A Gangster's Dream 2

by Charmanie Saquea

  “Summer, you know you don't have to ask me nothing like that. Just come by the boutique sometime next week and look through the books or whatever.” Dream shook her head.

  “I didn't just want to show up,” Summer laughed.

  “Summer, cut it out. It's a boutique, you're supposed to just show up.” Dream laughed.

  “You're right, you're right. Thanks, Dreamy,” Summer gushed.

  “No need to thank me, just come through. You know where I be,” Dream giggled.

  “Dream, please don't ever say that again, I mean never ever again. I’m going to come over there now.”

  “Okay, see you when you get here. Bye hater,” Dream laughed into the phone before hanging up.

  Dream really loved Summer. She was amazed at how the two had hit it off instantly. Especially when Carmelo told her that Summer didn't like sharing him and didn't like the last female he dealt with. She and Summer had never had any problems and she looked at her like the daughter she never had.

  <><><><>

  Summer was spending time with Dream at her boutique. It was the weekend and she didn't have anything better to do so she decided to spend it with her favorite lady besides her nana. Dream had really become a big part in Summer’s life, she looked up to her and she was the closest thing to a mother that she’d had.

  She was happy that her Uncle Melo had found Dream. He had become a different person since the two had been together, but he was different in a good way. She had never seen her uncle so happy. Summer didn't even feel like her relationship with her uncle was being jeopardized just because he was in a steady relationship now. Whenever he and Dream did something, Dream would call up Summer and ask her if she wanted to go, but sometimes she would decline just so the couple could have some alone time.

  “Sum, stay up here and watch the front for me please. I have to run to the back real quick,” Dream said.

  “Okay, Dreamy.”

  Summer was looking through a book of dresses for ideas. Her junior prom was coming up and she knew she had to be the baddest one in the building. Even though it was some months away, she wanted to start planning.

  She heard the bell chime indicating the door had opened. She didn't bother looking up, figuring it was just a costumer. She was about to turn the page when she looked out the corner of her eye. Instantly, she caught an attitude when the person got close.

  “Why are you here and what do you want?”

  “Let's go Summer, now.” Alex said with an attitude.

  “I'm not going anywhere with you, I don't know you like that,” Summer sassed.

  “I'm your mother and you'll do what I'll tell you to do. Now get the hell up and let's go,” Alex yelled as she grabbed Summer’s arm.

  Alex was livid. She had called Caiden to see if she could come get a Summer and he had informed her that she was with Carmelo and his girlfriend. She had heard all the stories about Melo’s little girlfriend trying to play the mother role, but Alex wasn't having it.

  She was the one who carried her for nine months and was in labor with her for hours. Summer was her daughter. She was pissed and hurt that Carmelo wouldn't let her see Summer but would allow some random bitch to play her role.

  Dream heard a commotion so she hurried from the back of the boutique. When she walked out, she saw Alex grab Summer’s arm.

  “What the hell is going on? Sum, you good?” Dream asked Summer but kept her eyes on Alex.

  “This doesn't concern you, bitch,” Alex said.

  “Dream, I'm two seconds away from slapping her if she doesn't let me go,” Summer seethed.

  “Hold up, Alexandria,” Dream said. “You don't know me, so I advise you to watch who you're talking to.”

  Alex let go of Summer’s arm so she could walk up on Dream. Summer took that as an opportunity to run to the back and call her uncle.

  “Whatever I do or say to my daughter is none of your business. I'm the one who birthed her, so you need to fall back.”

  Dream chuckled; she found this whole situation amusing. She really wanted to slap the shit out of Alex, but her being pregnant out a stop to that, along with the fact that there was other customers in her boutique watching.

  “Just because you gave birth to her don't mean a damn thing. That's all you did was birth her. You didn't raise her, you weren't there to support her, to teach her about life, to give her that motherly love she needed. So birthing her don't mean a damn thing to her or anybody else,” Dream said.

