Hello everyone I had this book up not long ago an I took it down to do some editing on it along with book two as I edit an fix each chapter I will post it now keep in mind that chapters will not be everyday as I have a somewhat busy life

Chapter 1:

I thought of my father as I boarded the plane to take me to Charming. I never got to know my father. He was never in my life, so I don't see how he could help, or would even want to help me in my situation. Why would he even want to be a part of my life now?

My mother had used her last breath to tell me to go to my father, whom I never knew. She said he would keep me safe. Thinking about my mother made me remember that day and how it changed my life forever.

It was a normal day; well as normal as one can be when you're a teenager. Mom and I had just got back from the store. We had to pick up some things for my seventeenth birthday party, and Mom wanted it to be the best birthday I ever had.

When we arrived, Mom went inside first, while I got the last few bags out of the car. I got the scare of my life when I entered the house and saw that an unknown guy was holding my Mom at gunpoint. His friend, who I didn't notice at first, came up behind me once they realized they weren't alone. I had little time to react as he grabbed me from behind. I'd been doing kickboxing ever since I was little, but he was too strong for me. I fought to get out of his hold, but my efforts went to waste. He threw me up against the wall and pinned me there so I couldn't move at all. I was paralyzed from fear and from the hold the guy had on me. Mom tried to calm me down from her position, but nothing worked.

I was scared. Scared for my life. Scared for my mother's life. Scared that we might die like this.

Upon coming to that realization, I threw a head-butt to the guy who grabbed me, freeing myself. I was not going to let any of that happen. I ran to the guy holding my Mom and managed to take his facemask off. The guy I hit grabbed the gun that was on the floor and pointed it at me. Mom saw this and ran in front of me, shielding me. The gun went off, and that's when I screamed. The bullet, meant for me, hit my mom. She fell to the floor, blood oozing out from her wound.

"Come on, fool," The guy who shot my mom said to his friend. "We gotta get outta here before the cops come." Then he looked back at me, and in a menacing tone, said, "This ain't over, little girl. I'm coming back and when I do, you won't be as lucky." His cold eyes stared right at me, and then they left.

I kneeled on the floor next to my mother. "Mom, come on. We have to get you to a hospital," I said, trying to get her to stand up, but it only caused her more pain.

"Baby, listen to me," She breathed out. "I don't have much time left. Leave for Charming; find a man named Happy. Tell him what happened, he'll keep you safe." She stopped as blood poured out the sides of her mouth.

"There is a bag inside my closet, with a letter for him. Tell him everything, please. Baby, tell your father everything." Her last words came in a whisper and just like that, she was gone. And it was all my fault. My fault for not fighting back as hard as I could.

Getting up, I ran to Mom's room and went straight to her closet. I grabbed the bag she mentioned and opened it. Inside was a number for a man named Tig Trager. The cops had arrived while I sat on Mom's bed, feeling numb.

A cop walked in, surveying the room. He approached me. "Ma'am, are you alright?" He asked, trying to get me to respond. But I couldn't. I felt numb, and I wanted my Mom.

I shook my head, getting rid of the memory and falling back to the present just in time to hear the announcement that we were landing. I felt weird as I got off the plane. I guess it's because I'd never been on a plane in my life till now. After getting my bag, I hailed a cab and got in. I told the driver to take me to Teller-Morrow auto shop. The guy looked at me like I was out of my mind.

"Are you sure you wanna go there, little girl? It isn't safe there," He said. He gave me the creeps; I couldn't wait till I could get out of this cab.

"I'm sure. Now please take me where I want to go or I'll find another cab," I said. I was hoping he'd say no so I could get out, but my luck really sucked 'cause the cab started moving.

I was about ready to scream after twenty minutes when he finally pulled up to the lot. I got out, paid him, and watched as he bailed out of here. I turned to the shop and opened the door to an office. A middle-aged woman looks up at me.

"Can I help you, sweetheart?" She asked. She was really pretty, her radiant smile adding to her charm.

I nodded. "I'm looking for Happy Lowman. I was told I could find him here," I said, feeling a bit scared. Do I really want to see him? Do I really want to know what he's like, how he looks? No, not really. But I need him.

"Who are you and what do you need to see Happy for?" She asked, like she was two seconds away from killing me if she didn't like what I said next.

"My name is Skylar Lowman. Happy is my father." Only he doesn't know about me. "I'm not old enough to live on my own and I have a letter for him," I said. I'm sure my father's going to ask me this again.

"My name is Gemma," she said. "Where is your mother?"

I felt a lump in my throat; I knew it was hard to talk about it but I answered anyway. "My mother was shot in front of me a few weeks ago. I have nowhere else to go," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. I hope like hell they wouldn't fall off.

Gemma nodded in understanding. "Okay sweetheart, why don't you follow me into the clubhouse? I'll go get him, okay?"

Hearing her say that made this all the more real for me. Once I do it, there will be no turning back, which scared me.

Walking into the clubhouse was new to me. I've never been in one in my life, an ex-boyfriend of mine had a Harley but that was it. We entered the clubhouse; I walked over to the couch and sat down while Gemma went down the hall to where, I guessed, Happy was.

Looking around, I saw that there was a bar and a pool table, and to the side was a set of double doors. I looked over when I heard high heels clicking on the floor and saw Gemma walking my way. A scary looking guy was right behind her. He was tall and had tattoos everywhere. His whole don't-fuck-with-me vibe was visibly present and it made him ten times scarier.

I stood up as Gemma introduced him. "Skylar, this is Happy," She said.

Why did my father have to be scary? I thought.

"Thank you, Miss Gemma." I said, politely. I didn't know these people and from the looks of it, if I made one wrong move, I'd get killed. I didn't want to die.

"Oh honey, there's no need for you to call me miss. You can just call me Gemma," Gemma said, smiling at me. "I have to get back to the office to get some work done. Play nice, you two." She gave a pointed look to Happy. She went through the door we passed.

"So you're Happy? I'm Skylar." I said, trying to take things slow. I didn't want to rush anything, and I didn't know what Gemma told him.

His cold, black eyes assessed me. "I am. Gemma said you were looking for me but didn't even tell me why. So, what do you want?" He asked. I looked down at the floor. I didn't want to look him in the eyes when I finally told him what I came here for. Who knows how he's going to take the news.

"Do you remember a girl by the name of Brie Traeger?" I asked him. He looked at me, shock painting his features.

"What does she have to with this? I haven't talked to that bitch for seventeen years," He said. I bit my tongue when he called my Mom a bitch.

But it pissed me off.

"Well, seeing as that's my mother you just called a bitch and that she's dead, I would like it if you didn't call her that again. She used her last breath to tell me to come find you. I'm your daughter, Dad."