A/N - Oh my gosh, I am so floored and flattered by all of the amazing feedback you guys have sent me! Thank you so much for your reviews and replies, I am so glad you like this! Swift is definitely a bit of fun, and she has got a heart, somewhere, as this next chapter will prove...
Thank you so much, I can't wait to see what you think of that. As I said at the beginning, this isn't really a love story... but we'll see what happens as we go!
Sara x
"So she just took your bike?"
Jax could still barely believe it as he leaned back in his seat in chapel. Chibs looked absolutely mortified by the whole ordeal, he had been chain-smoking for the entire meeting anxiously. Being without his Harley made him feel powerless. He couldn't ride, he couldn't go on the run. The last thing he wanted was to be on a damn loaner for a week until he got a replacement and Jesus, the twenty k he'd need for a new one wasn't going to go unmissed.
"It's not like I just stood there," he muttered gruffly, looking at Jax with annoyance. "She fuckin' smacked me one. Thank fuck Hap was sober enough to set it again," he added, tapping the white tape that was holding his broken cartilage in his nose in place. "Juice was on the truck and goddamn Unser wouldn't let me take his car."
"We can put a call out," Clay shrugged. He was staring at the wall, disinterested in the whys and wherefores. "Every chapter from here down to the Mexican border'll be on the look out, I'll let the Arizona and Nevada charters on it. We'll get it back, Chibs, don't worry." He grimaced. "For now, you're on benchwork, I'm sorry. We need everyone riding out."
Chibs sulked as he slumped down in his chair. He'd been looking forward to tonight's run, staying in meant that he wouldn't get a piece of the pay packet. He pouted petulantly throughout the remains of the meeting and watched as everybody headed out to head up to Lodi to take out a gun shipment. The club bar fell almost silent as he pottered about, not quite sure what to do with himself as he sat around at his wit's end. He hated this, he hated being isolated from the club. There was nothing worse than being left out of a run, the guys would all come back sharing stories about the ride and he'd have nothing to do but listen to the fun they had had.
The sound of a bike horn out front made him get up from his spot by the bar. Carrying his beer out with him leisurely, he paused as he saw his bike waiting out front. It had been polished and cleaned perfectly, and that damnable woman stood next to it with a hopeful little smile. In an instant, Chibs drew his gun and aimed it at her but she raised her hands quickly, her sweet expression evaporating in an instant.
"I come in peace," she called out across the lot, looking at him. "I wondered if you guys had finished with my Falcon."
Chibs almost laughed as he lowered the gun but kept it in his hands as he walked towards his bike. Swift put the keys on the seat and then backed away, her hands still raised. Chibs snatched them up quickly, clipping the chain back on his pants and testing the key in the ignition. The Harley roared to life with its usual sense of excitement and he smiled proudly as he ran his hands over the handlebars. Glancing to the side, he could see Swift watching him as he was reunited with his motorcycle.
"I'm not going to thank you," he said bluntly. Swift smiled, dragging her heels a little as she stepped closer. She didn't touch him, but her fingertips ghosted over the break on his nose.
"I don't expect you to," she assured him. "I just… panicked, yesterday. Didn't quite fancy that tumble with your friend you were advertising," she added playfully. Chibs laughed a little as he looked over at her, brushing his hair back from his face.
"Aye, you'd not have deserved much better," he chuckled. "Little freeloader like you, trying her luck. You picked the wrong people, love."
It wasn't like Swift to ever give much of a care about the men she stole from. Usually they were fleeting visits and faces she would never see again. So why she had spent all night tossing and turning, unable to get to sleep as she thought about her harsh escape from Chibs, she didn't know. It had bothered her enough, though, to try and make it right. And seeing the way he lovingly caressed the damn thing kind of made her glad she did.
"We can call it quits now, right?" she asked, motioning to the bike. "I even had it cleaned up for you, looked like it needed some TLC." She motioned to the chrome hangers. "Polished those myself and everything," she added with a touch of pride. Chibs laughed as he looked at them, there were a few spots she'd missed but he didn't dare to break it to her when she looked to pleased with herself.
"Nose is a bit sore still," he said as he climbed off the bike. Swift took a step forward and pressed a little kiss on his cheek, it was light and fleeting but it made Chibs blush as she stepped back again and wrapped her arms around herself. "Guess that'll make up for that, though."