  Alex raised her hand like she wanted to slap Dream, but a voice halted her.

  “I wish the fuck you would,” Carmelo said as he walked up on the two.

  He was happy he was already on his way here when Summer called him. He was pissed that Alex would try to come show her ass, especially in Dream’s place of business. He walked up close on Alex so only the two of them could hear what he was about to say.

  “You have about sixty seconds to raise the fuck up out of here or you'll never have to worry about seeing Summer again because they'll need a dive team to find your body. Fuck with me if you want to. If Summer wants to have a relationship with you, she'll call. Don't bother her no fucking more,” he said in her ear. He walked over to Dream and looked down at his Rolex. “Ten seconds,” he said over his shoulder.

  Alex was no fool. She hauled ass getting out of there because she knew Carmelo would make good on his threat. He didn't make idle threats. If he said he was going to do it, he was definitely going to do it.

  “Crazy bitch,” Dream mumbled.

  “Aye, watch your mouth,” Carmelo joked as he lightly slapped her ass.

  “I'm saying though, Melo, I should have slapped her right where she stood if I wasn't…” Dream let her voice trail off. She was about to let her mouth get her into trouble. She wasn't ready to tell Carmelo about her being pregnant yet.

  “If you wasn't what?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “If I wasn't working and this wasn't my boutique, I would have,” she said.

  Carmelo shook his head and walked to the back to check on Summer.

  “You wasn't going to do nothing girl, quit playing,” he joked.

  “Melo, please, you better act like you know. I'm a gangster’s dream, I'm not new to this,” Dream laughed with that cute little snort that Carmelo loved.

  Carmelo stopped dead in his tracks and turned to smile at Dream. That was the same exact line she had used in his dream. She truly is a gangster’s dream and he would be damned if he slipped up and let someone try to come in and mess up what they had built.

  “Dream, Imma take Summer home. Drive her car home when you lock up. Call me first so I know to be expecting you,” Melo said as he motioned for Summer to follow him.

  <><><><>

  After sticking around Dream’s shop a little while making sure she was straight after the whole Alexandria fiasco, Carmelo decided to take Summer home. It was time for him and his beloved brother to have a much needed talk, and since all of this was stemming from Summer not wanting to be home, Carmelo decided to take her. Even though he didn’t agree with his brother half the time and was still pissed at him for putting his hands on Summer, he didn’t want to continue beefing with him. He definitely didn’t want Caiden feeling like he wasn’t enough of a father to Summer. Melo knew he felt that way and it was partially his fault. He was realized that he may have stepped on Caiden’s toes more times than he should have when it came to raising Summer. It got worse once he came out of the coma with the thoughts that she may have been his daughter. It was time for them to get back to how they were. Melo was losing niggas left and right, the last person he wanted added to that list was Caiden.

  “You really bought me home?” Summer said, shaking her head as Carmelo turned onto her block.

  “Yea, you been with Dream and I for like two weeks straight. You don’t think it’s time you check in on your old man?” Melo asked.

  “I call him every day. You don’t understand, Uncle Melo. Daddy is boring as hell,”r />
  “Sum, watch your mouth.”

  “I’m sorry, but you know what… Never mind, I’ll call you later or I guess in a few days, since you want space,” Summer said as she pulled on the handle of her door to get out.

  “Sum, stop. I never said I wanted space. I just know how I would feel if I was your pops and you never wanted to be with me. All I’m saying is spend some time with him. School about to be over, you can crash my crib whenever you want for as long as you want,” Carmelo reasoned.

  “What if you were my dad? I mean, things would be way different, right?”

  The statement threw Carmelo for a loop.

  “What you mean? But to answer your question, I don’t think anything would be different. You would still have a father and uncle that loves you more than life itself,” Melo said, still confused by her question.

  “I guess, Uncle Melo. But yea, I’ll see you later.”

  “Tell your pops to come outside. I wanna holla at him about something,” Melo said before leaning over and kissing Summer’s forehead.

