Even as the sign welcomed me into Charming, California all I could think of was how unwelcome I was. It had taken me almost an hour from Adelaide and with every road I passed I felt more and more sick. I could begin to smell the smoke in my nose and how my outfit was out of place. How everything about who I had become over the last nine years was an idea of what people in Charming wished for themselves but never went out and did. I was the success story. Young girl, goes to college, then law school, elected as District Attorney at twenty-seven, single, attractive, and has money. I was one of the few who ever got out. And I was still paying the price for skipping town.
I neared the repair shop, Teller-Morrow, and thought back to the research I had done over the years and the recent news of Charming. Folks were getting scared of the havoc that had been currently destroying the town and I knew where it all stemmed from because once upon a time I was in on it too.
I pulled into TM and parked my car. I took a deep breath putting my District Attorney attitude on as I stepped out and headed for the clubhouse doors. The place was empty and I immediately was surprised by a pair of arms wrapping around me.
"Jesus, is this really you?"
I knew those head tattoos anywhere. "Juice, hey, how are you?"
He stepped back, eyeing me up and down. "My fucking God, you look sexy as hell. You're some big shot now, right?"
I eyed him quizzically. "I'm a District Attorney. If you want to call it a big shot that is fine with me."
He smiled. "God, I've missed you." But then it was like he suddenly realized that a District Attorney was standing in a room where illegal decisions were made and blood had been shed. Even Juice knew this was not a welcome home party and he slowly stepped back.
"You're not in trouble, at least not yet," I assured him.
"Juicy boy, what's all the yapping about?" A voice was heard from inside the chapel, where all those illegal decisions were made, and Clay Morrow appeared at the door.
He took one look at me before walking back into the chapel. I half smiled at Juice before I walked toward the chapel doors. I closed them behind me.
"What do you want Rowan?"
"Are you still selling guns?"
Clay looked at me and smirked. "No, we're not."
"Oh don't bullshit me. There have been plenty of times I could have gotten someone down here to pin all of you. Now answer me, are you still selling guns?"
"What's it to ya?"
I sighed before pulling out a chair and taking a seat. "I don't know if you've heard but a young boy pulled out a gun in an Adelaide shopping center and killed eight including himself." I glanced over at Clay. "He used an AK-47…It was registered to a Bryan Kelly, a dead guy."
"Sweetheart, check the Internet. You can get a gun anywhere these days…I'm surprised that the mother was smart enough to use a fake name," Clay said with a roll of his eyes.
"Unlike Charming, Adelaide is a safe town. I have reason to believe that the gun came from a surrounding town maybe even as far as Charming."
Clay glared at me. "What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to figure out where the gun came from. Figure out who is registering these guns under Bryan Kelly."
"And if I don't?"
"I pin it on the Sons. I've got the information. It would take less than a day for all of you to be in prison."
"Look, right now we are just selling to the Irish and you and I both know they are too smart to keep the guns. I don't know what they do after that."
"So find out."
"And again I ask, why the fuck would I help you?"
"Because I can get them all out of jail."
I had gotten Clay's full attention. "Excuse me?"
"Damon Pope but them in there right? I've been dealing with him for the past three years. The guy knows what he's doing, but I'm better. You tell me the guys who put the gun in that little boys hand so I can put the town of Adelaide at peace and I'll get Jax and the rest of them out of Stockton."
"Oh yeah and how are you going to do that Miss. District Attorney?"
I stood up and pushed my chair in. "I have my ways. Either you help me and they get out of Stockton…Or not too long from now you'll be joining them. I'll let you decide. I'm here until tomorrow."
And then I was gone.
The second, third, and fourth pregnancy test I had used had all the same result. I was fucked and I wondered how I was going to get out of this one. I got ready for the day as I heard the familiar sound of motorcycles outside my hotel room.
I opened the door as Clay and Juice parked their bikes and headed towards me.
"Small town," Clay began. "Hope we didn't scare ya."
"You'll have to do a lot more than show up to my hotel room to scare me," I stated. "Have you thought about my offer?"
"Yeah, I have. And the answer is no."
I was surprised by his response. I thought for sure Clay would take any chance to get the rest of SAMCRO out of Stockton. I was just going to have to try harder. I needed to find out something.
"Why not?"
