For the Love of Dixie (22 page)

Echo

The official reason for the gathering is a surprise party to celebrate Blue legally adopting Bolton, but behind that is a massive church meeting. Since the bombing, the cops have been keeping an eye on us, so we’ve been extra stealthy. I’ve had a don’t ask, don’t tell policy when it comes to the demise of my father. It’s been two weeks and no one’s heard anything about him. I can see it taking a toll on Charm, but he’s keeping it to himself.

The door is closed, keys sweeps the place for bugs, and we’re given the okay to begin.

“We’ve had a rough go of it over the past month,” Stone announces to the brothers. “A brother betrayed us. It’s not something we take lightly. I know blood was owed, but he came with a level of trouble I didn’t want to get into. Mouth brought Aryan Brother plants into the club. He had dreams of grandeur and turning what we’ve built here into a mockery. I wanted to slit his fucking throat, but instead I used him as a bargaining tool. I made it very clear to the AB, we’re not interested, and if they wanted to get their boys back in one piece, and keep them there, they’d better go back under whatever fucking rock they crawled out from. They took the shit happily. Especially, after they heard their boys squealing. I can’t say if they’ll retaliate. We’ll have to keep an eye out.”

I glance at Charm.

“Pres—is h-he gone?” Charm asks.

“Yeah, brother, he’s not coming back where they put him, and you know why,” Stone says.

Charm clears his throat and nods.

“This shit happening made me realize something,” Stone pauses. “We need to separate who we are now, from who we were when we first started. I want to lift the ban on African American members, and open up the prospect acceptances again. We need new blood, and everyone here deserves to feel like they belong. There are things my old man did I would’ve changed. Hell, maybe I should’ve changed earlier. But a former President’s shoes are always hard to fill.”

My jaw drops. This is it. The change I wanted to see.

“All in favor of the change in the by-laws say aye.”

A resounding
Aye
fills the air, and I know my brothers are behind me and mine. Charm pats my back and I can’t help but smile.
This is how shit should be
.
I can’t wait to tell Dixie Rose.
I glance across the room and meet Hoss’s gaze. The old man is beaming like the proud father he’s always been.

“I think Echo has an announcement, too,” Shadow says.

I flick him off as everyone turns to look at me. I clear my throat. “So Dixie Rose and I made it official and got hitched.”

Sounds of whoops go up in the room.

“Yeah, fuck you guys,” I say as they all laugh.

“Congrats, brother. You got a good girl there. Be sure you take care of her,” Stone says.

“I second that,” Hoss adds.

“I will,” I say.

“I’m going to hold you to it. You all know the cops are riding us hard, but the businesses we put into place are doing their job. The dispensary is making us money hand over fist, the pawn shop is steady, and we’re looking to open more. Gun running is out for a while until the heat is off. I swapped our routes out with another chapter. L.A. is still on probation. I want to say they’ll recover, but I’ll stick with an optimistic
we’ll see
. Big is good people. He just let his guard down and put too much trust in the wrong people. It’s the first major mistake he’s made in the past ten years. I can forgive him for it, if he turns his shit around.”

“What other businesses are you thinking about?” I ask.

Stone shrugs. “At least one more dispensary, and we’re open to ideas about others.”

“What about another bar?” I suggest.

“I’m open, but we need a theme and a function different from the bar and grill,” Stone replies.

I nod my head already tossing around ideas. San Mateo houses many marines, so a cool bar with bar food would be a shoe in for a money maker. “We should open up a motorcycle themed bar,” I say.

“Now that I like, tell me more.”

“I think we could cater to the brothers here, the ones rolling through, and draw in the Marines and other service members in the area.”

“We should run with this,” Numbers says. With a good head for business, the former accountant had his hand in most projects KOC went into.

“You think so, Numbers?” I ask.

“I do, let’s develop this some more. I’ll do some research in the area, make sure it’s as unique a concept as I think it is,” Number says in full beast mode.

I could practically see a calculator appear above his head as he mentally crunches numbers.

We toss concepts back and forth and agree to do some research and meet back up in a few weeks. The meeting is ended, and we all move to help get the hall ready for the party.

I turn to Charm. “Hey, man, can we step out back for a few?” I ask him.

“Yeah, sure,” he says.

The boys give us a wide birth, and I appreciate the bond we all share. When one of us goes through something, we all go through it.

