For the Love of Dixie (19 page)

My body is tense, and my heart is thudding in my chest as we pull up into the chapter. Wizard is the first off the bike, going into the club with Stone behind them and all of us following behind like soldiers.

“All you motherfuckers line up,” Stone barks.

“What the fuck, brother?” Big asks.

“Shut the fuck up and get in line, bitch. This shit falls onto your shoulders, too,” Stone says.

Big clamps his mouth shut. You don’t argue with the President of the mother charter. You take that shit, swallow it down, and fall in line. Which is exactly what Big is doing when he lines up and bites his tongue.

“Which one of you motherfuckers thought they could run up on us and we wouldn’t know it?” Stone asks.

A few members break out and head toward the back.

“Get those motherfuckers!” Stone booms.

I run out the front door and round the back, catching one of them unaware. I cock my wrist and nail him in the jaw. He falls like a bag of bricks, hitting the concrete hard. A bullet whizzes by my head. I fall down and a shot rings out. The sound makes my ears buzz. I see another brother lying face down on the pavement. A dark spot is blossoming by his lower back.

“Shit, man, you okay?” Brick asks.

“Damn, yeah, but barely brother,” I answer.

“Close fucking call,” Brick says.

I nod, and move to kneel over the unconscious brother slowly coming to, as Brick rolls the one with a bullet over.

“He still breathing?” I ask.

The man groans.

“Yeah, but he probably wishes he wasn’t,” Brick says.

I snicker. “More than that fucker deserves.”

Brothers pile out the door with four brothers hemmed up.

Charm’s face is pale. “You all right, brother?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m good. What do you want me to do with this piece of shit?” I ask, pulling the groggy man to his feet by the scruff of his hoodie. I twist his arms behind him, incapacitating his movement.

“Bring them into the shed,” Stone replies.

We secure them all to chairs and back off to let Wizard and Stone get down to work.

My ears are still ringing from the shot, and I’m amped up from the scuffle. My chapter is pacing the space like hungry lions while the L.A. chapter looks on, confused about what the hell is happening. The waiting is making them anxious. All part of Stone’s plan, I’m sure.

“No one’s going to tell me what the fuck this is about?” Big asks.

“Shut the fuck up and wait for Stone,” Mouth says. My father is a pit-bull ready to go for a throat if commanded to.

I’m impressed, and concerned. This is what I’m up against.

What feels like eons later, Stone comes in with bloody knuckles and a set jaw. “All you motherfuckers are on your last leg. It’s up to you convince me I shouldn’t disband this fucking chapter.”

“What!” Big shouts.

“Motherfucker, you talking back?” Stone barks. “Your ass is so out of touch, you don’t know your men are going behind your back tormenting one of my people. You know Battles’ family needs a firm hand and constant eye. I trusted you with that shit and you slept on your job, causing me problems. I like my shit to run smooth.”

“I told them what was up. I thought shit was settled. I haven’t seen them acting strange or leaving for long periods of time,” Big says.

“You should’ve known better, that’s your fucking job. If you can’t do it, then you shouldn’t be President.”

Disgruntled rumblings run through the L.A. chapter.

Big shakes his head. “You’re right. What do you want to do?”

“All five I took, need to go. Patches, tats, protection, and affiliation gone. Then you watch those motherfuckers. They step out of line, it’s on you to handle.”

Big nods his head. “Done.”

“I want to trust you, Big, but I’m not a stupid man. I’m leaving Wizard behind and a few others to get this shit running right and then we’ll talk again, about what’s going to happen. I thought about coming in guns blasting and burning this bitch to the ground.”

Big’s eyes bulge out of his face.

“Yeah, you need to know how pissed I am, and how real this is.”

“Don’t punish everyone else for my inadequacy.”

“See, now you’re talking like a real leader,” Stone says, clapping his shoulder. He leans forward. “I’m not a forgiving man, Big. Last chance, brother.”

Big nods his head.

“Anyone else here who has a problem with the way we do things or the way I want my shit run, should get the fuck out now while the only thing I’m taking is patches of cuts. Next time, I won’t be stopping until you motherfuckers cease breathing.” He walks through the room mean mugging each and every member. “See this is the shit me and my family bleed for and built from the ground up. I’m not about to let anyone ruin that. If you can’t ride hard and true, this ain’t the place for you.”

The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. A rarity in a clubhouse.

“No?” Stone asks. He nods. “Show you meant that shit.” He returns his attention to Big. “I want to see the accounting. This whole place is getting investigated.”

There goes any hope of being home tonight.