  He watched as she trotted up the driveway, let herself in and disappeared behind the door. Minutes later, Caiden emerged from the house and headed in Melo’s direction.

  <><><><>

  Caiden knew Carmelo would be showing his face soon or later since had sent Alexandria to Dream’s store. Caiden didn’t send her there because he wanted to force Summer into having a relationship with Alex. It was all to get under Melo’s skin. Seeing his twin brother parked at the end of his driveway told him that he had accomplished just that. Since Summer started driving, it was rare for Carmelo to stop by his brother’s crib, especially since they had been at odds lately.

  “What up?” Caiden said as he approached Carmelo’s truck.

  “Get in,” Melo stated.

  “Nah, you get out.”

  Carmelo cocked his head to the side, in a way that silently asked Caiden was he serious. Moments passed and Caiden had yet to make another move toward the truck, letting Melo know that he wasn’t joking. Caiden watched as his brother slowly climbed out the truck and adjusted the waist of his jeans where he surely had a gun tucked.

  “Look, Caiden,” Melo started as he walked around the front of his jeep toward his brother.

  “This beefing shit is petty. We really out here trying to compete about who love Summer more and who she love more,” Melo started to explain but Caiden didn’t want to hear it.

  “Nah, fuck that Melo. Ain’t no fucking competing. That’s my daughter, period. I appreciate all the shit you helped me with along the way in terms of raising her, but my nigga, you been overstepped your boundaries. Instead of coming through and giving me some half-assed apology, I need and would recommend you falling right back in line. You got ya bitch now so go make a baby. Leave mine to me and her mother.”

  Without much thought, Carmelo drew back his fist and sent it slamming into the Caiden’s jaw. Caiden was caught totally off guard and stumbled backward due to the power behind the blow.

  “What the fuck you just said to me, Caiden?” Carmelo barked as he moved closer ready to hit him again.

  “So, this where we at?” Caiden said.

  “Nah, nah, I want you to repeat what you just said to me. Cause I know you didn’t come out your fucking face and call my girl a bitch. More importantly than that, I know you didn’t refer to that fucking egg donor as a mother. You really on some sucker bitch shit. Which is probably why YOUR daughter don’t wanna be around your ass.”

  “Man, Melo, fuck out of here with that shit. You really think you fucking God and everybody gotta flock to you and move under your command. I’m not one of your bitch ass workers, nigga. I don’t work for you and I don’t owe you shit.”

  “You don’t work for me, but that crib you live in like a fucking king, was paid for on my dime. So nigga, you owe me every fucking thing. I just don’t want shit from you. Because you’re my brother I’m going to let you keep your teeth in your mouth. I do, however, suggest you remember who the fuck you’re dealing with. Now when you go in the house you better not take you bitch ass attitude out on Summer. I let you rock with hitting YOUR daughter once. I’m not having it again,” Melo barked before walking back over to the passenger side of his truck. He was no longer in the mood to make amends with his brother. Maybe another time, he thought before pulling off.

  Caiden was stuck for a minute trying to figure out what happened. One minute it seemed like he was in control of the situation, then like always, Carmelo took over. That enraged Caiden. He hated that Melo thought he had control over everyone and everything. One day, his brother was going to learn that he wasn’t God and the world didn’t revolve around him. That day had to be sooner than later.

  As Caiden walked back into his house, he took his phone out of his pocket and sent a text.

  You was right. That nigga definitely is on some different shit. He just left over here talking crazy. I love my brother and all that, but that nigga need a real dose of the shit he dishing out.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Everything had seemingly went back to being somewhat normal. Dream and Carmelo were growing stronger each day as a couple with the exception on the drama Chrissy kept bringing with her empty threats through phone calls and the few times she showed up at Dream’s shop claiming she was just shopping. Surprisingly, Melo and Shaq even were able to be cordial with each other for the sake of business. Everyone knew it wouldn’t last, but the peace for the time being was appreciated. Caiden still felt some type away about the amount of time Summer had been spending with Carmelo he just didn’t voice his opinion as much. He even stopped trying to force Alex on Summer, which made things run a lot smoother. Things with the Love/Coleman clan was as good as it could have possibly been taking into account all that has transpired and none of them were complaining.

