-CHAPTER ONE
Letting the steamy water hit her sore muscles, Alyssa let out a long tired sigh, today's events washing away along with the sweat and dirt. "God…. I need to get a different job." She spoke to no one but herself, being a bartender was never really what she wanted to do, just kind of happened, loving the club scene a little too much probably didn't help with that choice either, not having the heart to quit, like her sister. What a lucky and successful sister, Doctor no less, something their dead mother would have been beyond proud of, and then there was her, Alyssa Marie Knowles. Serving up perverts, taking crap from shitty bosses, even having to shake what her mother gave her for better tips, so yeah, wasn't a career that most mothers would really fully approve of. That being a small, -ish, price to pay when you loved being surrounded by drunken idiots and having too much self-respect to become a half-naked stripper.
Shutting off the shower, "I really should call Tara…." Alyssa sighed once more, it had been a few months since she had last seen her sibling, not since she helped Tara move back in their dad's place back in Charming, California but being as close as they were, the two always talked on the phone whenever Tara was off.
Referring back to that sweet, sweet Charming town, the place of so many memories, Alyssa was starting to miss the place, bad. It had been a few years being gone, leaving a year after her sister, a few days visit wasn't going to cut it, she needed some quality time. Alyssa had made that hard choice no one really wanted to make, leaving Charming and getting herself into a decent bar-tending school in Las Vegas, not too far away, but leaving somewhere you knew all your life was hard for almost anyone, especially when coming from a small town and try to get used to such a huge city.
Once drying off most of the wet from her body and long dark brown hair, Alyssa threw herself in bed, not bothering to wrestle her fat ass into clothes, she always prefer to be naked anyways, more natural, and picked up her cell phone. Checking the time and day, she knew that it was a ridiculous idea to try and call her sister, being both busy with work and her back on relationship with Jax and even adding Able to the mix. Oh sweet Jackson Teller, SAMCRO son, was always Alyssa's favorite boyfriend of Tara, handsome and funny as hell, perfect match for her sister.
Chuckling at the thought of the couple, Alyssa flipped onto her stomach, cuddling in the blankets, light brown eyes lying on the gray cat that jumped onto the bed and resting alongside the her body, an arm reaching over to pet it's head, the dark ink on her wrist flashing as she moved. The crow with a sickle in it's mouth forever engraved on her pale skin, open for anyone and everyone to see, that mark from her past always put a smile to her face, even on the hardest of days, reminding her SAMCRO, her childhood biker club.
Growing up with Jax Teller and Opie Winston, Tara and Alyssa stuck instantly to the boys, once coming to that respectful rebel age, like her sister, jumped happily into the club and the drama that came with it back in 1996, running havoc with the Sons, earning an amazing family and not soon after the stamp of loyalty that laid on her wrist today. Somewhere within all the thinking about the club and the dangerously amazing times back in that era, Alyssa fell asleep. It was her day off after all, why not sleep in and enjoy the rare sight of sunlight the next morning, for once.
It had really only seemed like an hour before the annoying sound of constant ringing and vibrations woke the woman up, anger filled her dry throat as she answer,
"Tara, it's my fucking day off… you know that I like to sleep until at least 12." The silence of the other line made her eyes open and her thick manicured brows smash together,
"Tar-" Alyssa immediately started,
"Able was kidnapped." Tara's weary voice snapped before she could finish.
Stomach instantly flipping, Alyssa shot up, scaring the cat away, "W-What the fuck do you mean kidnapped!?" she almost yelled, voice cracking.
Alyssa has yet to meet Able but knows about him plenty, hearing him and seeing pictures, she automatically fell in love, knowing all too well that he wasn't Tara's by blood but with everything that had happened to that poor child and the couple proved that Tara was in fact his mother, and Alyssa his aunt.
"Able was kidnapped." Tara repeated and by the sound of her voice this time, she was a wreck and wasn't fucking around.
"Fuck! Fuckfuckfuck! I-I…. I'm coming over, immediately; you better open that fucking door!" Was all she spat before packing up whatever she would need, looks like she was going to get that quality time in Charming after all. Racing down the familiar road, Alyssa started with her calls, work was the first one, explaining the family trouble and earning her vacation time early, no fucking way she'd be coming back to work with all that was happening. Hanging up after many thanks, her next call would be to Jax,
pressing the phone hard against her ear, knowing it would be by luck this man would answer, "Please…. I just need to tell you I am coming." She whispered to no one in particular. Momentarily moving her eyes from the road to the rear view mirror, watching the gray cat curled against the rear window, that feline was her heart and soul, never leaving him if she planned on being somewhere for more than a week, good thing he liked to travel.
