CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Echo
I pull up and find the clubhouse in complete chaos. A bike I think was once Stone’s lies on its side, still smoldering and black. Pieces are scattered around it on the lot. A chalk outline of a body is roped off with yellow caution tape.
Fuck, did we lose Stone? A prospect comes down to the gate and I pull inside with Charm right behind me. “What the fuck is going on?” I ask.
“Mark went to move Stone’s bike to clean it, and the shit blew up. Homemade bomb. Shadow’s been rounding people up ever since.”
“Shit,” I say stunned. “Is Stone okay?”
“He’s on a warpath, but unharmed,” the prospect replies.
“We on lock down?” I ask.
“Not yet,” he says.
I nod and pull into a parking space. We’re off the bike and inside, passing stunned members left and right. “Where’s my dad?”
“Shed,” someone whispers.
“Damn,” I mutter.
“I don’t think you want to interrupt him right now,” Whisper says quietly.
“Got to, brother. Come on, Charm.” I scan the area. “Wrench, come here.”
The lanky brother hurries over. “Yeah?”
“Watch Dixie Rose?”
“Yeah, man.” Wrench nods.
“I’ll come and get you when I’m done, babe,” I say.
She nods and walks away with Wrench.
I trust the brother and know she likes him, so he’s an easy fix. We make our way out to the shed out back and knock.
Wizard steps out. His eyes are dead and blood is splattered across his T-shirt and knuckles. “’Bout time you got here.”
“I know, we came as fast as we could,” I reply.
“Come inside.”
We walk in and my jaw drops. My father is a mass of bruises, blood, and swollen skin. My stomach churns.
Seated in chairs next to him are Scott and Brett.
“You fucking traitor,” my father hisses at Charm.
“What you wanted to do was wrong,” Charm states.
“Weak. The both of you,” Mouth sneers.
“Shut the fuck up,” Stone barks.
Shadow steps up and buries his fist into Mouth’s stomach.
“You try to bring this poisonous ass shit into my club, and take my place?” Stone shouts.
“You’ve gone astray, brother. You’ve forgotten what this club was founded on,” Mouth yells.
“No, you’re the one who never understood the foundation. It had nothing to do with hate, and everything to do with love, acceptance, and family. What the fuck are you doing? You broke all our rules because your boy is with Dixie Rose?”
“This club is going down the fucking toilet. At least I tried to do something,” Mouth counters.
“Right? Well, I did some digging on you, Mouth. I wondered why you hated black people so much. Trust me, I heard the bullshit about your father being shot in the store by a heroin addict. But it’s amazing the information money can buy.”
I glance at him, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I bet you never did tell your boys the truth,” Stone says.
“Lies!” Mouth screams.
I glance over at Charm. “Do you know what this is about?”
“Not at all.”
“See…what you didn’t tell them was that the man who shot your father was more than a random man on heroine. He was the man your mother had an affair with. Your real father. Your real father was the black man who shot your old man. He wasn’t high, he was getting revenge, because your fake father wouldn’t let him have you.”
“No. That’s not true,” Mouth defends. The defeat in his eyes and the loss of conviction say the opposite.
My jaw drops. “You fucking hypocrite.”
“I’m not the mistakes my mother made! I was going to make damn sure you didn’t do the same,” Mouth growls.
“See, this is why we’re going to deliver you to the front door of your new friends. I’m sure white power will love to know they’ve had a snake in their fucking grass all this time. We’re going to bargain or they’ll never see their precious little princes again,” Stone says.
“Oh please…they’re ready to die for their cause, unlike you cowards,” Mouth responds.
Stone’s head snaps back as if he’d been punched. “Seems like he still has too much fight in him, Wizard.”
“Oh, I’ll shut him up, believe me.” Wizard stalks over and cocks back his fist. When he slams his hand into Mouth’s jaw, the sickening crack echo’s through the room.
