Chapter 46 #2
As she nears me, movement behind her catches my eye, and I raise my chin in response to the question Bullseye has, by way of his gesticulation, silently asked me.
Bullseye uses Dum/Dee to utilise his extraordinary piercing whistle to quiet down the clubhouse and get everyone’s attention. “Let’s move this party outside.”
“Are the grills ready?” Trixie, now standing next to me, asks. “I should go out and check.”
“Nah, babe. You’ve done enough already. Let the brothers carry their weight now.” Slowly, the room empties around us. I can see she’s getting antsy to follow them, and I’m fast trying to come up with an excuse to hold her back.
Ace steps in to rescue me. “Mom, did you see my cake? Come over here. Let me show it to you.”
“She ordered it for you, son,” I explain, not wanting anyone else to take the credit.
“You did?” He hugs her. “I fucking love it.”
“Language!” both Trix and I roar together.
Dutifully, we go and admire the confectionery marvel.
The baker had really outdone herself. I’m stunned by the fine details, and Ace tries to interpret the code and, predictably, finds an error.
And of course, he wants to point it out.
My and Trixie’s eyes glaze over as he explains something about C++, going into detail about how the program should be corrected, something about a comma being in the wrong place, and the effect that that has.
By the time he completes his explanation, we’re the only ones left in the clubroom.
“Come on, Ace. It’s your party after all. We better get outside and join everyone.” Trixie’s patience has run out.
Above her head, Ace and I exchange grins.
This time, not wanting to be upstaged by my son, I make sure it’s my arm around her as we go to the kitchen, making our way through the detritus left from the preparation of food to take outside, me making a mental note to send the prospects in to clean up.
Waiting at the doorway as prearranged, is Saint.
He raises his chin, letting me know everything’s been arranged as planned. Then he steps aside.
Nothing’s immediately apparent. Our grilling area, fire pits, and picnic tables are set up behind the barn turned bunkhouse, so she’s heading in the direction she knows she has to go. But when we turn the corner, her sudden lack of momentum acts like a brake as she tugs on my arm.
It’s a late June afternoon, the temperatures are still high, so a large tent has been erected due to the ever-present risk of a thunderstorm. Just as she’d arranged. But nothing else resembles her plans.
The large tent is open at the front, and inside it’s packed with rows of chairs – hastily rented, collected, brought in, and set up by my brothers.
An aisle is between them, flowers on the chairs to either side, framing them fragrantly, and at the end, Words stands just behind an arch, just like I’d arranged.
Ace is bouncing beside me. “Dad, now.”
Feeling like a fool, I drop to one knee and take her hand, sliding an engagement ring that both Ace and I had picked out onto her finger.
I suppose I’d been thinking she’d be so enamoured by the cluster of diamonds sparkling in the sun, she wouldn’t dream of refusing me and embarrassing me in front of my brothers.
It’s not ostentatious, and Ace agreed with my choice.
For a moment, she simply stares at it, her mouth open, her fingers, now freed from my arm, tracing her new jewellery. Her eyes then go to where Words is waiting at the end of the aisle.
The pause before she speaks seems to take too long. Just as I’m about to get worried, the side of her lips curves up, and she looks up through her eyelashes. She smirks. “I thought you were supposed to ask.”
I shrug. “Thought we’d already gotten that out of the way.”
Her dazzling smile gives me my answer without her having to use words. Then she gestures toward the man waiting under the arch. “We haven’t got a licence.”
“Who the fuck cares about civilian ways?” Getting back to my feet, I place my hand against her cheek.
“I want to be married to you today, here, while our friends are all present. Then, on Monday, we can go to the clerk’s office and get all the formalities sorted out to make it legal.
But fuck, Trix, making you mine is all that matters to me. ”
I suppose you’re not supposed to kiss the bride until the officiant has given permission, but I’m a King, fuck the rules.
When Trixie reaches for me, I can’t resist. Our mouths meld in that already familiar dance.
It has that predictable effect on me, and I’m tempted to say, fuck the wedding, and take her somewhere we can preempt our wedding nuptials.
