Array Ashley: The Last Chapter

Robin and Aries were in attendance, draped in all black dresses with big shades on to keep a low profile. Murder also sat beside them. The demise of The Cartel was bittersweet for him, and he gritted his teeth tightly as he thought about Mecca and the missed opportunity to personally kill him on Miamor’s behalf. Nevertheless, Mecca was dead, and that would have to be enough for him.

Emilio Estes, Leena, and Monroe Jr. were also in attendance, mourning the loss. They were the only people left alive who could sit in the front pew reserved for family. Although far removed from the Diamond legacy, they were the last of a dying bloodline.

There was an eerie feeling in the air and everyone there could sense it. As the preacher held the Holy Bible tightly in his hand and read from the book of Psalms, a stretch limo with tinted windows rolled up slowly about fifty yards away from the service. Many people didn’t notice it, but the trained eyes were glued to the approaching vehicle.

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.

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.