Chapter 2
Sofia woke up with an annoying pain on her lower back and the back of her neck. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around, she was in her daughter's room. The only fully decorated and organized room in the apartment so far. The wallpaper was already filled with some drawings. She made sure to buy the kind her daughter could draw on. The furniture was all white and light pink, and the stuffed animals gave even more color to the place.
She looked down and saw Anastasia sleeping by her side, the little girl rested over her mother's breast, her arms around her waist. Sofia slept practically sitting on the bed. She raised her free arm and felt the temperature on Anastasia's forehead with her hand. It seemed all right, but she still had to give her the medication.
"Ana, my angel," Sofia whispered to her daughter. The little girl shrugged and opened her eyes slowly.
"Good morning, my love," Sofia smiled and took the opportunity to sit straight on the bed, making Ana lay down properly. "Mama will get some juice so you can take your pill, ok?"
Ana nodded, still asleep. Sofia stood up and stretched up a little, hearing her back crack. She walked out of the room to the kitchen. The apartment was clean, but other than the big pieces of furniture such as cabinets, couches, TV rack and table, everything else was in boxes. The boxes were already sorted out by rooms, but she still hadn't had time to organize anything.
It had been a week since they moved, and Sofia focused on getting Anastasia into a good school, since classes would start soon. Other than that she tried to figure out what she could do. She had a good amount of money saved, but that was for Ana's and her own future. She needed to get a job, and soon. Perhaps a dance teacher, she thought, but still hadn't had the courage to actually go out for the hunt. Then Ana got a fever and she really didn't have time to think about anything else.
Thankfully she hasn't received any phone calls from Viktor, Isaak, Boris or any one from LA, for that matter. She was grateful for that. Perhaps they understood her reasons, perhaps even Viktor did. It wasn't a crime to hope for that.
Sofia filled one of the few tall glasses she had taken out of the boxes with orange juice and went back to Anastasia's room. The little girl was still sleeping soundly. Sofia put the glass on the bedside table and took the medication the doctor prescribed for Ana from the dresser.
"Ana," she shook her daughter's arm gently. "Just take this, then you can go back to sleep."
Anastasia rubbed her eyes and stood up, sleepy. She took the pill her mother had given her and put it in her mouth, and then she took a sip of the juice. After swallowing, she proudly opened her mouth for her mother to look.
"You are getting good with pills, huh?" Sofia said with a smile, and Ana smiled back. "Your throat is getting better already. You can go back to sleep, sweetie."
Sofia kissed her daughter's forehead and tucked the girl in when she laid down again. She then stood up and left the room, leaving the door slightly open. She walked to her room and looked around, the queen size bed, the bedside table, the dresser, the floor lamp, it was all there already, but boxes filled the corners.
She felt somewhat bitter looking at everything like that. She knew she had done the best thing, for Ana, and yes, for her. But she wondered what would happen next. As she walked towards the bathroom in the suite, she started taking off her clothes. She still wore the same clothes as yesterday. Already naked and with her dark brown curls falling over her shoulders and back, she put the clothes in an empty box and turned on the whirlpool bathtub.
She took the bath salts and everything needed for a very bubbly bath, she needed to relax. She prepared the bath calmly, trying to sweep away the thoughts about LA, while she waited for the bubbles to grow, she took her purse in her room, and while looking for her cellphone, she found Mr Kozik's card. She stared at it for several seconds, before deciding to take it with her, along with her cellphone.
Sofia put the cell and Mr Kozik's card on a small table she left by the tub, with all her bath salts and bath products, and entered the tub slowly, feeling the steam and the hot water touching her skin, she laid down and relaxed, closing her eyes. She slowly sunk in the tub and stayed under the water for a few seconds before sitting and relaxing again. She wiped the water and bubbles from her face and grabbed a small towel on her side, drying her hands before taking Mr Kozik's card and her cellphone.
She stared at the card and wondered if she really should call or not. He seemed nice. Yes, he looked like a delinquent, but he was handsome. And she had her share of men that dressed in fine suits that drove Mercedes and were a lot more dangerous than some biker guy. He probably wasn't anything that she hadn't seen or dealt with before. Couldn't be worse than Viktor, impossible. And she was lonely and a little bit lost; maybe some company and someone who could really just show her around would be of great help.
This wasn't such a bad idea. Sofia dialed the numbers reluctantly. She brought her phone to her ear and waited patiently for Kozik to answer. She felt a cold in her stomach and felt like a fifteen year old.
"Tacoma Sons, bike shop." a male hoarse voice answered. Definitely not Kozik.
"May I speak with Mr Kozik, please?" she asked.
"Mister Ko—" the voice started in a half laugh, but stopped. "Who's it?"
"A friend," she said simply.
"Just a second, friend," the voice said still in a half laugh. And she heard when he said, imitating her accent in mocking a female sexy tone. "MisteRR Koziiiik, a fRRRiend."
