For the Love of Dixie (Kings of Chaos 3)

“No. That was Stacey’s friend, Natalie.” She bows her head. “Ralph just made me feel like a whore. He came on to me, I told him I wasn’t interested. He backed off for a minute, then he kept pressing me, getting others involved in the taunts. God, I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.”

“When we walk out of here, you hold your head up like the fucking queen you are.”

She ducks her head.

I step forward and pinch her chin. “See this shit, you have to stop doing that. You don’t look down for no one, got it?”

She peers up at me from under her long, dark lashes. “Got it.”

I release my hold and wrap my arm around her waist. “Come on, I’ve got fuckers to embarrass in front of their friends.” I guide her out of the room and down the crowded hall.

All eyes are on us.

Her countenance doesn’t change. She’s downright regal with her head held so high, her nose is practically in the air.

Kitten has claws, she just needed a protector to have her back and defend her from predators. I mean mug every person I make eye contact with, smirking when they glance away. We descend the stairs to find Ralph surrounded by his crew of skinny punks. “I can go through all of you or you can step aside and let me talk to the one prick I need to deal with.” I remove my hand, and Dixie shifts her weight, striking a pose I’ve seen the other old ladies take when they want to seem tough. Nicely done. I give her a look I hope conveys my approval.

“What do you want with Ralph?” a lanky blond asks.

“I want him to apologize for his and his friends’ bad behavior. See, I’m not leaving here until I’m sure he’s learned manners.” I step up to the blond and stare him down.

He trembles like a leaf.

“You don’t want none, Richie Rich. Let your boy take the fall for once. I’m sure you get sick of being the whipping boy who’ll never truly fit in with this crowd. See, I know your pops, he’s not in their league.”

His head drops.

I couldn’t miss old Wayne’s son. He looks just like the small time drug dealer, and in a town this small, no one’s business is private.

The boy steps aside, and the rest of the group follows.

The red-haired prick is sweating bullets. His expensive white shirt has pit stains and his face almost matches the strands on the top of his head.

“You trying to avoid me, Ralphie?” I ask, sneering.

“No, man, I can’t control what they do,” he replies, trying to sound hard.

“Funny, I think that’s exactly what you do. See, these punks think you’re some sort of god. Tonight, we’re going to show them how mistaken they are.”

“I’m not scared of you,” Ralph says.

“No?” I grin and move forward until I’m a millimeter away from him. “Then you’re dumber than I thought.” I grab his hair and drag him across the room to stand in front of Dixie Rose. “See, you owe her an apology.” I force him down onto his knees. “I don’t hear you.”

His cheeks puff out.

I tighten my hold. “Mommy and Daddy can’t touch me, boy. Might want to think twice before you cash a check your ass can’t cover.”

“Sorry,” he spits the words out like an expletive.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I pull his head back at an awkward angle and he cries out. “I didn’t quite hear you.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Dixie Rose.”

“Much better. Since you had your cronies join in, I think you should kiss her feet for good measure.”

“I’m not kissing her—”

I plant my foot on his back and shove. His head hits the ground with a loud thud. “What? I couldn’t hear you.”