"What…" murmured the other line, broken and weak, Jax sounded just as bad as she felt, even worse,
"Jackson, Tara told me. I'm coming over; I really need to know what happened." She demanded, earning a small wounded animal sound in response and a deadline from the other end.
Good, he didn't scream, he knew Alyssa wouldn't change her mind when it came to family, he'd been around her too many years to argue her down. Almost as vicious as the Queen of Sons, Gemma, when it came to family and protecting what was blood Alyssa was there and would never back down and with the hours ahead of her and much time to think about all that could happen, the dangers that could harm that child, it hit Alyssa hard, it was going to be a long night to get to that fucked up town.
The sudden ringing of her phone after a few hours of silence caused her to jump a bit, answering quickly, "A few members will be waiting for you as you come into town." Jax replied and boy, did he need sleep, she knew not one of them would be getting much of it though. The remaining hours passed like years, when the sky finally started to shine once more, Alyssa drove nonstop, coffee and energy drinks keeping the shaken woman awake and alert the whole eight hours.
Reaching the border only a few more hours later, like Jax had instructed, she parked on the side of the road, silencing the engine as she jumped her body out of the metal monster. Nothing said bad ass like a loud and lifted black dodge ram and with her new body and confidence, she was indeed one bad ass lady. Arms folding under her instantly noticeable large rack as she waiting for any sign to reach her in the wait and within a few minutes, the sweet and oh so very familiar roar of bikes echoed through the air, a huge smirk spread across her cheeks. As the sight of four bikes appeared from the distance, her smirk turned into a smile, she couldn't help wonder just who was going to be escorting her.
Once the four bikes silence in front of the leaning lady, a quick laugh escaped her lips as a few familiar faces appeared from under the helmets. "Opie, Chibs, AND Happy!?" Alyssa yelled in delight, arms unfolding as she made her way, almost running, over to the men as they dismounted their bikes, well, all but one.
"No fucking way, Alyssa, is that YOU?" the bearded, beanie wearing man spoke closing the distance with a bear hug, happy and Chibs following close behind. Opie Winston earned the first hug, out of the three men, he was the one she had known the longest,
"Aha, yeah, it's me Op. Not the fat cow from all those years ago!" She spoke with even more delight, beyond ecstatic to show off her hard work and determination with a new body.
"You look great, Jax mentioned you lost some weight on your last visit. Vegas really did you good." Opie barked with a huge smile of his own, petting at her head, he was always the sweetest.
"You were big, but cow? Nahhh baby." The coarse raspy voice filling her open space as Opie pulled back, Happy Lowman pulling her into another great hug, followed by a dramatic checking out and whistles has he stepped back a few paces.
"Ha, thanks Hap. I know, I know, I look fucking good." Alyssa spilled with a laugh and a few playful giggles before rolling her light brown hues, happily turning to Chibs Telford, she was serious with her words though, and losing over eighty pounds will do that to a woman, pushing her confidence through the roof.
"Aye' Lassy! You've always looked good, you're just happier now and a smile is always pretty." The Scottish accent only pushing her smile wider, no one was more on her good side than Chibs, something about that Scottish man made her heart leap with joy, he was one of her best friends no doubt. "Chibby." Alyssa mewled, snuggling into his chest as a child did to a father, quick words passing the laughing group before Opie turned to his side,
"Oh right. Lyss' this retard smiling at nothing is Juice." Opie added, motioning to the man leaning on his bike away from the group. "Come on Juicy Boy! Don't be shaye!" Chibs yelled, waving the guy over, eyes darting from Chibs as he yelled back to the guy as he slipped his helmet off and headed over to the beaming group with a quick jog.
A silent breath escaped her lips once he had reached the group and slid his sunglasses off, turning his attention to her after a quick, "How's it going guys?" escaped his curled lips, hot damn. He was a looker; those gorgeous tatted, tone arms, broad shoulders that fulled out the tight shirt he bore, tattooed up head, and even the hairdo was attractive, his whole domineer was fucking attractive.