Dixie Rose

I dress with care in a pair of cut up skinny jeans that make my ass look fabulous and a formfitting white shirt with a deep V-neck that shows off my cleavage tastefully. I pair it with a short waist leather jacket. What was meant to be an overnight run turned into an intense trip that dragged on for a week. This will be the first time I get to see Echo since he’s been back. I’m walking out of my bedroom when I hear the Harley pull into the driveway.

“Going out with Echo?” my father asks from his seat at the table.

“Yeah, Pops. Don’t expect me home tonight.”

“All right.” He salutes me.

I smile. We’re in a good place right now. I’ve been able to relax as the months passed and his health has continued to improve. I haven’t seen him this fit since I was in high school. I walk outside with an extra bounce in my step. I can feel the goofy smile gracing my lips, but I do nothing to get rid of it. “Well, hi stranger,” I say.

“Come here, babe.”

He hooks his fingers into my belt loops and pulls me to him. Our lips meet, and suddenly, I’m a woman starved. I tangle my fingers in his silken hair, and tilt my head deepening the kiss.

He pulls away, moaning. “I guess I should go away more often.”

“Don’t you dare,” I say breathlessly.

“Get on, babe.”

“Where are we going?”

“I have a surprise for you,” he responds.

I wrap my arms around his waist as he pulls out and enjoy the wind on my face. I’ve missed this being stuck in a cage. I laugh. He’s already influencing me. I wrap my arms loosely around his waist and lean back, letting the wind catch my hair escaping the helmet. As we leave the city limits behind, my stress melts away. There’s something magical about the road, it makes you forget your problems. The familiar landscapes rushes by and I realize we’re heading back toward L.A.

Why would he want to go back to the place he just left?

Curiosity piqued, I run through scenarios in my head. Maybe he found an amazing restaurant he wants me to try out. L.A. has some of the best eating spots in California. The sun starts to sink lower, painting the city shades of orange and pink. We pull off into L.A and I can’t help but be excited. It feels like years since we had a chance to just be by ourselves and have fun. KOC is no stranger to drama, but most times it’s stretched out. Recently, it’s been hit after hit, and all those situations have pushed the issues with Mouth to the background. I hesitated before to commit, and now I’m missing him like mad every day we spend apart. That emergency ride reminded me just how quick life can be snuffed out. The man had more than proved himself to me since I returned. Everything holding me back now was nerves.

When he parks in front of an upper scale hotel, I can’t help but frown. He gets off the bike and holds out his hand.

“What are we doing?”

“Being surprised if you’d stop asking me questions,” he says with a wink.

I place my hand in his and silence my ever questioning brain. If he was going through all the trouble, I could curb my desire to know everything. His smile brightens and I know I’ve made the right decision. Our relationship was always one of give and take, that’s what made it so hard to replace. We walk inside and I take in the marble floors, high ceilings, and spiraled chandelier hanging above our heads. I lean against him, holding his arm with both arms as he guides me to the front desk. The pride in his walk and gaze warms me. I feel valued and special knowing he’s gone through so much trouble.

The man behind the desk with a designer suit, pencil thin mustache, and slight look of panic in his brown gaze toys nervously with his nametag. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Yes, reservation for Spencer.”

The man’s eyebrows raise, and I can’t help but giggle.

“Joel?”

“That’s the one,” Echo says.

The man’s fingers fly over the keyboard.

I half listen to him as I take in the rest of the check-in area. The large chairs and tables are modern with their clean lines, and smoky glass. We walk away with two keys and make our way to the shiny elevator on the far end of the building.

“Is this a mid-week get away?” I ask.

“Something like that,” he says with a knowing smirk.

“Oh, this better be good. You’re hyping it up.”

“You’ll think it is.” He fists my hair, pulls my head back to look at him, and devours my lips.

I open my mouth, sucking on his tongue. His taste is unique, masculine and clean, like rain when you catch it on your tongue. Thirsty for more, I grip his biceps and raise up on my toes. He backs me up against the wall, and I open my legs bringing him closer. The bulge in his jeans has me achy and wet. The ding is like a bell at the end of the fight. We pull apart breathing hard, and I can’t help but feel unstable on my rubbery legs.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he guides me out and toward our room. He opens the door and reveals a cream and gold themed room fit for a king with its four poster cherry wood bed, a cream canopy, cream and gold comforter with puffy pillows. A hot tub sits in the far corner surrounded by swirled marble flooring.

I spin in a slow circle, taking in the elegant cherry wood desk in the corner and the cream chaise lounge at the foot of the bed. Even the curtains have certain royal feel to them. I walk toward the swathes of fabric and push them back to reveal a view of the street below.

