"Alright," Clay said as he took his place at the head of the table. "It seems like we have some more money and a new...friend. What are we going to do with him?"
"What Jax said," Opie grunted. "He can take care of the tech. Maybe we will get stuff that isn't shit then – no offense, Jax."
"None taken," Jax replied who was not delusional enough to consider himself any kind of tech specialist.
"You think he can be trusted?" Happy asked. "He is as good as a Mayan. He could be spying for Alvarez or trying to sabotage us."
"Bollocks," Chibs said. "Have you seen the guy? He is little more than a child. If he is even capable of spying on anyone, I will eat my bike."
"I don't think he is a spy, either" Clay said. "And I had a look at the evidence Alvarez forked over. Lots of computer crimes, if we want to, we can put Juice into jail for years with one call to Unser – if we don't just kill him. And I doubt the Mayans would give him any protection. He would be more than stupid to cross us. I think we can safely use him for the tech stuff."
"I trust we will pay him?" Bobby asked. "Or are we now using slave labor?"
Jax had to agree here. "We can let him stay in the clubhouse, I don't need the crash pad anymore now that Wendy is gone. He can eat with us, Bobby is always cooking anyway. For everything else we can give Juice a small fee. Not much, just so he can take care of himself. Maybe we can also find some way for him to pull his weight. Either with his tech or by helping in the garage."
Tig snorted. "You want to give him a cut next?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean that you and do-gooder Elvis here aren't getting what has happened. Alvarez has given us the guy to finish him off. They probably expect us to have a good time with him and then blow his brains out."
"So you now do what the Mayans want?" Jax asked pointedly, not wanting to think about how exactly Tig wanted to have good time with Juice.
"No, I just don't go all bleeding heart about a guy I just met." Tig said. He turned to Clay. "I say we let him fix our tech, do whatever else we want to do with him and then get rid of him. No point taking any risk."
"And by 'whatever else' you mean fucking him?" Jax asked.
"After all the talk Alvarez gave us? Hell yeah. I want to find out if he is a good as advertised. You got a problem with that, VP?"
Jax glared at the challenge. Tig was testing him, trying to paint him as the soft do-gooder he thought he was. He would need to react to this. Show the pervert who was the boss here without seeming petty.
Before he could properly word his replay Clay spoke. "I am not playing the cleaner for the Mayans. If Juice turns out to be useful, he is here to stay. If not, we will get rid of him eventually – maybe even without spilling blood. Now as far as his other talents go: I won't judge anyone who wants a bit of Puerto Rican tail but I want some ground rules: His tech duties come first and you have to ask him. If he refuses, you have to respect that. You can get rough with him but I don't want any permanent damage. Everyone agree with that?"
Assertive murmurs filled the place but Bobby and Piney looked uncomfortable and Jax could understand why: Juice's right to refuse was only theoretical. The Sons held his life and his freedom and Jax doubted the Puerto Rican would dare to refuse any of them. Tig seemed to think the same way, if his dirty grin was any indication.
"Good," Clay said. "Just remember that this is Jax's thing so if you want Juice to do anything – sexual or otherwise –, Jax has to sign off on it."
Tig looked stunned. "What?"
"Why me?" Jax asked, equally surprised.
"You are our tech guy and you wanted him in the first place. Somebody has to show him the ropes and to make sure the clubhouse doesn't become a gay orgy. I think you are the best man for the job. You okay with that?"
"Sure, whatever the club needs," Jax said, savoring the crestfallen look on Tig's face.
"All in favor of the Juice deal?" Clay asked.
Everyone put their hands up, even if Tig hesitated for a bit. Clay slammed the gavel down and Jax guessed he had a ward now. He suspected that Clay had some ulterior motive here – he highly doubted that the president gave a shit about what happened to Juice – but before he could ask his step father about it, he had already left with Tig and the others. Ope stayed behind with Jax in the chapel, giving him a thoughtful look. "You okay?"
"Not sure what has just happened," Jax said. "You think Clay is playing an angle? Maybe testing me?"
"I think he is almost always playing an angle," Ope grunted. "Any idea what he could be after?"
Jax rubbed his neck uncomfortably. "There have been some doubts about me being too soft lately. Tig has all but said it to my face. It's blowback from me trying to rein in the Mayhem and from spending too much time with Tara. Maybe Clay wants to see how I will handle the boy – and possibly Tig's claims to his ass. Not sure what I should do, though. I could go ballistic on Tig but I am not sure that's what Clay wants."
"Want my advice?"
"Course, Ope."