Once we make it outside, Charm lights up a thin joint, hits it hard, and passes it to me.

I inhale deeply and hold the smoke in my chest, releasing it slowly. The green takes the edge off. My muscles relax, and I clear my throat. “So its official, Dad’s gone.”

“Yeah. I figured, but—I needed to know for sure,” Charm replies.

“I understand. How are you feeling about it?” I ask.

“Hurt, and divided.”

“Why divided?”

“Because I get why he had to go, but it doesn’t make me feel less… Bitter toward the people who took his life,” he says.

I sigh. “Don’t let him ruin this club for you.”

“I’m not.”

I look at him skeptically.

“I won’t, but it’s hard right now, you know?” he says.

“He did this to himself, Charm. I know that doesn’t change the way you feel. I mean, our father’s life was cut short. All I’m saying is be careful not to place the blame in the wrong place. He made a lot of mistakes.”

“How are you so unaffected?” Charm growls.

“I’m not. I told you. For me, he died a long time ago. He threatened to kill Dixie, you know? When the person you’ve looked up to all your life crushes your dreams and destroys your chances at happiness, the bond you share is all but severed. For me, he was the man who gave me life, put clothes on my back, and fed me once upon a time.”

“That’s cold. I don’t know if I can do it,” Charm says.

“No one’s asking you to, Charm. Just remember the club is your family, and don’t give them a reason to doubt your loyalty.”

“Right, because they’ll turn on me,” Charm mutters.

“Shayne, you realize he almost killed Stone, don’t you? We lost a member to that bomb, too. This was more than words, brother. He planned to take this place over and twist it into something full of hate. You really think the club did what it had to lightly?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. I refuse to let you live in denial. Accept the reality for what it was and move on. Dad went off the deep end. He spent his entire life hating himself over something he couldn’t change.”

Charm looks down at the ground.

I throw my arm around his shoulder. “I’m here if you need me, brother. This is something that’ll take time to wrap you head around and digest. That’s okay as long as you don’t start making stupid choices. I’m not too old to kick some sense into your ass if necessary.”

He laughs. “Yeah, you wish.”

“You want to step into the ring?” I ask, holding up my fists.

Charm rolls his eyes.

I lower my hands, laughing. I got him away from the darkness threatening to swallow him up. It’s a short term solution.
I can’t lose my brother.
I make mental note to talk to D’Rose and see what she recommends.

“So, I guess congratulations are in order,” Charm says, slyly changing the subject.

I allow it. “Yeah, man,” I say smiling.

“Why did you go solo?”

“Well, Chaos was going through hell at the time and it hit home how quick life can be snuffed out and things can change. I wanted to right the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Are you happy?” he asks.

“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but yeah I am. The only thing left to do is get our own place. We’re looking though.”

“Jesus, it’s like I blinked and you grew up.” Charm shakes his head.

I laugh. “Dude, shouldn’t I be the one saying that? You’re the one who’s younger.”

“You’re different. It’s a good thing though. Before… I think you were just going through the motions in some ways.”

“Observant,” I say, neither confirming nor denying his words.

“I learned from the best.”

I grin. “Such an ass kisser.”

He throws his head back and laughs.

It’d been so long since I heard the sound. “Come on, let’s get back in there, and help out before they give us shit.”

“Let’s finish off this J then.”

He passes it back to me and we finish it off before heading back inside.

Dixie Rose

I smile as Blue cuts the massive sheet cake the club had surprised her, Shadow, and Bolton with. Pixie had withdrawn her petition for custody, Calla had gotten protection to prevent blow back, and the couple have Blue as officially adopting Bolton.

“Finally, a wrong is made right,” I whisper.

“What?” Echo asks, bending down brush my cheek with his lips.

“I said, finally a wrong made right. She was always his mother.”

“Look at you, holding it down for your girl. It’s kind of adorable.”

“Ass.” I pinch his side, and as he jerks away I snicker. “Baby.”

“Damn, didn’t know you were so abusive, babe. Is this what I can expect now that we’re married?”

“Shut up,” I reply, grinning. It’d been bliss being Mrs. Echo, barring the sleeping arrangements. Sleeping in the clubhouse and my father’s home was cramping both our styles. I don’t think Pop liked the thought of us having sex under his roof either.