  Dream’s shop had really hit the ground running. As bad as she would have much rather been in bed or spending time with Carmelo, she had to be at her shop. She looked up at the time and realized that she needed to get going if she was going to make it to Carmelo’s mother’s house in time. The day of Summer’s junior prom had finally come and Dream promised her that no matter what, she would be there to help her get ready and to see her off. That was a promise she planned on keeping.

  “Keisha,” Dream called out to one of her sales associates.

  “Yes, Ms. Coleman,” Keisha said, causing Dream to frown. She hated being called Ms. Coleman. It made her feel old.

  “I have to get running, but I will be back tonight to close up. Renee should be coming in any minute to give you a hand. Are you good until she gets here?” Dream asked as she checked her purse to make sure she had everything she needed.

  “Sure thing, see you when you get back,” Keisha said.

  Dream was halfway out the door when her phone vibrated, signaling she had a text. She looked down and saw it was a text from Carmelo.

  Baby, don’t forget to meet me at my mother crib. Summer will have both of our heads if we don’t show up.

  She chuckled as she quickly typed in her response.

  I just left the shop, I’m heading there now. I love you.

  Dream unlocked her door and climbed into her car. Just as she turned the key in the ignition, movement caught her attention through her review mirror. Before she could turn around or react, a hand was covering her mouth and nose and a sweet scent filled her nostrils. It didn’t take long for her to succumb to darkness.

  <><><><>

  Dream woke up feeling groggy and with an unexplainable headache. After quickly scanning her surroundings, she realized she wasn’t home in the comfort of her bed. It didn’t take long for her to remember what happened when she left her shop. Quickly, she jumped up and ran toward the door. She tried to twist the door knob, but unfortunately for her it was locked.

  With her ear pressed against the door, Dream listened intently as a voice she automatically made out to be Shaq’s and a voice she didn’t recognize spoke about t
he plans they had for Carmelo if he showed up. The beating of her heart could be heard throughout the room, causing her to wonder if they could hear it too. However, that thought didn’t make her return to the bed in which she was confined to. Tears welled up in her eyes hearing that the plan was to rob and kill Carmelo. Dream blinked rapidly in hopes of keeping her tears at bay.

  Carmelo wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for her. The time they been together has had peaks and valleys. At times, she even wished him out of her life, but never did she mean it. Losing Carmelo was something Dream didn’t want to have to come to terms with and she wouldn’t have to if she could do anything to prevent it.

  “What about the bitch?” the unrecognizable voice stated.

  “Imma kill her too, but not before getting my dick wet,” was Shaq’s response.

  Dream stepped away from the door and paced the dimly lit room frantically. Although it was the first thing she did, once she was left alone she searched for a weapon, anything that would help her fight them off if they indeed tried to attack her. Realizing that there was nothing in the room but the twin sized bed, and a bottle of water that she refused to drink, thinking they were trying to drug her, Dream sighed in defeat.

  Hearing footsteps approaching the door forced Dream to shuffle over to the bed and sit down. As the door crept open, Dream forced herself into the corner, with her back against the wall, and pulled her knees into her chest.

  She looked directly into the eyes of Shaq and fear consumed her. He didn’t look like the guy who she had come to consider as a brother. Everything about him was different.

  “How much you think you worth to that nigga?” Shaq ask as he stood directly in front of the bed, towering over Dream.

  “Fuck you, Shaquille,” Dream spat.

  Dream was trying her hardest to hide the fact that she was scared shitless. The sweat beads that formed on her forehead were threatening to expose her. The look he gave her sent a wave of chills down her spine, causing her to turn her head.