"You gotta squash these doubts before they get any more traction. You are the VP, you are what stands between us and chaos if Clay isn't around. Everybody needs to know you will do whatever is necessary. If Tig is giving you shit, you have to teach him a lesson. I would probably kick the guy's ass in front of the whole club."
"Not a bad idea," Jax said with a smile even though he thought Clay would prefer a more subtle approach. It was weird that he was still trying to please his step-dad with thirty but that was being a child for you. "What about the boy? You think I am too soft there?"
Ope gave a shrug. "I don't know the guy, so I don't really care what happens to him. I wouldn't champion for him too hard, if I were you. Leave the moral shit to Bobby, he is better at it anyway. Otherwise I would just do whatever would piss Tig off the most to show him who is boss. Which probably involves not letting him into Juice's ass. But you can't appear to go soft on the boy. Maybe you should rough him up a little for some reason – or you could fuck him yourself. "
Jax raised an eyebrow. "You think I want to fuck Juice?"
"I know you are a horny guy and that Alvarez made a pretty good sell. And it is not like we have never done something like that."
"Teenage stuff doesn't count," Jax said immediately.
"Of course not," Opie said, winking and getting up. "Anyway, all I am saying is that it would drive Tig nuts to see you banging Juice without being able to do the same. Not that I am vindictive or anything."
"Maybe," Jax mused who wasn't really comfortable with the idea.
"Just don't do it in front of the whole club," Opie said. "You don't want scare anyone away."
"We both know you would be first in line to watch, brother."
"Just tell yourself that."
Juice was waiting in the main room of the Sons clubhouse under the watchful eyes of a prospect while the full members of the club were debating what to do with him. Juice had no idea what to expect. Would they kill him? Bend him over the table and take turns fucking him? Cut him loose? The uncertainty was mind-rattling and he was nervously fidgeting with his shirt. He was certain he was sweating and his stomach was doing back-flips. Jesus Christ, he was in the fucking clubhouse of the Mayan's biggest rival and they had the permission to do whatever they wanted to him. What would the Mayans do if the situation were reversed? Probably fuck the poor guy six ways to Sunday and then beat him to death. That it was the dead of night – it was pushing two in the morning – didn't help either. It would be the perfect time to dump a body in the woods.
"You don't have to be nervous," the prospect said, apparently taking pity on him.
"Sorry," Juice said, "hard not to be."
"I don't doubt that but we aren't as bad as you might think. I'm Half-Sack."
Juice raised an eyebrow. "What kind of name is that?"
Half-Sack smiled shyly. "Got half my sack blown off in Iraq. Once I told the guys I had my nickname. Wanna see?"
"No, thanks," Juice said. He had the nasty feeling that he would see all the guy's cocks soon enough. "What's gonna happen now?"
Half-Sack shrugged. "Beats me, I am just the prospect. Probably Jax will give you a lot of tech stuff to do. He tried to pass the duty to me but I can barely operate a toaster."
"Jax?"
"Our VP, the tall blond guy who looks a like a surfer."
Ah, right. Juice had noticed him already, of course, but he hadn't caught the guy's name. "What is he like?"
"Pretty nice actually, even if he has a bit of a temper. I doubt he will give you any shit for working with the Mayans." Sack hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"The things Alvarez said about you pleasing the Mayans, are they true?"
Juice gave a small smile. "Why would he lie about that?"
"To rattle us? Or maybe because he doesn't like you?"
"The funny thing is that we actually got along quite well – till the end at least," Juice said sadly. He took a deep breath. "But to answer your question: Yes, it is true."
"How did this happen? Are you like a male Crow Eater or something?"
This implied that Juice had had a choice and that he had liked doing it – neither was true. And he really didn't want to answer this question, it brought back too many painful memories. Memories at a time when he hadn't spent almost every day with an unwanted dick inside of him. Luckily, he was spared from answering by the door opening and the other members spilling out of their meeting room. Sack jerked to attention and started getting them beers, leaving Juice alone for a moment. He felt their eyes on him and carefully looked around.
The bald, brown one was mustering with open mistrust – and maybe some lust – while the curly-haired old guy was practically undressing him with his cold blue eyes. Juice suppressed a shiver. This guy made him nervous and he really didn't want him any near any orifice of his. But he probably wouldn't have much of a choice in this matter.
He was jolted out of his thoughts when Jax approached him. "Come with me," he said.
