Chapter 4
It was business as usual, and Melo was all for securing a bag.
An easy one at that. He and his crew, along with DMacc’s people, ended up at Fa?ade after the concert.
Making a club appearance and getting paid on the back end simply from a walkthrough was light work.
The section he was standing in, and the one beside it, were reserved for his folks.
Melo loved seeing his people enjoy life.
He’d made a damn grand one for himself and the loyal ones on his team, so it was nothing to let them ball out.
So EST and proud of it, the hustlers and gangbangers repped the set as one of Melo’s songs blasted through the speakers.
The beat automatically made you want to jig and turn up.
Young Roddy had no problem doing that at all. Watching him plant his face between the ass cheeks of a thick, fine caramel-skinned chick bent over in front of him, Melo couldn’t do anything but shake his head.
“Youngin’ be having the time of his life,” East, Melo’s right-hand man and brother, said, stepping beside him.
“He better. We ain’t worked this hard for nothing,” Melo replied, peering around the club.
No matter how many years he’d been in the industry, he was still a street nigga.
A true Eastside Terror born and raised baby, with his head on a swivel.
Even with his gun tucked, his shooters in the section, and security close by, Melo could never be too careful.
Just because he made it out didn’t mean mothafuckas liked that he had.
“Straight up,” East said with his eyes trained on the woman entering their section with her friend not too far behind. “Knew it wouldn’t take long.” East chuckled, making Melo do the same.
Shanelle waved at East before standing directly in front of Melo. From his viewpoint, he could see nothing but her big-ass titties and a flower tattoo of where his name used to be inked. She’d covered it up but couldn’t erase her obvious feelings for him.
“What’s up, Nelle?” Melo greeted.
Always for the public display, Shanelle hugged him around the waist, smiling bashfully up at him. “Not much. You did your thing tonight.”
“‘Preciate it. You just got here?”
She nodded. “Yeah. You know I had to come check in with you first. Where you going when you leave?”
“Check in with me, huh? I’ont think a woman rocking another nigga’s last name should be concerned with my whereabouts.”
There wasn’t an ounce of bitterness in Melo’s tone.
Just straight honesty, like always. They’d been broken up for years now, and somehow, Shanelle still tried making Melo’s business hers.
Not often, but when given the opportunity to make it seem like it was more than what it was between them, Shanelle took it.
As respectfully as he could be to another man’s wife and someone he used to love, Melo let Shanelle make it. But he’d never allow her to place him in the category of a side nigga. The pussy wasn’t that good, and even if it were, he had some decorum about himself now.
Giggling, as if flirting with her ex while sporting a big-ass rock on her finger was funny, Shanelle ignored him. “Whatever. I’m only in town until tomorrow, so we can have some fun.”
Melo felt her hard nipples as she pressed herself against his solid frame.
He had to give it to her. Any other nigga, one lesser of the man he was and one who thought with his dick, would’ve gladly taken Shanelle up on her offer.
With her mocha skin, wide hips, thick thighs that matched her ass, and a pretty doll-like face, Shanelle could have her way with the best of them. Just not Melo.
“Nah,” Melo uttered, “ain’t no fun being had over here. Make it back safely to St. Louis, though.”
“You’re so uptight now, and I don’t like it,” Shanelle fussed.
Melo smirked. “I bet you don’t. Gon’ head and enjoy your night, Nelle.”
Taking his dismissal with class, Shanelle walked off but not before letting him know she’d be waiting up for him to call.
She’d be waiting forever because Melo was never hitting her line.
Another thirty minutes floated by, and he was ready to head to the crib.
One of them at least. He had a few in different states.
Melo’s eyes fell on his head of security, Bash, and he gave him a single nod. The subtle gesture told Bash it was time to vacate and have Melo’s driver, Sarge, be ready to roll. Maneuvering to Roddy’s side, where he was pouring another cup, Melo leaned in.
“I’m ‘bouta head out. You slidin’ or you staying?”
Grinning, Roddy stretched his arms out and glanced around their section. There was ass being thrown everywhere, the DJ was spinning his best shit, and the night was still young.
“I’m not leaving all this. Shit, I ain’t even made it to the strip club yet. You know that bitch is jumping.”