My father’s strangled cry hurts my heart. I know he earned this, but it still aches. I’m part black. No wonder I was so into D’Rose. My head is reeling from the lies I’ve been told. He hated himself so much, he wanted to turn us into an extension of that animosity. I glance at my brother and see he looks as lost as I feel. Did we ever even know this man?
Stone turns his attention to us. “You boys know what has to happen next, right?”
I nod my head.
“You going to be able to stomach that?” Stone asks.
“Club first,” I say.
“Charm?”
“I’m not sure I even know the person I’m looking at right now. No wonder he had us with a Spanish mother. I guess you figured she’d account for the tan and dark hair if we came out on that spectrum. I always wondered why you only hated black people. God, you preach about pride and honesty, and you’re nothing more than a sad ass liar, hating his own genetic make-up. You put us through hell, and damn near ruined Echo’s relationship for what? To feed some sick need inside of you?” Charm steps forward and spits at his feet. “This time, I’m the one disowning you. I’m ashamed today. I love you, but I hate what you decided to stand for and what you did to not just us, but the club you brought us up to love.”
I glance at the man in front of me, knowing this is the last time I’ll see him alive. “I’m sorry you let one aspect of your life ruin everything else. I can’t blame Mom for leaving you with the way you treated her, and how you warped our minds.” I shake my head. “Despite it all, I want you to know I don’t hate you. You showed me what that emotion can do to a person. I’m going to go on, marry D’Rose, have children, and never give you another thought.”
His eyes burn into me.
I step back. “I’m done here, Stone. You need me for anything else?”
“Nope,” Stone answers. “Little brother can tell us what we need to know.”
I walk out of the shed and into the clubhouse, scanning the crowd for D’Rose. My chest is tight and my eyes are burning from the effort to hold back the tears forming. I just said good-bye to the man who raised me. Misguided, broken, and horribly flawed, he was the only Dad I’ll ever know. I spot her playing pool with Wrench. I move up behind her and place a hand on her hip.
She looks up with a smile that fades quickly. “Thanks for the game, Wrench,” she says, setting down her pool stick.
I pull her to my side and guide her outside.
“What do you need?” she whispers.
“A good memory to replace the one I just gained.”
“Whatever you want to do, we’ll do.”
“I want to go to Vegas and get married the way we always said we would,” I say, shocking myself.
“Then let’s do it, babe.” Her grin lifts my heart.
“Yeah?”
“Fuck, yes,” she says.
I kiss her forehead and thank God for her. If she hadn’t called me that night of the party all those years ago, I’d be sitting there beside my dad out of some twisted form of loyalty.
“How about you let me take care of you? I’ll drive us there.”
I peer down at her and nod. My mind is too full of shit to focus on the road the way I need to right now. The ride away from the clubhouse is a somber one. I feel like I’m in a one man funeral procession.
***
Dixie Rose
I run my fingers through Echo’s hair, grateful he’d finally drifted to sleep. I have no clue what happened, but I know it involved his father and took its toll on him. I’d called ahead to the Chapel of Flowers, where we’d originally booked our first wedding. I wanted to do what I could to make this special for him. I didn’t care where we got married, so long as our names ended up the same and we started our lives as one. I’d had enough separation from him to last a lifetime. I relax into the drive, mentally planning things. I’d booked a hotel and while he rested, I would find a dress and a nice dress shirt for him to wear under his cut. My phone rings, and I answer it through the speakers. “Hey babe,” I say quietly to Blue.
“Where did you go off to?” she asks.
“Oh, just taking a trip with Echo.”
“Don’t be elusive. Where?”
“Vegas,” I say. Wait for it… One, two, three.
“Oh…my…God! You bitch, are you getting married without me?”
I laugh. “Yep,” I reply, popping my P.
“Dixie Rose.”
“What? It’s really how he wanted it. We’ll get remarried and do the whole nice wedding with everyone after things settle down.”
“Might be a while,” Blue says softly.
“Damn, how insane is it?”
“We’re on lockdown here.”
I whistle. “Never fun.”
“No. I had to use up some vacation time at work. I sort of lied and told them it had to do with the court case with Bolton. They were so understanding.”