Juice did was he was told, grabbing his meager belongings and following the VP deeper into the clubhouse. The omnipresent Reaper motive made him nervous, even if he knew it was just there to make the Sons look badass – which actually worked pretty well. They passed a hideously looking motorcycle in teal which Jax touched fondly as they passed. Okay, note to self: Never talk shit about this bike. Though Jax didn't seem like the loud colors type at all. Maybe the bike belonged to somebody close to him. Finally they reached a room in the back of the clubhouse which seemed like a bedroom for somebody. It was messy but looked pretty habitable to Juice even if beds normally meant that somebody was about to get fucked – usually him.
Jax turned to look at him. "You can stay here for the moment. There is a bathroom next door you can use. When we you have earned our trust, we might help you get an apartment in Charming."
"Understood, "Juice said, scanning the room. There was a lot of stuff lying around which made him think the room was used by someone else recently. "Is someone else staying here?"
"I used to but I got my own house back now. I admit it is a bit of a mess, I hadn't had time to tidy up. You will be safe here but know that we will keep an eye on you. Don't wander off and don't go around nosing into anyone's business. We will keep an eye on you, so don't think you can just slip away when we have passed out."
"I won't," Juke said and meant it. How was he supposed to escape anyway? He couldn't even ride a bike much less steal a car. And even if he got a vehicle where was he supposed to go? Back to the Mayans? Alvarez had made it pretty clear that this door was shut tight. Back east? He had little waiting there for him. Besides, the Sons still held the evidence over his head. When they passed it to one of their cop friends – he was pretty sure that they were chummy with the local law – the police would take care of Juice for them. He might be able to give the DA some dirt in exchange for a lower sentence but he knew little of value about the Mayans and nothing about the Sons. Making any kind of deal – if he even got enough dirt – would likely only result in a shiv between the rips in prison. No, he could only stay put and hope that they wouldn't kill him.
"Good," the VP said. "Now, tell me, what's the deal between you and Alvarez? What did you do to piss him off so much?"
Juice debated evading the question to show he was loyal but he doubted that Jax would appreciate him sticking up for one of their rivals. "I don't really know. It was very sudden. Me and Esai were close, you know, with Alvarez blessing. When Esai was killed everything changed abruptly. Alvarez gave me one last fuck, some kind words about my relationship with Esai and then threw me out with no reason at all. It is like he blames me for Esai's death but how could I have anything to do with it? I don't know anything about the club business."
Jax's expression was a careful mask and Juice suddenly was sure that the Sons VP knew something he didn't. He didn't know how this was possible – Jax probably hardly knew Alvarez – but the feeling was strong. He was dying to ask but obviously couldn't. It was not his place to question the VP – or any other Son – about anything. "Strange. Maybe I will look into it."
"So, what happens now?" Juice asked. It might be begging for trouble but the uncertainty was killing him. Hopefully Jax would give him an answer instead of a punch in the face for speaking out of turn. Alvarez had never liked it when Juice had done that.
"Pretty much what you expect," Jax drawled. "You take a look at our computers and see what you can do. Burner phones too. And don't just do what I tell you, think for yourself. I want the best setup we can possibly have. As far as tech goes, you have a free reign. But other than that you will do what is asked, keep your mouth shut and don't ask any stupid questions. If you try to slip away, we will find you and string you up. Remember that this town belongs to us. We will get to you before you make it out of Charming. And even if you should get away, we still have the evidence Alvarez gave us. One call from a concerned citizen to our esteemed chief of police and you will be in prison for a long time. And don't think you will be safe from us inside. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Juice said. He had had the same thoughts earlier, after all.
"Good. Now, the club appointed me as your handler, so you will do what I tell you. If the others tell you otherwise, you ignore them and tell them to come to me. If they give you shit for it, come to me and I will take care of it. I don't think it will happen but it is good to be prepared. But remember that my protection has its limits. If I think you are acting out, I will punish you myself. And if I tell you to do something, I don't want to hear any stupid questions. Doesn't matter what I tell you to do, just do it unless it is technically impossible or a very bad idea. Got it?"
"Yes," Juice said, steeling himself for what would come next. Any moment now, Jax would tell him to get on his knees. Or would he want his ass first? Juice guessed it was a blessing that Jax would be the first Son he had to fuck. The VP might be a pretty intimidating guy but Juice couldn't deny he was good-looking.
"Alright, I will see you in the morning. Then you will take a look at our equipment and see what you can do. There should be fresh sheets somewhere in the drawer."
He left, leaving Juice alone with this thoughts. The Puerto Rican waited for someone else to come and fuck him but nothing happened. After half an hour he relaxed, undressed and went to bed, quickly falling into an uneasy sleep.