He could already see her eyes roaming around the lot. She was looking for her car, but Chibs wasn't entirely unconvinced that she was looking to see what she might be able to take in its place if she didn't get it. Motioning for her to follow him, he led her across to the lot and nodded towards the Falcon as it sat up on the ramp. Swift could see that the tail light had been replaced but the sagging tyre remained. She walked around it, noting that a couple of the paint spots had been patched, and Chibs shrugged.
"Didn't expect to see you again, we were going to auction the thing." He paced towards the office and swung the door open, looking for the right key on the board before returning. He was sure he saw her stuffing something metal into her pockets but he didn't say anything. "Give me a minute, I'll get it down and do the flat."
If he didn't seem like such an old softie, Swift was sure he would have been her perfect sort of target. Greying, handsome, a little weight around the middle but she kind of liked that, it was good for those rare cuddling occasions she gave herself over to once in a while. She watched as Chibs drove the Falcon off the lift, the flat making a terrible noise as he reversed it onto the court. Chibs took out an electronic jack and raised the back of the car to be able to take the tyre off.
"I can do it thanks, Scottie."
Swift moved forward, taking the wrench from his hand to loosen the lug nut. Chibs watched with amusement as she crouched down, removing the bolts and lining them up neatly on the floor in the right order so she could replace them. In her little leather hot pants and denim-blue shirt, she looked completely at home in the garage as she pulled the tyre off. He stepped in to help her, brushing his hand against hers as he grabbed it and eased the weight from her.
"I've got it," he assured her as he rolled it aside. He brought over a new one and laughed as she insisted on taking it and doing it herself. He put his hands in his pockets, admiring her slim figure as she squatted beside the car, putting each of the nuts back in its rightful place and beginning to tighten them. "Let me finish those off," he offered.
"I can do it," she repeated but Chibs prised the wrench from her fingers and shooed her away.
"Smart women accept help when it's offered," he chuckled, pulling them tighter than Swift would ever have been able to physically do herself. She scrunched her hair beneath her hand as she watched him, debating whether it would be unacceptably harsh to take his wallet from his back pocket as he was on his hands and knees in front of her. She decided it would be impolite, and simply leaned against the post, watching and waiting as he put the car back down to the ground.
"Well thank you then, I suppose," she said when he finally stood up. She extended her hand to shake his, and Chibs laughed as he saw Tig's ring glinting on her finger. He shook her hand with a nod.
"I'm sure you could have done it yourself," he added, reassuring her. He motioned to her legs, they were covered in black dust and oil and he tossed her a cloth to wipe herself down. "Just nice to help a lady out sometimes."
Swift smirked at that. "Even though she punched you in the face?"
"Aye, even with a metal plate in the head like yours," he joked, tapping her forehead with his grubby fingertips. Swift felt a little giggle bubble up from her chest but she swallowed it down before it escaped her lips, even though she liked his affectionate little tease, she sure didn't want him to know that. Chibs held out the keys to her and she grabbed them quickly in case he tried to take them away again. Chibs watched as she put her bag in the trunk and leaned down to adjust the driver's seat to her own height again. "You, uh, take something from here, little miss?"
When she didn't answer, he took two quick strides over to her and caught her against the door, one arm pinning her carefully in place while the other snuck around her waist. Chibs shoved his hand into the back of her hot pants and pulled out a stretch of platinum motorcycle chain he knew Juice had been polishing up for his own bike. It was worth a couple of hundred dollars, she clearly knew exactly what she was taking. Swift gave him a sunny little smile and opened her eyes bright and wide, like a surprised cartoon character.
"Whoops. Must have fallen in there," she said as Chibs tossed it to the side. She noticed that he hadn't let go of her, he still stood over her, his body a little too close for her to be comfortable. "You should, uh, back up there, cowboy," she added, pushing her hand against his chest to give herself some space. "Wouldn't want the neighbours talking."
Chibs groaned, just when he thought he had been making some headway with her. He nodded, a little embarrassed, and waved at the car. "You can give me the ring back. Payment for the car," he insisted. He held out his palm and Swift sighed as she pulled it off and pressed it into his hand. Chibs nodded as he put it in his shirt top pocket. "Thank you."
She got into the car and rolled the window down by hand. He watched as she leaned her elbow on the frame as she reversed out and turned the car to be able to leave. In a bold moment, Chibs jogged over and leaned on the car.
"Couldn't get your number as well, could I? You know, part payment. For the car," he added, knocking on the roof. "We could have a drink." Swift laughed and shook her head.
"I don't think I should, I'm sorry." She gave him a wave. "You're cute though, Scottie, if it helps."