I snicker. “Bluebell Barnett, you turning into a little white liar?”
“No…well, maybe. It’s not like I could tell them the truth.”
“Right? How would you even begin to explain it?” I ask.
“Yeah. Sorry, one of my sort of uncles brought in an enemy who tried to off the President. It sounds like a movie,” Blue scoffs.
“A bad one at that, with a born villain.”
“I just can’t believe Mouth took it so far,” Blue whispers.
“I can, that mean spirited bastard would stop at nothing to see what he thought to be right come to life,” I say quietly, afraid to wake Echo. I want to feel sympathy, but I feel nothing.
“I can’t understand it. He loved KOC.”
“He loved his beliefs more. When he had to make a choice, and his son betrayed him, I bet it was a no brainer.”
“Maybe.” She sighs. “Either way, we don’t need to talk about it. Tell me what you plan on wearing to this impromptu wedding.”
I smile. “I have no clue. I’m going to go shopping for everything once we get there.”
“You better face time me!”
“You know I will,” I say.
We continue to chat until Shadow returns to grab her for dinner. I’m lucky to have good friends, it’s a rarity in a world where people turn on one another like dogs fighting for a meal. I pull into the city of sin and as always, I’m mesmerized by the flashing lights. I use my navigation system to take me to the hotel and park. I run my fingers down Echo’s face. “Babe, we’re here.”
He stirs in his sleep. His eyes pop open and he yawns. “I slept the whole time?”
“Yeah, I think maybe you needed it. I booked us a room, and we get married tomorrow at one o’clock at the Flower’s Chapel.”
He sits up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say grinning.
“We’re finally doing this thing?”
“Unless you’re getting cold feet.”
“Don’t play. You’re lucky I’m not taking your fine ass through a drive thru wedding joint right now.”
I laugh. “I think I can wait a night for something a little more upper scale.”
“Oh, excuse me,” he says, distorting his voice.
I giggle. “You feeling okay?” I ask, gently prodding.
He sighs. “No, and I don’t think I will for a long time. Let’s check in, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re laying on the bed holding hands.
“So what happened, babe?”
“You know how I asked you why my father was so racist?”
“Yes,” I say.
“You know the black heroin addict who shot his father?”
“Yes, I’ve heard the story.”
“Well, what he didn’t tell anyone was that was his father.”
“What?” I ask, floored.
“Yeah, you think you’re shocked,” he replies.
“How…why?”
“Stone dug it up. He’d been having him checked out since he started to suspect him being crooked. Turns out my grandma had an affinity for not just cheating, but African American men.”
“Holy shit,” I say, shaking my head.
“Yeah, I don’t even know what to say. Finding out that I’m not who I thought, and he’s been expending so much energy hating himself. I always wondered how he could hate black people, yet marry my Hispanic mother.”
“Oh my God! It was to give him a cover up in case you guys came out too dark,” I say.
“Exactly.”
“Mind blown.”
“They’re going to give him to AB to take care of. I should be sad, devastated. The truth is, I said good-bye to the man I knew and loved a long time ago. He’s gotten worse over the years. I never got it until now.”
I sigh. “It’s a horrible side effect of society. Whatever they deem as something to hate becomes the social majority’s soundtrack. Back then, the worst thing you could be was black and on top of it a bastard. It wreaked havoc. I’m not defending him, but I am breaking it down as best I can for you to digest,” I say, running my hand up and down his arm.
“It’s so stupid,” he hisses.
I nod my head. “I agree.”
He buries his face in my neck, and I toy with his locks, processing the new information. We drift off to sleep exhausted from the events of the day and content to be together in silence with distance between us and the turmoil.
***
I peer at myself in the mirror. I’d settled on a blush pink flowing dress with a lacey flower appliqué overlay that trailed down to just above floor sweeping length. Feminine and soft, it made me feel beautiful. The color made my skin look amazing, and the side ponytail made my neck look elegant. The makeup woman had worked wonders and my eyes were large, luminous, and sparkling with happiness. I hope Echo likes it. I’d forgone anything on my lips in preparation of the kiss I’d be getting once we said I do. This is it, the day I feel as if I’ve been waiting my whole life for. I step away from the mirror and walk out of the room to greet the attendant waiting for me.
