For the Love of Dixie (Kings of Chaos 3)

“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.