Echo comes up behind me and presses against me. “You like it?”

“Love it,” I answer, leaning back against him.

“This is just the start,” he whispers.

His heated breath on my ear makes me shiver. “What are you up to? I feel like I’m being buttered up.”

“Just showing you how much you mean. I know things have been less than ideal recently, and I want to do a little to offset that.” He grinds his dick against my ass and I can’t help but push back into him.

“We got a little time,” he says, slipping his hand around my waist to dip into my jeans. “Already wet for me?”

“Always wet for you, Daddy.”

“That’s because you like being my good little girl, don’t you?” He traces a line up and down my slit, lightly grazing my clit.

“Oh, yes,” I whisper, placing my hands against the window to brace myself. Knowing that people below might see me makes me even wetter.

“I think I’ll reward your good behavior.” He circles my clit and I whimper, rolling my hips. When he bites my shoulder and thrusts two fingers inside of me, I cry out. “I want you to ride my fingers until you come.”

I pop my hips, pushing back against his long, calloused fingers, wishing they were his dick. He tilts his fingers, tickling the bundle of nerves inside of me that have me jerking, and calling his name.

“That’s it, baby, come on my fingers.” He continues to suck and bite his way down my neck.

My legs shake. My stomach tightens, and the pressure in me explodes. I come hard, clamping down on his fingers, and pressing my face onto the cool glass.

“Love it when you give me that orgasm, baby.” He unbuttons my jeans and pulls them down around my ankles. “I’d like to do this slow and thorough, but we’re on a time limit.” He thrusts home.

I throw my head back and scream. His fingers dig into my hips as he pounds into me. I meet him stroke for stroke, feeling alive and happy. It’s the first time I can truly breathe since he left, and I need the release of tension as badly as I’m sure he does.

“Damn, you feel so good.” His voice is guttural and distorted.

I love it. The power I have over him is a drug that gets me high. It’s only fair when he enthralls me the way he does. He adjusts slightly and I moan. “Right there, Daddy.”

“You going to come all over Daddy’s dick?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” I fly over the edge, and he follows close behind, filling me with thick hot jets of liquid.

He pulls off me and presses me against the window as he rests against me.

Our breathing evens and I close my eyes, cherishing the way this man makes me feel. He allows me to let go, and simply be. It’s an invaluable gift.

“As much as I’d love to throw you on the bed and keep you there, we both need to clean up and get on the road.” He kisses my temples and pulls away.

We clean up and I follow him silent, boneless, and satiated. I’m stunned when he hails a cab outside the hotel.

“Trust me, neither of us is going to want me on the road later on tonight.”

“Tease,” I say, pouting.

He laughs. “Now, we both know I always deliver. I just like to make you wait for me.” We climb in and he gives the driver an address I’m not familiar with.

We pull around the corner and I catch the marquee on a theater. “Oh, my God—you didn’t!” The black words announce
Machine Gun Kelly
appearing tonight.

“I did, baby. I know how much you love him.”

“Oh my God.” I haven’t been to a concert in ages. Another thing we shared a love for was music. Nothing expressed my feelings of frustration, rage, and isolation like hip hop music. I think that’s why I gravitated toward it, and Echo got that. His fondness for the music genre was one of the many marks our time together left on him.

He pays the cabbie, and we step into the short line. “They have a bar and grill, so I figured we’d catch something to eat, pre-game, and grab a good spot next to the stage.”

“Perfect.” I lean up and kiss him hard. “I fucking love you, Joel.”

“Love you, too, D’Rose. Let’s have a good time and forget about all the other bullshit for tonight.”

“Done,” I say, bouncing on the balls of my feet as we wait for our turn to enter.

The venue is small which means an intimate experience. We make small talk around burgers and beers, then head up to the stage. The opening act is a local group with a bass heavy sound I can’t help but move to.

Echo stays behind me, a statue protecting me from harm and swaying with me. The lights dim as they leave the stage and instruments are swapped out.

Butterflies explode in my stomach. Chants of MGK go up in the air. I’m caught up in the contagious enthusiasm yelling along with them as I jump around. This man spilled pain I could feel and understand onto paper, letting me know when I thought I was alone and no one understood, he did. It’s a beautiful thing to form an intense connection to an artist and what they’re expressing.

MGK comes out in all his glory and the roar of approval is deafening. He bounces across the stage like an energized bunny. “Let me see you put those fucking L’s in the air.”

I throw up my L, completely star struck. He launches into “Champions” and I close my eyes, mouthing the words as I lose myself.