“I remember that. He was running your ass into the ground for a year and putting off getting your colors. Fucking racist bastard.”
I’ve never heard Pops bad mouth his brother like this.
“I put up with his shit because he was my brother. But when he starts fucking with my daughter, I draw the damn line. Your hands were tied at the time, brother, I get that. What the hell happened after you got your top rocker?”
“I went down to campus and saw her. She was happy. How could I ruin that? I know how much she struggled. I kept up with her and heard all about it from Blue who never fucking let up on me. What kind of asshole would I be to wreck her all over again? It wasn’t what she needed from me. I couldn’t let my selfishness get in the way, so I stepped back and waited for the time to come again.”
“And now?”
“Now…I want the truth out there, and I want my second chance,” Echo says.
“Ha, what exactly you plan on saying? What even makes you think you rank another shot?” Pops barks.
“Show him, Dixie Rose,” Echo demands.
My hands shake as I peel down the yoga pants and reveal the crown with the bold E in the center.
“Son of a bitch! You made her your old lady?”
“I did, and I’m ready to claim my property.” He stares Pops in the eyes.
“You don’t do anything halfway, do you, girl?” Pop asks. “You know the way this works as well as I do. This is for life. No falling out is going to change that. You planning on bringing this to church, Echo?”
“Yeah, wanted to let you know now, so you weren’t blindsided.”
“I appreciate it, son. You two need to figure out what the fuck you’re doing before then. Because believe me, they’ll ask, and your old man will react. Mouth ain’t the type to let shit be. Make sure you can protect her,” Pops says.
“I can.”
I hate the agreement they’re coming to. It gives me less to put between us.
“You hear me, girl?” Hoss asks.
“I heard you, Pops,” I say.
“Good, now pour me another drink, and get out of here. You two got shit to discuss.”
Just like that, he lays down the gauntlet.
If I come back home unable to answer the questions I know he’ll rapid fire at me, I’m going to get my ass handed to me. He never sugarcoats shit about the club or goes easier on me because I’m a girl. We have to handle this the proper way, or we’ll all be in deep shit. Secrets will get you fucked up fast in our life.
“Let’s go, D’Rose,” Echo says, standing.
The combo name makes me weak. I haven’t heard it in so long. I close my eyes and hold onto the counter. Taking a moment to collect myself, I step away and follow him out of the house.
“They’re already talking about us,” Echo says.
“The club?”
“Who else?” he replies. “You know they’re all like a dog with a bone, waiting around for the latest scrap of information on something new. It’s like living in a small town multiplied by a hundred.”
“Mouth say anything to you?” I ask.
“Not yet. I’m sure he knows where I stand on this by now. He can’t bully me anymore, so I figure he’ll just sit back and make his disapproval read loud and clear. Like I give a fuck.”
The bitterness in Echo’s voice stuns me. The sun rose and set by his father. He’s changed now. He’ll stand up for you. I want to place my trust in him, but it’d be opening myself up for potential heartache. So, you’ll sacrifice his standing? After what he did for you? He braved my hate and anger to keep me safe, never saying a word because he thought I was better off.
I close the door behind me and wrap my arms around his waist as I trail behind him. This brought back too many memories. Riding out by the ocean was always one of our favorite things to do when we could get away. Seeing the sand and the ribbon of blue that ran alongside it as the wind blew my hair away from my body and the sun warmed my flesh was a memory I still held dear. He gave me freedom in a world that put me in a cage. I pause when I see his bike and run my hands over the familiar chrome beast.