For the Love of Dixie (Kings of Chaos 3)

“Better food, less booze, and stress.” I shrug.

“Can I see him?”

“Doc says one visitor at a time for a few minutes apiece. Pops wants to see you before the meds make him loopy again.”

“All right. Good job here, baby girl.” Stone pats my back.

I give him a nod. He’s not a bad sort. He’s always treated me like the other kids. I respect him for that, but a part of me resents him for not changing the bylaws. I mean, he would have to take it to the table, but I know it’s doable. I give myself a mental shake. I need to stay in my lane. This is not a democracy. Old ladies don’t have sway in club business, I know that, yet I can’t help but wish things were different. “He wants me to go home and settle in. I’m going to do what he asks because I’ll have my hands full tomorrow, once the doc talks to him.” I’m already dreading the standoff.

“Hah, that’s an understatement,” my grandfather says.

“Talk some sense into him, will you, Pa?” I ask.

“Boy has always been bullheaded,” he replies.

“Wonder where he got it from?” Ma mutters.

I cough to hide my giggle and give them hugs as Stone heads toward Pop’s room. I keep my gaze trained on the floor as I approach the others. It’s a matter of respect. Leaving without speaking would be a snub. I have enough chips stacked against me without adding bad manners. I was bred better than that. I look up. “I’m sure P will fill you all in with the details. Pops had a heart attack. They got him stabilized and tried to clear the blocks to his arteries. We’re playing the waiting game to see how well the procedure took. Worst case, he’ll get a pacemaker. But they seem hopeful either way.”

“How are you doing?” a quiet voice asks.

I peer up and spot Wizard. I smile. The silent man always had a streak of kindness for the women of the club. “I’m here. Still a bit in shock. Pops has a larger than life vibe, you know?”

Wizard nods.

“You sticking around to see him back to health?”

I know the vindictive owner of this question. I meet his gaze head on. “Yeah, Mouth, I’ll be here as long as he needs me.”

“What about your fancy job at that high school? You think they’re going to twiddle their thumbs while you play in the mud with us?” Mouth asks. A sneer lines his thin lips. His cheeks are ruddy, and his pale green orbs are filled with hate. He was the biggest, or at least the most vocal racist among the Kings.

He’d made my life a living hell with his comments. I want to spit in his face, but he’s an elder, and a legacy, so he’s got me over a barrel. “They’ll deal with it,” I say, careful to keep the emotion out of every word.

“Right? ’Cause you’re so reliable. All you ever do is leave,” he spits.

“I’m here when I’m needed or asked to be,” I reply, not about to lie down and take it the way I once did.

I can see a glint of surprise in his spooky eyes. That’s right, motherfucker; I’m not a little girl anymore.

“We’re all on the edge. How about we let her go home, settle in, and catch her breath. Hoss is going to need her to get him out of here as quickly as possible,” Wizard says, working his magic yet again. He makes peace as easily as he ends lives.

“You were gone a long time, bitch. Best remember your place and the way things work around here,” Mouth says.

“I remember just fine,” I reply.

“Come on, kid, I’ll walk you to your car.” Shadow slips into view with Skull beside him. The two always had one another’s back, so I’m not surprised he’s shadowing him.

Had he been there the entire time?

He slings an arm around my shoulder and guides me away.

“Where’s Blue?” I ask, suddenly longing for my best friend.

“Out of town with Bolton, only reason she’s not here right now. They wanted to do some mother son bonding shit.” He shrugs.

I snicker. “They’re taking to the new roles, huh?” I ask, happy for my friend and the family she’d discovered.

“Been playing them his whole life. I think this was just a wake-up call. You okay? Shit looked like it was about to hit the wall in there,” Shadow asks.