“You look lovely, dear. Are you ready?”
“Oh, yes,” I answer.
“It’s always so inspiring to see two people so eager to begin their lives together,” she says. With her blonde beehive mixed with grey, her kind blue eyes, and slightly wrinkled face, she reminds me of a kindly grandmother.
“He’s my high school sweetheart. We went our separate ways and then recently, we were brought back together.”
“True love always finds a way, doesn’t it?” she whispers.
“Yeah, I guess it does.” We stop at the end of the aisle and I take in the way Echo looks in his black dress shirt, cut, and skinny pink tie to match my dress. He’s perfect.
“Here you are, sweetheart,” she says, handing me the bouquet of white flowers.
I clutch them in my hand and the music begins to play.
Echo turns and our gazes lock.
Everything else falls away as I focus on the love visible in his eyes. I reach the end of the aisle where he’s waiting.
He hooks his arm in mine. “You look amazing, babe,” he says softly, caressing my hand with his thumb.
“Right back at you, babe.” I’m completely enchanted by the rope of gold that falls down his back.
We say our vows and the chains of the past fall away from my wrists. Our time is here and now. The things that came before—the pain, paranoia and hurt, stemming from an evil bastard with a black heart—are no longer allowed to touch us. I’ve never seen Echo so happy.
His grin practically splits his face and his eyes literally sparkle.
I did that.
I always knew he was a catch. Easy going, fun loving, and sensitive when he needs to be, he was different from a lot of the brothers. Not everyone is good at keeping the darkness that comes with club life out of their soul. Echo excels at it. I cup his face with my hand. “I do,” I whisper.
“And do you, Joel Sherman Spencer take Dixie Rose Dunn to be your lawfully married wife?”
“I do,” he says.
“By the power invested in me in the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Joel Sherman Spencer. You may kiss your bride.”
I close my eyes and our lips meet. It’s the sweetest kiss he’s ever given me. We pull back.
“Hello, wife,” he says.
“Hello, husband.” Something warm unfurls inside of me as he takes my hand and we lace our fingers together. United, we walk down the aisle together, one for the first time. We reach the end and petals fall down on our heads. I can’t help but giggle. He spins me in a circle. I feel like a princess.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I am never letting you go,” Echo says, brushing my ear with his lips.
I shiver, as we’re led over for pictures.
Too many photos later, we’re leaving the chapel with a cd of the ceremony, photos, and a license.
“How do you feel?” I ask.
“Good, finally whole,” Echo answers.
“Whole?” I repeat, hanging on to the specific word.
“While you were gone, I was acutely aware that something was missing. You balanced me. I think… You saved me from becoming my father.”
I gasp. “No, you could never be like that.”
“I wouldn’t believe it. But I was raised to be ride or die. I would’ve followed him anywhere before you and I got serious. Whether I agreed with him or not, I felt I had to be there for him. Especially after Mom left, you know? Us men needed to stick together was what he preached daily.”
“Because he knew your heart wasn’t in it,” I suggest.
“You think he knew?” Echo asks.
“I think so. I think he knew it about Charm, too, but he’d never showed him his ugliness the way he did you. So Charm was still seeing him through rose-colored glasses.”
“You’re smart as hell, you know that?”
I giggle. “Thank you.”
“What do you want to do now?” Echo asks.
“Whatever you want to do.”
His eyes darken. “I want to fuck my wife in her wedding dress. I’ve never had sinless sex.”
“Is that right?” I whisper.
“Mmm-hmm.” He nods his head.
“In that case, we need to go back to our room and test it out.”
“I think we can do better than that,” he says.
“You have something in mind?” I ask, feeling adventurous.
“Bucket list, babe, we’re in Vegas.”
My breasts swell and my core begins to heat. “Wherever you lead, I’ll follow,” I say coyly.
