Chapter 1

"Livi, Donna got shot."

This was the sentence that led me back. Back to sitting in front of the "Welcome to Charming" sign. It's been a year and a half since I've been in my little hometown. A year and a half since I've seen the faces of my family. I missed so much. The birth of my nephew, Abel; Opie getting out, and who knows what else. The phone calls helped, but I wanted to actually be home more than I let on to anyone.

I missed my mother the most. Gemma Teller-Morrow is the strongest, most fearless woman I've ever and will ever know. For a while, I was terrified to end up like her. The reason I left for college was to get away from club life. After half a year, I realized how much I missed everyone when I started tearing up after seeing a bike pass me by and seeing the rider didn't have a reaper on his back. Now, I'm so happy to be home.

It took me five minutes to drive to the Teller-Morrow Garage from the town limits. Pulling in and seeing all the bikes lined up brought back so many memories. I shut the car off, hesitating to get out. No one was outside, and I couldn't see anyone in the garage. They all must be in the clubhouse.

Walking towards the door I suddenly felt self-conscious. I'd changed a little since they'd all seen me last. My dark brown hair, just like my mother's, was now a deep auburn. My once ruler like body was now curvy. I had a scar on my cheek from a car accident I'd been in. It bothered me, and I knew they'd point it out. Especially since Jax was the only one who knew about it. I'd made him swear not to tell mom. She would've flown to Nashville immediately and I didn't need her stressing herself out.

"It's now or never, Liv," I told myself. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. I was hit with the smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol. The lights were dim, as they usually were. I could hear music from the speakers and chatter from everyone there. I felt content, comfortable.

"Livi? Livi!" Jax ran towards me with the biggest smile on his face. I'm positive mine matched his.

"Jax, oh I missed you so much." He pulled me away, just far enough so he could get a good look at me.

"You're still just a lil' bit." I laughed. He wasn't wrong. I don't think I've gotten any taller since freshman year of high school.

"Yeah, well you look like a scruffy hobo."

"Hey, Tara likes the way I look just fine."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, I'm sure."

"There's my little darlin'," I heard a Scottish accent say adoringly.

"Chibs! My God, I've missed you." I got around to hugging everyone, tears in my eyes the entire time. How did I ever want to leave this?

"C'mon sis, let's have a drink. I'll catch you up on all that's happened," Jax guided me to a table towards the back.

"First things first," I began as I sat down, "Where's Abel?"

His face lit up at the mere mention of his son. "He's with Tara right now. He's perfect, Livi. You're gonna love him."

"So what else has change, besides your view on children?" I smirked at Jax.

"We got two new members."

"Prospects?" I was intrigued. No one had mentioned new members on the phone.

"Well, only one's a prospect now. One was actually in the beginnings of the process when you left."

"Juice? He got patched? Shit, good for him. How's he doing?"

Before he could answer we heard someone yell, "Jax!"

"Why don't you ask him yourself? He's coming over here now." I looked over and observed the man walking towards us. Juan Carlos Ortiz had only been a prospect for a couple of months when I'd left. He'd been 26 years old and longing for somewhere to fit in, a family. He'd come to the right place. I remembered him always being flustered when he talked to me, like he was worried he'd say the wrong thing.

I looked at his actual body now. I'd never paid much attention to it before. Mostly because every time I looked at a guy Jax and Opie would lecture me. He was muscular. Juice had the typical reaper tattoo, just like everyone else. I saw another one peeking out of the bottom of his shirt sleeve, but I couldn't tell exactly what it was. He also had two bolts on both sides of his Mohawk. He was definitely a good looking man.

"Hey Jax, Gemma wanted me to tell you not to forget to bring clothes for Abel tonight. Neeta's gonna watch him at her house tomorrow."

"Thanks, Juice. You remember Livi, don't you?" I noticed his eyes try to slyly look up and down my body. His grin was wide as he looked at my face.

"Yeah, I do. Hi Liv. "

I'm sure my smile was just as wide as his, "Hi Juice. I'd love to talk to you, but I need to get all my stuff to my mom's. I've got so much."

Jax laughed, "No doubt! You're such a shopaholic, God knows all the shit you bought out East. Like those jeans. Since when do you wear sparkly shit on your ass? That just invites pricks to look at you!"

"Mom's the one who told me about these."

"Of course she did," he muttered. "Hey Juice, why don't you follow her? Go help her out?"

"Sure man, as long as it's ok with you?" He looked at me.

"Yeah, that'd be great. I could use the muscle." He smiled again. I can already tell, that smile is gonna get me in a lot of trouble.