of Miamor smiling and in his arms popped into his thoughts, instantly making Carter chuckle while remembering the bond that they once had shared. He remembered how gangster she was, yet she was so soft, so ladylike. Miamor was built for a gangster like him, and Mecca had taken that away from him.
“I love you, Miamor,” Carter whispered as he looked to the head of the church and stared at the cross with a statue of Jesus Christ hanging on it. He hoped Miamor heard him from the depths of the heavens. Little did he know, with Miamor’s resume, she was probably in hell smoking a blunt. That’s a real bitch.
* * *
Mecca held his cell phone up to his ear, waiting for the person he was calling to answer.
“I’m on my way to the airport now,” Leena said as she smiled and made her way through the airport with her son by her side. She wore oversized sunglasses and a wrap over her head to try to disguise herself from any of Estes’ goons. Her son had on a baseball cap and heavy clothing, making him chunkier than usual. She was in a rush, trying to get to Mecca, the man she loved, the man who had once almost taken her life. She had snuck away from Estes and was on her way to Brazil to raise her son with Mecca.
Mecca smiled when he heard her voice, and the thought of sharing a life with Leena was inspirational. “Hurry up and get to me, baby,” Mecca said, filled with joy.
“I can’t wait to see you,” Leena said as she gave the flight attendant her boarding passes.
“I can’t wait to see you either, beautiful. I am going to make this right, and we are going to be a family. I am going to raise that boy like he is mine and teach him how to be a man… a good man. Just like his father was,” Mecca said, meaning every word of what he was saying.
“I know you are, Mecca. I know. We are on our way. Mecca Diamond, I love you,” Leena said as she boarded the plane.
“I love you more,” Mecca said just before he flipped down his cell phone and smiled. “Thank you, Lord,” Mecca whispered. He was beginning to believe that there was a God. He was determined to get a better relationship with his Savior and live his life right. He couldn’t wait until the rest of his family arrived in Brazil so that his new life could begin. Nevertheless, he would never get to see them.
Mecca heard the sound of a gun being cocked behind him, but he didn’t seem startled or even turn around, for that matter. He just took a deep breath and placed his hands together in a praying gesture.
“Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” Mecca said as tears slid down his face. He already knew who was behind him, and it came as no surprise to him.
Carter began to recite the prayer along with his brother as he pointed the gun to the back of Mecca’s head.
Mecca had always known that Carter would eventually seek revenge for Miamor’s death. He had loved her way too much not to come after him. Mecca’s only dilemma had been to figure out when and where Carter would take his life. Mecca was a seasoned street veteran, and the one thing that he knew for sure was that “the eyes don’t lie” and on that day, Carter could not hide the hatred he had inside.
Carter knew that if he let Mecca live, Mecca would possibly turn on him one day, just as he did to Monroe. He also felt obligated to avenge Miamor’s death, so killing Mecca was inevitable.
Mecca also knew the game. Mecca realized that if he were in Carter’s shoes, he would have done the same, so he wasn’t mad at Carter for what he was about to do. Once the prayer was over, Mecca stood unflinchingly, with his heart pounding through his chest. There was no malice in his heart, only regret, but he knew that his oldest brother was about to deliver his retribution.
“I love you, Carter,” Mecca said as he straightened up his tie and prepared for his death.
“I love you too,” Carter replied sincerely as he wrapped his finger around the trigger. “I always will, bro.”
Boom!
A single slug went through the back of Mecca’s head and clear through his forehead, rocking him to sleep forever at the hands of his own flesh and blood. Karma is real, and The Cartel was no more.
Epilogue
“Diamonds are forever.”
– Carter Diamond
Leena covered her ears and took deep breaths as the plane flew through the turbul
ent skies. She hated to fly, but she hated being apart from Mecca even more. She knew that Estes would be hurt when he read the letter she had written. A single note was all that she had left behind. She knew that he would never understand why she had chosen Mecca over him, but it was something that she had to do. It was a decision that only she would understand.
Her heart jumped out of her chest as the plane dipped violently, almost as if it would fall from the sky. She snuggled her son tightly to her chest and whispered, “Please, God, keep this thing in the air.”
The captain turned the seatbelt sign on, only scaring Leena even more. She instinctively reached out to grip the arm of the gentleman sitting next to her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. This flying thing has me kind of shook,” she explained in embarrassment.
“It’s okay. You’re good. The turbulence is really only potholes in the sky. They won’t do any real damage. They’re just good at causing uneasy passengers a nice scare,” he said.
Leena nodded and inhaled deeply to calm her nerves.
“Besides, if you ever want to know if something is wrong, all you got to do is look at the flight attendants. When they panic, you panic, but until then you’re good,” he said.
Leena snuck a glance at the stewardess and noticed that she was calm as ever and joking with one of her colleagues. Leena smiled and shook her head in amazement. “Thanks. That actually just gave me peace of mind,” she said to the guy beside her.
“No problem. Let me know if you need my arm again, though. I’ll be happy to lend it to you,” he replied with a smirk and the wink of an eye.
“I’m Leena,” she introduced.
“Murder,” he replied.