“Da..ad,” Ace puts one hand on me, one hand on her, and tries to separate us, even while the laughter and rowdy shouts of encouragement sound from all around.
Chuckling, we move apart. Then, as my son urges us on down the aisle, I’m walking my bride to our unconventional wedding ceremony with a hard-on I’m certain is visible from space. She’s limping because of her ankle, my gait is awkward, because, well, I’m sure most of the men will understand.
Ace is my best man. He steps up beside me, a serious expression on his face as he taps his pocket, checking the rings are still there.
I’m yet to let go of my bride’s hand. Words glares and gestures that we should step apart.
When a little over a foot is put between us, he transitions into the officiant’s role, beginning by clearing his throat.
“Dearly beloved. It’s with heavy hearts that we are gathered here today. I’d like to thank you all for coming to honour the deceased…”
“What the actual fuck?” I bark.
“Hey, you want me to take over?” The unmistakable voice of Smooth sounds over the laughter.
Risking a glance at Trixie, I find her doubled over with mirth. As she wipes tears from her eyes, I hiss, “You want Smooth to marry us instead?”
Hardly able to speak, she waves her hand toward Words. “I kinda want to know where he’s going with this.”
And Words, the cocky asshole, just grins at her.
This is Trixie’s wedding day. Ace and I wanted to make it special.
Something to remember. And he’s fucked it up.
I start to tense, ready to shout at him, that he better stick to the proper script from now on, when I look down again at Trixie, and see, not a woman whose wedding is being fucked up, but someone who’s genuinely happy.
Yeah, our wedding will probably be something that sticks in our memory, just not in the way I’d intended.
Still not quite certain whether it’s the right decision, I heave a sigh, then gesture to Words to continue.
Again, he coughs as if to remove a frog from his throat. “We’re gathered here today to remember the lives of our brother, Freak, and his ol’ lady Trixie.”
I glare at him, but it has no effect.
“Brother Freak, enforcer for the Kings of Anarchy MC Arizona, will be sorely missed. Absent from propping up the bar in the clubhouse, he’s gone to a better place, a life of marital bliss. And Trixie, our dear departed sister, will no longer…”
“Don’t you dare fuckin’ say it, Words,” I rasp in the most threatening enforcer tone I can. I don’t want today to be a reminder of what she’s been to the club.
He glares at me, then continues, “Our dear departed sister will no longer be in sight – as Freak will be monopolising her – but her presence will live on in our memories.”
“He’ll be fuckin’ her,” someone, I think it’s one of the out-of-town brothers, calls out.
“Will you all join me by bowing your heads in the remembrance of the death of Freak’s freedom, and the obvious loss of Trixie’s mind that she’s willingly chosen to take that ride with him?”
There’s a roar of laughter, my son’s voice included.
Words waits for it to die down. Then he shrugs. “Levi Moore, do you take this angel Trixie to be your ride or die wife?”
“I do,” I say hurriedly, worried he might add further embellishment.
“Trixie, Patricia…” he leans in, placing his lips by her ear. “What the fuck do I call you?”
I don’t want the last name of her fucking dead husband to cross her lips – she doesn’t deserve the reminder, not on this special day – and neither does she apparently. “We can go with just Trixie.”
He shrugs. Well, he won’t be signing any official documents today. We get her name legally changed on Monday. “Trix…”
“I do,” she says fast.
Words rolls his eyes. Then, he states in a serious tone, “Freak, Trixie, I now assure you that memories of your single days will live long in our hearts. I now join you together forever as...”
Ace jumps in before he can finish. “They’re married!” he shouts. “Dad and Mom, husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Moore.”
I don’t even get to kiss my bride first, as my son gets in before me, flinging his arms around her and holding her tight.
And you know what? I don’t even care. I’ll get my chance later. And right now, I have a bone to pick with someone. The someone who’s backing away from me with his hands held up in supplication.
“Now, Freak, you don’t want to ruin this pretty face, do you? It would be bad for business.” He takes another step back as I advance. “I did warn you I was more used to conducting funerals.”
