“You think shit’s going to go bad with Mouth, huh?”
I nod. “Stone must sense it, too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have us watching him.”
“What do you think about ole Scotty and Brett? They slipped right in, didn’t they?”
“They stink like white power,” I say.
Shadow’s eyes narrow. “You sure of that?”
“Not yet, but I’m keeping my eyes open. Dad’s been talking about change, and being on the right side. I know for him that means white people. Since Stone has never rolled that way, I’m wondering why he thinks he’ll suddenly have a change of heart.”
“Nothing good is going to come of this bullshit he’s been holding onto for too long. KOC is changing. We embrace that, or die out,” Shadow says.
“I’m with you, brother,” I reply, thinking of the promise I made to Dixie Rose. “I don’t want my kids having the same experiences D’Rose did. We dropped the ball when it came to her. She should’ve been protected, not alienated.”
Shadow nods. “Shit was fucked up. Shit moves slow here. Change takes time. Our time is coming, brother. We just have to wait for the right moment.”
His words have the ring of truth. He’s privy to parts of Stone I know nothing about. It’s enough for me to know they’re in motion.
“Enough of the girly one-on-one, I did have something I needed to get done today.”
I laugh. “Yeah?”
“Today for sure, I need to figure out the venue and pick out what we’re going to wear. She says she doesn’t care, but she deserves more than some backyard get together. Women like her and Dixie Rose are freaking diamonds in the rough around here, you know? Harder than the usual girls who hang around, but worth it.” He stands up.
Suddenly, I see him as another man trying to make his way through our world and come out whole. It’s not an easy life, but it’s even harder when you decide to have an old lady and children. Then you have more than yourself to worry about. It complicates things. You have to walk with one foot in this world and another out.
“This is Skull now,” Shadow says, taking his ringing phone from his cut. “You got some places in mind, Skull? … Yeah? Me and Echo will come by to check them up. Then we’ll hit up the tux place. I got some thoughts on what we should wear.”
He heads toward the door, and I follow him out.
~~
We pull in to the parking lot right after D’Rose. After trying on pants, and bowties, I’m happy as hell to see her.
She steps out of the sedan and flashes me a smile. I crook my fingers, smirking as she puts an extra sway in her hips.
Wrapping my arm around her waist I pull her to me.
“Miss me today?” she asks.
“I always miss you. Of course, I’d miss you less if we had our own place.”
She purses her lips, but doesn’t deny it. It’s progress. “How about you take me back to your place and try to convince me,” D’Rose says, toying with my hair.
I quirk my eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She nods. “Blue and I did a little shopping at a certain secret establishment, and I can’t wait to show you my purchases—”
I grip a handful of her ass and tongue her down before she can say more. When she moans into my mouth I bite her lip, before turning to the driveway where Shadow and Blue are standing.
“She’ll see you later, Blue.” I smack D’Rose’s ass.
She laughs. “Let me grab my bag first, Echo.” She jogs over to Blue’s car giggling, as her hair flows around her body.
Suddenly, I’m reminded of the girl she once was. The one I fell for even though I knew I shouldn’t.
~~