"Helloooou." Alyssa smiled wider, feeling a slight burn to her cheeks, 'Am I really blushing? What a tool.' she thought, extending her hand to him, however once Alyssa had caught wind of that panty soaking smile spread wide across his face her breath caught in her throat, the extending arm almost melting back to her side, 'Okay. Yeah. He's a god.' She mewled in her head, that smile was gold and she'd be damned to not try and see it again. With an extending arm on his part and a not so swift glance to her chest, Juice gripped her hand firmly.
"Hello. Nice ride." Juice replied in an almost heavenly voice, shit, with that smile and that voice, this Juice guy was going to be the end of her, she already knew. 'Why does SAMCRO patch in the most attractive bad asses.' she sighed into her head, almost saddened when he released her hand, someone had snapped her out of a daze when they cleared their throat, and within that same instant, she realized she was just staring at him, she shook her head, nodding a bit at him and looking back to her ride.
"Ahh... yeah! Thanks, this baby is always my savior when I travel." After shutting her mouth, a sudden sharp pain of guilt shot at Alyssa's chest as she quickly remembered why she was traveling in the first place, making the sweet reunion and meetings wash away her smile. "Alright boys… take me to my sister..." Her now deflated body walking slowly back to her truck.
Another wave of silence took over as she followed the guys from her father's place, to drop off the cat, to Jax's home, the new residence for her sister. "Thanks guys…" Alyssa spoke weakly as she reached the men, giving a small smile before turning to the beautiful but broken home, waving one last time before they took off, back to the clubhouse most likely.
Hesitating slightly before knocking on the door, nothing could prepare her heart from dropping once she had full sight of her sister and that motherly protective instinct of hers, forced Tara into her arms, "Hey TayTay…. I'm here..I'm here.." She whispered with silent tears, walking into the house with her older sister still wrapped protectively in her arms. Taking a quick look around of the home as she closed the door behind them, finding the kitchen, "You make coffee yet?" Alyssa replied as she sat Tara in a chair at the dining table, nodding slightly as Tara shook her head from side-to-side.
Hours passed by in silence after what had happened the day before spilled from her sisters lips, sipping her now third cup of coffee, staring straight into the hallway, the only place she was comfortable with, anywhere else could bring her eyes straight down to the remaining stain of dried blood from the Prospect on the tile. Alyssa had gotten a quick glimpse of Jax an hour ago, as he walked from the bathroom to what she guessed as Able's room, he didn't take notice to Alyssa's presence in the house, nor did he bother to leave his son's room at any point once inside, but who cloud blame him? His son was gone and she knew he needed some space from people who he hadn't seen in a few years.
A bang to the front door caused both women to jump, Tara quick to her feet, a low but familiar enough voice boomed from the other side, Clay Morrow, the club's President. After a word from Tara, the boys she had seen before spilled into the house, followed by the President and Bobby, keeping her place in the kitchen as most of the men dashed into Able's room, Bobby slipping into the kitchen with a phone call, only nodding in Alyssa's direction. Nodding once in return as she listened to the voices of the men in the room down the hall, watching as Tara talked to Clay, answering one of the many question that hovered in her mind, 'he's been like this since it happened.'
The pain of losing a child was one she never wanted to feel and watching Opie carry Jax from the baby's room into the bathroom only made her grip on the coffee mug tighter, causing her finger tips to turn white. Dropping her eyes to the tiled floor of the kitchen as members started to spilled into the room to wait for their next move, Clay's voice in the living room and the muffled sounds of the shower were the only sound passed around during this moment. Alyssa's legs starting to shake, the lack of sleep, caffeine, and nerves were not a good mix, plus she had been staring at the blood stain for far much longer than she should have been, boots hitting the tile forced her eyes up, moving from her seat as the President appeared into the room, a stern look hitting his face once seeing her,
"Hey 'Lyss, fancying seeing you here." He joked poorly, only causing a small smile on her puffy face, moving close for a small hug,
"Where's Gemma..?" she murmured as they parted ways, only seeing the pain enter into his eyes at the mention of his queen,"Later." He added before crossing the kitchen to place himself by Bobby, only to be moved seconds later as Tara nervously asked from for a moment.
Small chatter from a few member and silence, more silence hit the kitchen as the two left, Alyssa's eyes following her sisters every move until they disappeared into the baby's room. "It's nice to see you Alyssa." Bobby finally spoke, catching her attention, snapping her out of some sort of caffeinated daze, "You too Bobby, you too..." She sighed out, sides of her mouth twitching into something of a smile, she really wasn't in the mood for speaking, something they were all too familiar with.
