Chapter 2

Confession:

In the last minutes of you life you relive the sequence of events that led you to that very moment... You start being completely honest with yourself as it flashes right in front of you. So here I am, confessing to you my truths...

It had been a month since I touched down state-side, and I was getting back into the swing of it all. Even though a lot had changed, there was a sense of comfort that Charming brought me... a familiarity if you will, with things of the past. but I needed to focus on the now, and "the now" was having to find legit income.

Don't get me wrong, getting back to "business" was easier than I thought it would be as Dro was keeping me busy enough. But my old life was over, it was just me now... and seeing that I was alone I would have to stay above the law.

Those thoughts brought back a lot of angry memories, leaving that proverbial "bad taste" in my mouth...The things that transpired the year before had left me wanting something. I wasn't sure what that was yet but I was more that willing to allow things to play out...

The deafening sound of my prepaid going off pulled me back to the present.

"Hello" The tone of my voice was a bit harsher then I would have liked it to be.

"Amelia?"

The voice on the other end was unmistakeable and it made my heart skip a beat. The man I've known my entire life as my godfather... Nero Padilla.

"Hello stranger. How'd you know..."

"Lia we have a problem, you need to get down to the police station and collect you father."

As soon as he spoke the words my heart was in overdrive. I don't think anger was the right way to describe how I felt in that moment.

He hung up the phone without another word, there was no point. I grabbed my keys and my purse and left the house

...

I walked into Charming PD on a mission... a million things were going through my head on my way over there. But I knew, more than anything, that I had to keep the raging beast within in check or this wasn't going to end well. I don't like tight spaces and prison worried me.

"Amelia Cezar herself," a familiar voice spoke making my insides clench up. "Come to bail out you old man I see."

"Alex Tragger, I should have known." I turned in Tig's direction "What'd he do?"

"Nice to see you too dollface." He gave me a crooked smile before pulling me into a hug

"Welcome back."

"Yeah" I shook my head after letting him go "Not so welcome... feels like I'm trespassing or something."

"You should feel that way... A whole month darling, and... nothing." Jax's voice was like a stab to my heart.

I was really hoping this 'face to face' would've happened on better terms. After all, it's been so long since I had been in the presents of the Sons, the last place I wanted to see them was in a police station.

"Back off biker." That voice belonged to my father and the beast within me started clawing it's way outward.

"You should be the last one talking about backing off." All I saw was red "What the hell did you do?"

"That's no way to speak to me." He spoke calmly. That was an uncharacteristic move for a man like him "Respect..."

"RESPECT!?" I had to laugh "That goes both ways old man"

He looked as if he were going to respond but couldn't find the words. I took that moment to try to calm down. Moments like those were typical actions of my father. His way of sending a message.

Well message received loud and clear... and as the realization dawned on my face my father smiled smugly, that just pissed me off all over again.

"Where is Blake?" I asked as calmly as I could manage'

"Hell, if I know." Tony replied still as smug as ever "I called Terrance, he's coming to get me." He walked away, headed outside.

I had to take a deep breath because I was loosing control of... everything. But before I could follow suit I felt a strong hand grab my own... and I knew it could only be one person.

"Filip." I could only manage a whisper.

"Aye lass." He replied as gently as he could, while pulling on my chin forcing me to look at him.

My heart skipped a beat as soon as I looked into his dark eyes, but I knew that wasn't the time nor place for our reunion. He seemed to have the same sentiment and reluctantly let go of my hand.

Making my way outside to the parking lot the bikers followed silently...

Walking over to where my father was standing, smoking cigar, I still wanted answers...

"I thought we had a deal? What did you do?"

"Nothing" He blew out a long stream of smoke "Just a friendly visit"

I stared at him in disbelief. There was no winning with this man. "Nothing you do is friendly Tony"

He considered that for a moment. "You're right... well it's more of a warning then."

"Well you need to hear my warning." I stepped closer to him "Nothing, and I do mean nothing, goes down in this town... EVER. It's off limits."

"Message received. Loud and clear." He put both hands up in surrender "I'll honour our deal... for now."

I knew I should have been satisfied with that but it didn't feel right. Something about the way he spoke and the look in his eyes told me that this was far from over.

At that moment a Black Navigator pulled into the parking lot and out stepped Terrance, my fathers second in command. He shook his head as I walked my father over to the passenger side.

As Tony made himself comfortable in the front seat Terrance turned to me...

"What the fuck?!"

"That's a good question. I still don't know what he did." I shook my head

He sighed looking a little apologetic "Where the hell is Blake?"

"That's an even better question. I haven't seen him and Daddy doesn't know where he is. I'm not even sure how he got here."

"When I find him he'll answer for it. I promise. I know how you feel about keeping distance. This is just bullshit..." He held out his hand "It won't happen again."

Shaking his hand... I couldn't help the clenching feeling in the pit of my stomach "Let's hope you find him before I do." I chuckled, more to myself... "I'll be in touch."

He nodded once to me and then to Tig and the boys before jumping back into the drivers seat. It only took a few seconds before he was pulling out of the parking lot and speeding away.

"How'd you know he was here?" Filip's voice rang out behind me. For a second I had forgotten they were there.

"Nero called me."

"Yeah figured as much..." Jax nodded at me... we had a simple understanding.

"Is it true?" Filip asked the question but there was something hidden in his words.

"You're going to have to be a little more specific than that love." I turned in their direction

"His warning..." I was hearing his words but I had no idea, at the time, what he's talking about and the blank expression on my face prompted him to continue "His power of persuasion... if we step out of line he will exert that power and this time it will be more damaging than what he's already done to you."

I just stood there in silent disbelief. Power was the one thing my father was good with. And he made damn sure everybody felt the weight of that power, especially me.

"So then the damage is real?" Tig's words were carefully measured, as he held my gaze "If it is dollface..."

"The damage is done" I cut him off. "My fight... and it will get answered for."

Had I said too much? Had I said enough? I couldn't be sure. There were mixed expression on all of there faces. But that wasn't the time nor was it the place to explain. And I meant what I said... this was my fight.

"Can I expect to see you all for dinner?" I had to take the silence as an opportunity to change that subject.

"Yeah, we'll all be there." Jax was the one to speak. "One big happy family."

"I think that's mom's whole plan with this. Trying to get things as back to normal as possible. Her way of doing her part for the family" I couldn't meet his eyes. But I knew he was trying to stare a whole through me.

"Aye lass" Filip stepped towards me and pulled me into a hug. "You and I... we have a lot of talking to do." He whispered in my ear before letting me go

"I know, full disclosure..." I nodded before turning to the others. "Mom expects you to be there at a decent hour. I have some things I have to take care of, shouldn't take long."

Tig and Jax nodded at me, both with mixed expressions on there faces. But Filip knew exactly what I meant... I knew this by the way he squeezed my hand before they walked away towards their bikes. That made me nervous, to know that he felt in any way that I was taking a risk. But what I do comes with the family I'm in, and I had to do my part.

NOW…