“I thought maybe you’d missed me while I was gone.”

I snicker. “I did, but you were only gone for a few hours, babe.”

“Minor detail,” he says.

I lean back into his arms, savoring the heat he’s giving off. “They look so happy,” I remark, gesturing toward the family of the hour.

“They are. You want that?” he asks, nodding toward Bolton.

“Eventually, not yet. We’re not even in our own place.”

“True.”

I look up at him. “Do you want that?” 

“With you…absolutely.”

His words warm me from the inside out. It’s all too easy to see mini Echoes running around with hazel eyes, and café latte skin. Their blondish-brown locks would fly out behind them as they ran around like mini-tornados. It’s a reality I thought I’d lost years ago.

“How long do we have to stay here? I have something I want to show you,” he says.

“Yeah, I can feel that,” I tease.

“Something other than that.”

I laugh. “Maybe an hour. We’ll mingle, show our faces, and slip away.”

“Let’s start that now,” he states, moving into action.

I wonder what he has up his sleeve. He’s shown just how adept he can be at surprises. We weave our way through the crowd to Blue and Shadow. I place a hand on her arm and she turns around.

“Dixie Rose, thank you for coming.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I say, hugging her. “Congrats, you guys.”

“I think I should be saying the same thing.” Blue hasn’t forgiven either of us for eloping.

Echo scowls.

“Thank you,” I giggle.

“So, when are we planning the renewal?” she asks.

“Let us get into a house first, Blue,” Echo says.

“Hmm, I think I can wait until then,” Blue replies.

“Gee, thanks,” Echo retorts sarcastically.

“You ain’t going to win, man,” Shadow snickers, shaking his head.

“That’s a fact,” I say.

“I’m seeing that. You two are dangerous together. Speaking of, can I steal her away?” he asks.

“Can’t wait to be alone together? So sweet,” Blue teases.

Echo’s jaw tenses. “Yeah, you got me.”

I laugh.

“Go do your thing, guys. I appreciate you coming and hanging out,” Blue says.

“Any time,” I reply.

“Later, guys, congrats again. Good looking family you got, Shadow,” Echo says.

“Thanks, brother.” Shadow nods as they do a manly hug.

My brain is filling with possibilities as Echo guides me away and out of the club. “Are you going to give me a hint?” I ask.

He climbs onto his bike. “Nope.”

I follow and wrap my arms around his waist, still at a loss.

He weaves his way through traffic and down a number of vaguely familiar streets. When we pass a large park, I realize we’re in the neighborhood we viewed homes in.
Maybe there’s a new one available.
He parks in front of the two story home with white shutters I’d fallen in love with earlier.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“The people who bid on it before us had their finances fall through. This is our home.”

“Don’t kid,” I whisper.

“I’m not, D’Rose. This is our new home.”

I squeeze him hard. He turns and our lips crash together. This was the last piece of our puzzle. Our picture is complete, and our life together is ready to launch. He pulls back. We get off the bike and walk up the path to our porch.
Our porch.
We sit on the swing, holding hands.

“You happy?” he asks after a moment.

“God, more than I can describe with words.”

He nods.

“Are you?”

“Don’t you know by now, all I need to be happy is you at my side? This right here, is all I’ve wanted from the minute I realized I wanted you for myself. I know we’ve been through some ups and downs, but that’s over. Now is our time to live the way we want. I promised you I’d handle the situation in the club. Today, they changed…the by-laws.”

Tears form, and I do nothing to prevent them from rolling down my face. “They did?”

“Stone is actively recruiting African Americans. You and our children will never go through that bullshit. KOC is moving in a better direction.”

Sobs slip from my lips.

“Don’t you know when I promise you something, I’ll make it happen?”

I nod my head, burying my face in his neck as I release the pain from the past and prepare to step forward into a life I could never allow myself to imagine before. My baby just handed me the world on a platter, and I’m going to eat my fill. Coming out into the light after the darkness of a long journey down a tunnel I once thought I would perish in, makes me feel triumphant. I’ve found more than love, I’ve found my soulmate. True love can’t be destroyed by time, distance, or interference from others. “I would go through everything again, to end up right here.”

“Me too, girl. Me too.”

I close my eyes and soak up his presence as we create our first memory in our new home.
Everything we went through was worth it to arrive here.