She eased her hand off the clutch and drove forward to leave the lot. Chibs chuckled a little as he watched her go, why was he not surprised? The woman was a little madam, the only reason she'd brought his damn bike back was because she wanted something in exchange for it. Not that he cared, really, he'd much rather have his Harley then a couple of grand for some scrap metal from that old bashed up vehicle.
He slowly began to pace back towards Teller Morrow to lock up the rest of the garage. There wouldn't be much to do now, certainly nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow and he didn't really fancy doing any more work. He dragged down the grills and started to padlock them as he heard a couple of bikes pull onto the lot behind him. Presuming it was his own club, Chibs called out,
"It's alright, I got the bugger back, I-"
He stopped as he heard a gunshot ricochet against the metal grill of the garage and turned slowly, his hands raised. He frowned as he saw a handful of young, wired-looking Mayans, all with their guns trained on him. Chibs groaned, of all the days to not have any back up. He should have shut the gates earlier, he hadn't really thought about it, too annoyed that he had been left behind.
"If you're patching, boys, Alvarez won't be happy with this," he said, trying to assure them they were making a mistake. One of them laughed.
"Patching over, more like, ese. Proving our worth." He waved to Chibs. "Weapon, on the floor, now."
Chibs sighed as he reached behind him for his gun. He wrapped his fingers around it slowly, he'd never manage all three but he could at least knock out one, hopefully injure a second. His fingers flexed as they found their usual spots on the handle and his index slipped in against the trigger, his thumb unlatching the safety. The Mexican kid called out impatiently, and Chibs blinked his eyes open as he drew his gun and took a shot.
The shot he heard in return wasn't from as close as he had thought it would be. In fact, it wasn't even aimed at him like he expected it would be. It was from the far side of the lot, right along by the entrance gates. He watched as two of the Mayans fell flat to the floor, one with a bullet buried between his eyes as Chibs had intended and the other shot from behind. The third guy panicked and revved his engine, but Chibs shot his bike tyre flat and watched as the kid sprawled to the floor. He strode forward quickly to kick the guy's gun out of his reach before pausing to look up and see Swift standing next to the car, leaning on the top of her door, her arms steady as she held one of Tig's pistols in her hand. She waved a little.
"Well blow me."
Chibs tried to keep his focus as he grabbed the remaining Mayan by the hair and dragged him towards the garage. He could hear Swift pulling her car back into the lot and, a moment later, the sound of the gates being dragged across. He was surprised to see her so compliant, clearly trying to help, as Chibs yanked the guy into the work space and dragged his arms up above his head to clip them to some overhead holding chains.
"Come and give me a hand," he barked at her. "I hear you're quite good at this bondage shite."
Swift's tongue played on her lips as she stretched up beside him to help. Chibs watched as her fingers made quick work of the chain, wrapping it tightly around the stranger's wrists and binding it tight. He nodded, impressed, as she stepped back to admire her work. The Mayan started to cry and, without instruction, she picked up some duct tape and glued it down over his mouth.
"Sorry," she shrugged. "I can't stand whiny bastards." She looked out to the front at the two dead bodies. "What are you going to do with those?"
Chibs rubbed his hand over the back of his head. "Wait until it gets dark, I guess. Bury them in the woods." He looked at her for a moment, realising she had just as much of a secret to hide as he did. Whoever she was, whatever she was up to, a dead body was never good PR for anybody. "I thought you'd gone?"
She smiled and bumped his shoulder with her own. "I had," she said. "But something made me want to give you this." She held up a little piece of paper on which she had written her number in a black marker pen. She stepped close to him and tucked it into his top pocket, carefully slipping the ring he had reclaimed back onto her finger as she did. She patted Chibs' cheek playfully and he caught her wrist, holding her tight for a moment as his eyes explored her face quizzically. "Good job I came back, either way."
"Aye, good job indeed," he muttered. "You want a say in this?" he added, trying to keep his attention on the matter at hand and kicking at one of the corpse's feet. She nodded.
"I like to know my loose ends are dealt with," she said. She walked across to the poor, strung-up Mayan and held her fingers in two particular spots against his throat. Chibs smiled as he saw the guy's body go limp, unconscious. He'd seen Happy do that trick before, but watching this girl do it sent a shiver through him. He'd have to ask her to teach him.
"Looks like I better oblige," he teased. He nodded towards the clubhouse. "The others'll be out a few more hours. You fancy that drink now?"
After a moment's thought, Swift nodded. "Sure. But I'm out of here before you blue-eyed friend gets back, okay?" Chibs laughed at that and nodded to assure her.
"Aye, it's a deal."
