Invisible String

Chapter 3

"Good to hear, Carmella," he responded as he started driving. "I'm just driving around the city, do you wanna go somewhere?"

"Nah, I'll just keep you company," she answered then asked, "Do you mind if I turn on the radio?"

"Some music would be nice," he answered but immediately regretted it when a familiar song started playing.

What if you're everything I need
A fire in my heart, the air I breathe
What if I'm incomplete without you by my side
What if I go against my heart
Instead of confessing from the start
What if I miss out on the life meant for us,
I need you by my side

"This song is so good! One of my favorites!" Carmella innocently exclaimed. "April's voice is so angelic. If we didn't break up, I'll have her sing at our wedding."

It was as if Ramee choked on something big by the way he was coughing. The mention of her name made him feel all sorts of emotions.

"Are you okay?" Carmella asked, concerned.

He hit the brakes and got himself a bottle of water from the back of his car. "Sorry about that," he said and turned off the radio.

He realized that even after three years, the city was still not over the siren. She made a significant impact on Los Santos, even though she wasn't around, her presence was still felt around the city. Her songs were still on the radio, people were still talking about her and hoping for her to return. The city was just better with her in it.

"Do you wanna go eat at Maldini's?" he asked Carmella, to which she agreed.

It was unexpected, but Ramee enjoyed spending the day with the bombshell. They were just driving around the city, catching up, until he heard Mr. K on the radio, telling the whole gang to get to the mansion for an emergency meeting. Since the call was urgent, he decided to bring the woman with him. They were in Paleto when the meeting was announced so it took them 15 minutes to get to the CG mansion.

April smiled at how the whole gang welcomed her back with open arms. Everyone swarmed at the mansion's garage when they saw her get out of their leader's car. Randy, Curtis, and Taco almost got emotional seeing their sister again but had to keep the tough facade around the rest of the boys. Even the Street Team and Hydra were genuinely happy to have her back.

"You really kept it a secret from us, you fuck!" Randy told Bleach after she told them that her son was visiting her over the past three months.

The young warlord immediately hid at her back and made her into a shield from everyone's piercing eyes and questions. She laughed at their reactions and told them to stop bullying her son.

"They've been bullying me, Mama!" Bleach said, which Taco denied, and hit the young man on the head.

"So are you really back, Crabs?" Hutch asked, who came in after she told everybody that she would only be staying until the wedding.

She shook her head. "I already have a life there, Hutch. I can't just leave my businesses there. And stop calling me Crabs."

"What if you bring your business here?" Hutch being the businessman that he was, suggested. "And you will always be Crabs to me, even if you are now a businesswoman."

She rolled her eyes, but smiled and thought about the suggestion. Pixel Perfect was already going in that direction but she never thought about doing it first in Los Santos.

While Street Team and Hydra went back to what they were doing, the rest of Chang Gang updated her on everything that happened in the city while she was gone. Ray Mond becoming a very successful businesswoman, Randy expanding his Dodo Logistics business abroad, Taco and Curtis having their businesses and still the worst instigators, Mr. K being more powerful than ever because of his multiple businesses, Hutch being the CEO of the biggest businesses in the city but still killing people, Big D finally graduated university and pursued his passion in music, other gangs finally moving on from the life of crime to being businessmen, civilians finally making it big in the city, and musicians and artists getting paid tons of money.

"Speaking of music, have you been doing any over the past three years?" Mr. K asked and pointed at Big D. "He's been waiting to do a song with you for the longest time."

Everyone agreed and expressed their sentiments on how much the young gang member has been singing her song, that even people who haven't met April knew her because of Big D.

She chuckled, "I haven't done any songs. It's all work for the last three years."

"I still couldn't believe that you worked," Taco mindlessly said which earned a few giggles from the rest.

"I can't believe it at first either, but I was motivated to work so I did it," she proudly said.

Luck was on her side when she moved to Liberty City. The opportunities she had during her first week in the city were more than enough to catapult her to the top. It was all thanks to her then-assistant, Lucas, who introduced her to one of his bosses, who turned out to be one of Liberty City's powerful and well-connected people. From there, Lucas and April climbed their way to the top and eventually succeeded.

"But I assume you hit some D there, huh?" Curtis asked which made everyone turn to her, anticipating an answer.

"A couple," she answered, and chuckled when everyone cheered.

"That's my gorl!" Ray proudly said, as if the siren hadn't told her about it yet.

"Yes, girl! We're so proud of you for moving on from Ra--" Garrett cheered but was cut off when Autumn hit his stomach with her elbows and pointed her lips in the direction of a car pulling up to the mansion's garage.

Everyone immediately turned silent as they eyed the Egyptian man wearing his usual black turtleneck, and a blonde woman wearing a matching pink top and skirt, who just got out of the black and red Tesla.

"Hey, April," Ramee greeted the redhead, no expression could be read on his face.

April, who couldn't believe how casually her ex-boyfriend and co-parent greeted her, tried to control her emotions and greeted the vulture back as casually as he was.

"Hey, Ramee. Nice to see you again," she uttered then turned to Carmella who was shocked by the popstar's return. "Nice to see you again, Carmella," she greeted and genuinely smiled at her.

:)