Eyes flickering up at any slight movement in the hall, Clay emerging at the same time as Jax before disappearing once more, Clay walking back into the kitchen, Tara must have been talking to Jax because she stayed in Able's room with him. Jax was soon storming out of the house, not saying a word, after a little while in the room, a bike's roar echoed in the house not soon after, causing her to stand up from her seat, only running down the hall when the sound of things being thrown and her sister's growling hit her ears.
"Tara!" Alyssa yelled, watching as her sister wrecked the baby's room, "W-What the fuck are you doing!?" She yelled, grabbing her sister's wrist as she yanked a shelf down, only being caught off guard by her sister's tears.
"He wants me to leave Charming!" She wailed, ripping Alyssa's hands off her wrists. "He wants us BOTH to leave!" She snapped loudly, causing even more confusion to rush through Alyssa's body.
"Wha-" Alyssa started,
"He blames me for all of this!" Tara wailed once more before dropping on the floor, sobbing her eyes out, utter sorrow replaced Alyssa's body with her sister's words, god did she miss the confusion already.
Dropping down next to her broken sister, arms squeezing against Tara's huddled and shaking body, "He would never blame you Tay…. That man loves you too much to feeling that way…He just needs time." Alyssa shush, petting her sister's back a few times before a few guys poked their heads in from the hall, checking if it was over. A silent shake of Alyssa's head and tear damped face told them all the answers they needed to know before they retreated and disappeared from of the house, probably after Jax.
After what seemed like an hour of just holding her broken older sister, Tara sighed, lifting herself up from her hunched position, Alyssa followed, keeping quiet. "I have to go to the police station… Talk to them about what I saw." Tara spoke, pushing past her sister, heading into the bathroom. Hearing the shower relaxed Alyssa, a hand reaching up to the bridge of her nose, pitching the bone hard with her thumb and pointer finger,
"What's going on mama'….?" Alyssa asked the air, pushing herself to plop onto the cough with a loud sigh.
Not realizing that she had fell asleep, Alyssa jumped to the sound of Tara speaking, "Oh- never mind... you must be exhausted. Just sleep and I'll be back in a little while." Tara replaced her words with a sling of her purse, heading for the door. "Wait, I'm coming with. You know I can't sleep very long without Leo anyways."
Pushing herself up and behind her sister, she gave a weak, tired smile before nodding to her sister to head out the open door, "You and that damn cat." Tara laughed lightly, walking ahead. Alyssa's consciousness faded every few minutes on the way to the Police Station, only causing Tara to throw guilty looks at her sister every now and again, "You sleep, I'll be out soon." Tara's voice barely made it into her sister's brain before she nodded tiredly, just accepting the words she thought Tara had said, pushing the seat all the way down and covering her eyes with some sunglasses she found, Alyssa was out within seconds.
.
Tara's voice woke Alyssa in the car, but the sound of another woman snapped her eyes open, turning to the opposite side, Alyssa's eyes filled with the torsos of two women as they reached the side of Tara's car, not moving much more while she listened to their conversation.
"I can't believe you still have a badge after what you did to Gemma." Alyssa's obviously pissed off sister barked back, Gemma's name caught more than Alyssa's attention now, she was alert and ready to fully process the information she was about to hear. Being without sleep can make a woman pissed off but the second you piss Alyssa off with the mistake of messing with her flesh and blood, there was no stopping the storm that was to follow, Alyssa knew her sister could kick ass and defend herself but something broke within her when that woman slammed Tara's car door after Tara had opened it to escape the conflict early.
"Oh hell no." Alyssa started as she opened her own door,
"Alyssa, stay in the car." Tara's pissed tone caused Alyssa to pause, but ignored the demand, standing put, Alyssa stared daggers into the woman at her sister's side.
Tara had regained control by getting in the woman's face and telling her to keep away from her family, a threat both siblings could agree on, "I won't listen to my sister next time you get in her face, bitch." Alyssa hissed from her spot at the passenger side as the two women stared off, this only granted Alyssa her own glare from the other woman before Tara slipped into the car, demanding her sister back inside, lunging at the woman slight before following orders. "What a cunt." Alyssa added before nodding in Clay's direction, she had just noticed he was there the whole fight, side-by-side with Unser as they left parking lot, 'hmmm' hummed from Tara in response to Alyssa's new label on the other woman.
"So… what happened to Gemma?" Alyssa's question filling the car as they rode own the streets of charming.