He grabs my hand and we hail a cab. When we’re dropped off in front of the high roller Ferris Wheel, I can’t help but laugh. It’s Vegas’ version of the mile high club. The thirty minute ride displays an amazing view of the city with its futuristic bulb like white carts with large windows. It’s a week night, luckily for us, so it’s slow.
We walk up to the ticket booth and Echo goes into action. “Hi ma’am. My wife and I just got married, and I wondered if it’d be possible to enjoy our first activity as a married couple by ourselves,” he says with an easy smile.
The girl sighs. “Oh my God, that is so romantic! I think we can make that happen. Honey, hold on to this one, he’s a keeper.”
“I know,” I say with a smile. I study the structure and find the best place to keep our activities hidden.
Ten minutes later, we’re boarding our own mobile den of sin.
“You ready for this, baby?” Echo asks.
“I’m always ready with you. Let’s sit in the seat that’s right in front of the beams of the cart.”
Echo eyes it and nods his approval. “Smart. First though, give me those panties.”
I lean in close to him, brushing his ear with my lips. “What panties?” I whisper.
His eyes smolder and he wraps a hand around my throat. “You know what Daddy likes, don’t you?” he asks softly.
“Mmm-hmm,” I moan, and nod my head.
Releasing his hold, he walks over to the seat and pats his lap. “Come and rest those legs,” he says, grinning for the sake of what I’m sure is a camera that can hear us even if it can’t see us in our position.
I sit carefully, lifting my skirt up once I’m on his lap. He leans in, wrapping his arms around my waist as I work his jeans open with my hands and perch on his laps. He grasps my chin, pulling me back to meet his lips. Our tongues duel and he groans into my mouth as I pump his cock. He thickens in my hands. Excitement has my heart pounding and my thighs slick with moisture. There’s something so deliciously naughty about sex in a public place. He bites down on my lower lip and I cry out, tightening my hold on his base.
“You like that?”
“Yes, Daddy,” I rasp.
He moves his hand back down to my throat, and tightens his hold.
The slight restriction of my airway makes my nerves dire. I grind into his knee.
“Damn, baby, I can feel that hot pussy through my jeans.”
His deep voice vibrates in my ears. “I’m on fire for you.”
“Can’t have that. I need to give my wife what she needs. You ready for me, baby?”
“Uh, huh,” I reply.
“You know what to do,” he says, nipping my ear lobe.
I move back on his legs and lift up, lowering onto his thick member. Slowly, I sink down taking him to the hilt. I close my eyes and moan.
“Is that good, baby?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Show Daddy how good it is,” he whispers, biting his way down my neck, and restricting my airflow once more.
I lift my weight and lower down, and he counters with thrusts. I close my eyes focusing on the friction, and the rightness of this man inside of me.
“So tight and wet for me. Shit.”
“So good, Daddy.”
“Be a good girl, and lean forward. I want to feel how much better married sex is,” he says.
His warm breath caresses my ear, in contrast to the cool air blowing through the compartment. I shudder and do as he asks, crying out as the adjusted angle caresses my g-spot. “Right there, Daddy,” I whimper.
“I got you, just keep taking this dick.”
I grip my dress as he continues to take me higher. He thickens inside of me and I know he’s getting closer. I contract my muscles. “I’m so close, Daddy.”
He hisses with pleasure. “Oh yeah, you going to come all over my dick, baby?”
“Yes, please let me come.”
“What wifey wants, wifey gets. Look out at the lights and let me get the fireworks started.” He grips my hips.
The cart is filled with hushed whimpers and the sound of flesh meeting flesh. The beauty of the lighted landscape is only equaled by the pyrotechnic display happening inside of me. Unable to hold on, I fly over the edge, soaring high. I clamp down around him as he continues to thrust through it. My body shakes and a white light bursts behind my lids as I shake. In a few moments, I feel him follow me. Spent, I melt back against him as he holds me close.
Together, we watch the world go by outside. It feels so good to have something to be happy about. This year has been a tumultuous one, but things are looking up now.