He takes another step back, and then his speed starts to increase.
But I’m faster. My hand shoots out, but instead of punching him, I use it to grab hold of his and pull him in close.
Then I slap the back of his cut and tell him, “Words, I wouldn’t have had it any other fuckin’ way.
” I pause, then add, “And personally? I still think you were a step up from Smooth.”
Hours later, the Kings are still partying, well, those still upright that is. I glance over to where my son’s dancing with the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen. As I’m watching them, a lazy smile adorning my face, I feel a presence beside me.
“You’ve done good, son.” I think that must be the first actual praise I’ve heard come from my ma’s mouth.
In an unusual display of affection, I put my arm around her, and she hugs me back. “Never saw this day coming, but you chose a good one for both you and Ace.”
I glance over toward my son and wife again. They’re clutching at each other and laughing.
“She’s the best, Ma.” The absolute best.
The moment is broken when Rat comes stomping toward me. Losing his footing, he stumbles, pushing me and Ma apart.
“What the actual fuck?” I growl.
He doesn’t apologise, just tosses an excuse at me. “There’s trouble at Royals. That fuckin’ new girl.”
“Silky?”
“Nah, the other one. Her useless sister. I’ve got to go and sort her out.”
I watch him leave. At least problems at the strip club aren’t on my shoulders tonight. Nevertheless, I idly wonder what’s up with Ames. That is, until my wife comes to join me, and I realise there are far better things to have on my mind.
That dress for a start, and how quickly I can get her out of it.
It’s hours later, and the grills have burned down. Copious bottles and empty cans are strewn about. Dum, Dee, and Knight are walking around despondently, filling black garbage bags with the litter. They’ve already done the circuit a couple of times.
Most of the evening, I’ve been content just watching Trixie enjoying herself, proud as fuck of how well she fits in as an old lady.
I even saw her deep in conversation with Big Daddy’s Gwynee.
They seemed to be getting on like a house on fire, going by all the laughter.
Can’t hurt our chapter none. I’d seen Big Daddy smiling at them.
She’s taken time to speak to most of the brothers, out-of-towners as well as homegrown.
She’s drunk with them, laughed with them, guided them to more food.
She’s even danced with some of them – and while I watched carefully in case of roving hands, I was content just to look on.
She’s mine, and I’m the one she’ll come home to at the end of the night. And every night. Forever.
Trixie’s approaching me now, favouring her sore ankle, having pushed it to the limits over the last few hours. Maybe dancing so much wasn’t such a great idea, but I’m not going to berate her. This day won’t come around again.
I place my arm around her as she leans into my side.
“Today was supposed to be all about Ace,” she gently reprimands.
“You mind?” I ask, placing my lips to the top of her head.
“How could I? You’ve given me the wedding I always dreamed of. I just don’t know how you and Ace kept it a surprise.”
“And all the brothers,” I remind her. “Of course, if you’d asked about anything I was doing, I’d have told you it was club business.”
She barks a laugh, then starts to go up on tiptoe. I reciprocate by lowering my mouth…
“Mom! Dad!”
“Cockblocker,” I whisper, making her laugh. “What, son?”
His face is flushed, and he holds out his hand. “You forgot these!”
Glancing down, I see him slowly open his fist to reveal the two wedding rings he’d had in his pocket. Well, fuck, Words and us had forgotten that part of the ceremony. I guess rings don’t play too big a part in funerals.
Trixie’s staring at Ace’s hand, then she bursts out laughing. Quicker than I, she grabs the larger ring. As I hold out my hand, she slips it on my finger. Then I do the same with hers.
“This wedding was never going to be conventional,” I observe.
“It’s been perfect.” She pulls Ace in to join us, and we huddle together.
As I stand with my wife and son in my arms, I know she’s right. It’s fuckin’ perfect.
And I have high hopes it’s going to continue that way for the rest of our lives.
The End
Want to find out more about what happens to Toni in Nebraska? Look out for Property of Howler Kings of Anarchy MC Nebraska by Ciara St James, due to be released on the 19th October 2026.