Melo chuckled. The club occupied half of the building, while a strip club covered the rest. The conjoined entertainment spots made it much easier for partygoers to commute for an even better night. Roddy was undoubtedly about to pay a few bills.
“A’ight, be safe and text me when you get in,” Melo told him.
“Fasho. Love you, foo’.
“Love you too, bruh.”
Leaving the festivities to his people, Melo said his farewells to those who mattered and made his way out of the section.
East wasn’t too far behind him, ready to call it a night as well.
With shades concealing his eyes, Melo moved through the crowd and out the back door.
Sarge was parked right where he needed to be with the Maybach running.
“Ma gon’ whoop Roddy’s ass if he ain’t at church service in the morning,” East commented, chuckling.
“You already know she’s going in. Devin gon’ make sure they up,” Melo said, referring to their cousin Roddy was closest to.
Devin was right in the section along with some of their other family, but he’d never play with his Aunt Carla. She requested their presence, and if they could party all night, they’d better be able to get up and give God praise the next day.
“I’m already knowing. I’ll hit yo’ line in the morning,” East said as they gave each other dap and a quick hug.
Melo smirked. “Who crib you headed to?”
“You already know, nigga.” East grinned, pulling his phone out. “This her right here.”
“Tell sis-in-law I said what’s up.”
Melo didn’t have any in-laws yet, but if anyone was close to settling down, it’d be East. At least that’s what everyone assumed.
“I got you. Love you,” East said, climbing in his whip.
“Love you too.”
Melo didn’t rest his head or his eyes until they were on the highway. It’d been a long week, and he wouldn’t be getting any really good sleep for a few days if that. On a generational run, having just dropped his seventh album six months ago, Melo was running it up until he couldn’t.
“Early night,” Sarge commented, glancing into the rearview.
“Yeah.” Melo chuckled. “I’m getting old, man.”
“Sounds like it’s time to settle down to me.”
Melo kept his eyes closed, knowing Sarge was staring straight at him.
Sarge had been Melo’s driver for the past seven years and was considered family, a second father to Melo’s biological father.
At thirty-seven, Melo had considered settling down more than a few times.
He’d been in three highly publicized relationships, with Shanelle being the last.
Crazily, at the beginning of their relationship, Melo could see her as a wife.
Shanelle had put on a good act, too. She was the good girlfriend who supported his career, understood the demands that came with it, and never seemed too impressed by the lifestyle he led.
Melo felt like they had something good going on, but eventually, Shanelle showed her true colors.
She got too comfortable, which Melo didn’t mind.
He wanted his woman to be as relaxed with him as possible.
The issue was Shanelle’s sense of entitlement when it came to him.
Melo started to notice that she cared more about being his woman than about herself or their relationship.
The first red flag was Shanelle randomly quitting her good-paying job.
As a man raised by a gang of real niggas, Melo never had an issue being the sole provider for their household.
There wasn’t a bill, bag, or baecation he didn’t willingly cash out on.
What pissed him off was Shanelle expecting him to fund her lifestyle while she sat on her ass, yet wanted to be up his every waking moment.
It would’ve been different if she had a little hobby she enjoyed or if he came home to a cooked meal every once in a while.
She stopped doing the things that initially attracted Melo to her and didn’t contribute to their lifestyle or home at all.
He would’ve been all for whatever she wanted to do.
Shanelle didn’t have no hustle about her, and Melo couldn’t fuck with that.
The final straw came when he caught wind of her sharing private details about their relationship with people around her, outside of his circle.
Talking to her homegirl was one thing, but gossiping to mothafuckas who were ultimately chasing clout off his name was some opp shit in Melo’s eyes.
That shit hurt more than the breakup itself.
He’d thought he was building a future with someone who knew him, only to realize she’d been playing a part.
Shanelle hadn’t broken his heart enough to swear off love.
He could still see himself getting married one day and building a family like the one he came from.
Melo knew there was a woman out there he could build something real with, but he wasn’t willing to force it with someone who loved the life that came with him more than she loved him. It was that simple.
Sarge pulled into the private gated community and drove a few more minutes before pulling into Melo’s large driveway. The mansion was absolutely breathtaking and ducked off just as Melo preferred. His family complained about the drive, but his spot was the one they visited most.