She heard a few laughs and whistles and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. No matter how old men got, they still acted like teenagers whenever a woman was involved. After a few seconds, Kozik's voice spoke on the other side of the line.
"Hey, Sofia," he said, before he even heard her. His voice visibly surprised.
"Hello, Mr Kozik," she imitated the man's terrible impersonation of her accent. "I hope I don't sound like that."
"No, not at all," he said after a laugh. "Don't mind him, you know how men are."
Oh, she did know how men are.
"I don't, it was funny," she said with a stupid smile. "So, you said I could call you and you would take me out."
"Well, Tacoma is not nearly as awesome as Los Angeles," he said. "But I could show you around."
"Ana is getting better from the sore throat," she said. "And tomorrow her nanny starts, so I think Thursday night, maybe?"
"I have to get back to you on that," he couldn't help a smile, too. He really didn't think she'd call. "But so far Thursday night sounds good."
"Are you still trying to get my number, Mr Kozik?" she asked, playfully. He laughed.
"Yeah, actually I am," he replied.
"Alright, do you have a pen?"
"I'll call you back, Sofia…?" he started, fishing for her last name. One could only be too cautious.
"I'll give you my last name if you give me your first," she teased.
"Seriously?" he asked, half amused, half impressed.
"Of course, it's only fair."
"Herman." he said simply, lowly. She laughed. "Oh great…"
"Sorry," she apologized, still laughing. "I think I'll stick with Mr Kozik."
"See now?"
"Yes, I do," she said, stifling her laugh. "My last name is Novikov."
"See, not everyone's got a cool sounding name like yours, Miss Novikov," he said. "I hope you're not afraid of riding a bike. Unless you want to go with your cage."
"Cage?" she asked, confused.
"Your car, it's what we call a car," he explained. He almost forgot she had absolutely nothing to do with the MC or their lifestyle.
"Well, my cage is very comfortable," she said, still with a smile. "But I probably wouldn't be calling you so fast if it weren't for your bike."
"Honesty, I like it." he said with a laugh and she laughed back.
"So you'll call me?"
"Yes."
"I'll wait for that call, then," she said. "I have to go now."
"See you soon, Sofia," he said and she hung up. This wasn't so bad. She hadn't laughed over stupid things like that in a while. This could be fun.
[xxx]
"Are you going out with a Russian, man?" was the first thing Happy asked as soon as Kozik hung up the phone.
"Apparently," Kozik said with a mischievous smile as he folded the paper with Sofia's number in put it in his cut pocket.
"Seriously?" Happy asked arching his eyebrows, impressed, Kozik nodded. "Right on, then. You gonna check her first, right?"
"Of course," Kozik said, already leaving the office and going back to the garage, Happy following him. "I don't think she's got nothing, but never too safe."
"Hey, Donut," Kozik called when he approached Donut, a young newly patched member. The club's hacker. He was with Donny, another member, learning a few things about bike and their engines.
"Sup, Koz?" Donut said, looking from the bike Donny had partly dismembered like a body to Kozik.
"I need you to run a name for me," Kozik asked and Donut nodded, interested. "Sofia Novikov, however that's spelled like."
"Sounds Russian," Donut said.
"Sounds dangerous," Donny added, not so distracted with the bike.
"That's why I want her checked before anything," Kozik said. Donut nodded.
"I'm on it," Donut said before leaving them there.
"How was last night?" Kozik asked when Donut left. Happy smiled.
"It was good, man," Happy replied. "Looks like Mathias wanted to keep the rest of his fingers."
It seemed like Happy really enjoyed this gig. The Italians weren't as bad as Big Bobby thought. Donny knew them, they were trustworthy and it was easy money. Some protection whenever the big bosses came from and to Vegas, whenever something happened at the underground casinos (so far nothing) and collect money from smart asses who thought they could get away. And Happy loved that last part.
"Koz, check this out," Donut called from the clubhouse's door. Kozik went to him.
The clubhouse was very much like every other Sons of Anarchy clubhouse. There was a bar, a pool table, card table, a few leather couches, some Sons of Anarchy flags and posters and the doors to church. On the second floor they had five small suites the members could crash in when needed. Kozik and Happy were the only ones who lived there.
Donut was with his laptop at the bar, Kozik approached, followed by a curious Happy.
"Sofia Novikov," Donut said, turning the laptop for Kozik and Happy to see. "She really is Russian, arrived in LA 10 years ago, in 1998, when she was only 17. She's now 26, she'll turn 27 in November."
"She's pretty hot, man," Happy said, looking at Sofia's picture. "Hey, she's got a kid, did you know that?" he added, pointing at the screen.
"I did," Kozik said, looking where Happy pointed. Anastasia Novikov, five years old, no father's name. Single mother, all right. "Anything I should worry about, Donut?"
"Not really, I think," Donut said, scrolling down the screen. "She's got a few parking tickets only, no arrests, apparently no connections. She lived in LA all these years, she got her green card in 2001; her information hasn't been updated with an address in Tacoma, if she really is even here. She graduated in Theatre and Dance at the California State University. And before coming to America she performed a few times in the theatre in Moscow. Ballet, nothing huge, but she was apparently good because after a presentation she was invited to perform in LA."
