Blue sniffs. “I don’t think Skull would see it that way.”
“Fuck him,” Ruthie spits.
Blue does a double take. “I thought you guys were good?”
“Yeah, me too,” she mutters. Shaking her head, she looks at me. “Hey, Dixie Rose.”
“Hey, Ruthie, sorry you and Skull are hitting a rough spot.”
“Yeah, he’s a complicated guy.”
I frown. Skull?
Ruthie laughs. “I know, he hides his layers well.”
“No, it makes sense, I think they all do that,” I remark.
“Enough of me. What can we do to help you?” Ruthie asks.
“Just having you here backing me is plenty. I have to hold it together for Shadow.”
I can’t help but admire her in that moment. The women in this life give so much for love. I’m reminded of John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. There are more ways to give up your life than to take your final breath.
Echo
“You want me to be one of your groomsmen?” I ask, shocked. Shadow is good people, but we’ve never been especially close. Up until recently, Charm and I were two peas in a pod. I trusted him with my life. Now, I’m reestablishing everything.
“Yeah, man. I mean, Dixie Rose is Blue’s best friend, and she needs me to have the same amount of people standing up there. Dixie Rose is sharing Maid of Honor duties with Ruth, and then she’ll have Nevada, too. Bolton is my best friend, but Skull will be doing the actual leg work. He’s off scouting sites for me right now.”
“You’re wanting me to walk down with Nevada?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“You sure Wizard isn’t going to murder me?” I say with a laugh that’s half fake. Leaning forward on the couch, I rest my arms on my knees.
“Yeah, man, he didn’t want to stand up in front of the crowd,” Shadow replies. “Dude’s paranoid. Can’t really blame him, considering. No reason to make himself an easy target. It’s always a little risky when we get this many of us together.”
“We plan on beefing up security, yeah?”
“Yeah, Wiz is over seeing to it himself,” Shadow responds.
“Sounds like him,” I say, shaking my head. “So, what do I have to do?”
“Sit back with me and Skull, and watch as all the bitches around here go crazy?”
I laugh. “Is Blue that bad?”
“No, she’s pretty chill actually. She doesn’t even want the big shindig. Given everything that’s gone down with her family lately, I can’t say I’m surprised.” His eyes grow cold.
By his glare, I know it’s all he can do not to wring Pixie’s neck. “How are you dealing with things?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer.
Shadow shakes his head. “With Pixie?” He sighs. “Man, if it was up to me, her ass would be banned. The shit she hid, and the way she tore those two apart is fucking criminal. Stone’s not unreasonable or cruel. He would’ve made shit right, and smoothed it over. She let it turn into something that came back and wrecked this club. The loss of Psycho is going to be felt for years. And yet, the little bitch that caused it all is still alive and free to move on with her life after she does her time. How’s that shit fair? Now, they want to come after my son?” Shadow sneers. “Fuck that.”
I shake my head. “I know all too well about having bat shit crazy family, man. I feel for you.”
“What’s up with that situation?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t give a fuck about my old man, I stopped caring a long time ago when he cost me Dixie Rose the first time. It’s my brother I’m desperately trying to save.”