"Look kid, there is a lot of shit going on right now and I don't need you to come waltzing in to my town and threatening me. What the Irish do after they get the guns is up to them. I'm not fucking up what SAMCRO has with them so you can be the hero. Go find someone else to do your dirty work."
"I thought you were cool with the Irish. They like you Clay. I don't have to be the one to tell you that."
Clay stepped towards me but I did not flinch. Juice took a step toward me as well but I had a feeling he was on my side.
"Get out of Charming, Rowan."
"It's a shame things had to come to this."
"And it's a shame I don't get to put a bullet through your head."
"Whoa, whoa, Clay," Juice began but I cut him off.
"Juice, its fine. I guess I've just realized some things never change."
Clay looked at me. "Sorry to disappoint."
A few minutes later Clay and Juice were on their bikes and zipped out of the parking lot. My heart was racing as I packed up my things and headed for my car. It was time to go to Stockton.
It didn't take me long to get what I needed at Stockton. Before I knew it I was being escorted down a hallway to the visitor's room. There were some inmates but the one I was looking for was in the far right corner.
"Well look at you," Opie Winston said as he stood up to greet me. "Looking beautiful as always sis."
"And you're not looking so bad yourself," I replied and gave him a quick hug. "How is everything in here?"
Opie shrugged. "We're making it work. It's weird seeing you here."
"It's weird being here."
"So what do I owe this great pleasure?"
"I want to get you guys out." Opie's jaw dropped slightly. "But I need some help."
"I should have known this wasn't just a sibling visit," Opie said. "Of course you need something."
"Opie, don't start. Look, there was a shooting in Adelaide…A little kid, used an AK-47, registration was under a false name. The mother has reason to believe that her ex was involved in illegal activity. I tried talking with Clay to set up an offer. If he found out where the gun came from I would get you and the rest of the guys out of Stockton."
"I'm sure it was the Irish."
"You really think it was the Irish?"
Opie shrugged. "It's a lost cause, Rowan. Pope will never let us out of here." He leaned closer to me. "He struck a deal with Jax. One of us has to go before Pope even considers letting the rest go."
"I won't let that happen."
"I love your positive attitude, Rowan, but it's Damon Pope. Even Jax has no idea what to do."
"I'll talk to Pope."
"Are you fucking insane? He'll have you shot before you can speak a word."
"If I talk to Pope, you need to see if you can ask around and maybe find something out about who the Irish give their guns to. Maybe you can try and get Clay to reconsider. The quicker I have some sort of lead the quicker I can get you guys out of here where there will be no blood for blood."
Opie leaned back against his chair. It was weird seeing him in his orange jumpsuit. When Opie and I were growing up we were the best of friends, with Jax always tagging along. As years passed and Opie started getting involved in SAMCRO, with our father being one of the essential creators, our relationship slowly began to fade to nothing. When I graduated high school, I left town with everything I had saved up, and started my new life. I changed my last name and with the help of some very important people I was able to rid SAMCRO out of my entire life. As far as anyone knew, I was Rowan Davenport, a girl who was in and out of foster care who eventually found a home and became the success story.
Even though this was my first time back in Charming, I wasn't happy to see anyone. I wasn't kidding when I left town nine years ago. I haven't been back. I haven't wanted to come back. I haven't wanted to see anyone, including my brother and father. The lifestyle they live is the one I try to stop. Even though I loved my family I also had new family in the life I had created by being the good girl. I knew my father disliked me and Opie and Jax had spent a great part of a year trying to find me after I left town. But I was a girl who didn't want to be found.
"It's been nine years Rowan," he began. "You caused a lot of up roar when you left."
"Exactly, it's been nine years."
"Did you even go to see Pop?"
I rolled my eyes. "It's a lost cause," I said, taking his very words he used from before.
"Rowan, I want to help, I do. But right now with the club in such shitty standards it would be too hard. Damon Pope has been on our ass for months now. It's real sad about what happened in Adelaide but I can't do much for you sitting in here." One of the guards shouted that we had two minutes left. "You know who will help you. You just have to make it something you want to fight for."
I knew he was right because he was Opie, he was my brother, and I hated seeing him sitting before me in a place he didn't belong. "I'll try to get you guys out."
"Don't get killed over it."
"You forgot, Opie, I am a big shot now."
Hey y'all! Hope you like it so far! Feel free to leave any reviews, I would love to have your opinions about where everything should go. And don't worry, Jax and the whole gang will be in it real soon!