"Where in LA?" Kozik asked, interested. He felt a little bad to be investigating her, but he was too used to people trying to infiltrate.
"Just this legal casino," Donut said, emphasizing the 'legal' part, and opening up the website. Kozik read 'The Penthouse Casino', and from the pictures on the page it looked rather fancy. He got the series 7 BMW now.
"Who owns the casino?" Kozik asked. Donut smiled to himself.
"Thought you'd ask that," he said and opened another page, just like Sofia's. He saw a picture of a man of his early fifties. "Boris Krotovsk, Russian, dude's got a few speed tickets and one assault charge that was dropped. Other than that, cleaner than a nun's piss."
"Looks like she's clean, bro," Happy said. "Well, at least legally," he joked, infamously. Kozik shook his head and laughed.
The door opened and past it came Keith, the club president, Jim, his son and VP, Big Bobby and Jason. Keith was already past his fifties, but he was fitter than most twenty year olds out there, he was bald and beardless, bearing a Bruce Willis look to himself, except for his body covered in tattoos, including his neck and hands. His son, Jimmy, was a younger version of his father, he was on his early thirties, his head almost completely shaved and his always morning beard, his body also covered in tattoos.
Donny was the Italian descendant. He was naturally tanned and had jet-black hair and piercing green eyes, he would be more handsome if not always covered in grease and oil. That guy loved to work on the bikes, the best Harley mechanic in all of the west coast for sure. Even members from other charters would bring their bikes to him. The ladies fell for him easier then autumn leaves, the grease didn't seem to bother them at all. Jason, the Swedish, had platinum blonde hair falling straight to his waist, his long braided bear and his height gave him a Viking look, his strong accent and amazing capability to be always drinking yet never drunk gave him his infamous nickname: Liver.
"What's up, brothers?" Keith said, greeting his friends with hugs. He hugged Kozik last and glanced at the laptop screen. "Who's this pretty little thing?"
"Kozik's new piece of ass," Happy said. Donut was already getting beers for everyone and the usual bottle of Absolut Vodka for Jason.
"Wow, you're even checking her shit out, you must be in love," Jim tease and took a long sip from his beer.
"I met her at the Hospital yesterday when I went to see Bobby's kid," Kozik explained, with a smile. "She almost ran me over. Her kid was sick."
"Chick's got a kid?" Keith asked and scoffed. "Seriously? This is bad man."
"Nothing happened yet," Kozik said. "Just wanted to make sure before something actually happens and I find out she's a undercover fed or something."
"And she ain't, right? No connection to other MCs or gangs either?" Keith asked, serious, Kozik nodded. "Then have fun, just watch out for the kid."
"Will you need me for something Thursday night?" he asked Keith, the others teased with laughs.
"Nah, I don't think so," Keith said and started walking to the church's door. The others took the hint and followed. "It will be quick, gentlemen."
They all knew the drill and left cellphones and guns outside, they entered and Donut closed the door when the last one seated and took his own seat.
"Gentlemen, as you know, the Italians are very happy with us," Keith started the other nodded quietly to themselves. "They want two of us to escort Leo to Vegas tomorrow, two day gig, they'll pay the stay and expenses in Vegas. Gambling not included."
The others laughed.
"Jimmy will go, I was thinking Jason, too," he continued. Jason nodded in consent.
"Got it, boss," Jason said. "I could use some Vegas time."
"Happy, how did it go last night?" Keith asked.
"Idiot finally paid," Happy said, with his usual hoarse voice. "Already took the money to Michael and collected ours. Gave it to Jimmy."
"Great," Keith said after glancing at his son. "Since we still have two more to collect Friday, I'll split this week's pay Friday night, that ok for everyone?"
A yes in unison filled the room.
"Anything else?" Keith asked and the men shook their heads. "Bobby, go back to your wife. Kozik go get that pretty thing Thursday then, I'll want you with Donny Friday for those collections."
"You got it." Kozik said and Donny nodded by his side.
"Then we're done, brothers," Keith said and struck the gavel and everyone stood up, leaving the room, Kozik stayed behind and took his cellphone and the piece of paper with Sofia's number.
"Hello?" her voice answered on the other side of the line, her breathing a little unsteady. Kozik smiled.
"Hi, Sofia," he said. Sofia smiled when she recognized the voice and put down the box she was carrying. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, just moving stuff around, my apartment is a mess," she said, honestly.
"So, Thursday at 7?" he asked, straightforward when he looked out of the room through the open doors and saw the others mimetically mocking him at the bar.
"Sounds great, can you pick me up at home?"
"Sure," he said and noted mentally her address. Northeast, this girl was apparently loaded. Definitely not the kind of woman he's used to.
"See you Thursday, then," she said after giving out her address. She had no idea what to expect from this. But then again, ever since she set foot in the United States, she never knew what to expect anymore.
