A/N: You guys are simply the best! Anyone who writes knows that reviews help to fuel the muse. As a writer, when I know that my story is being well received, it lights a fire under my ass to continue to write at a steady pace and get more chapters out quickly. Thank you guys so much.


The ride to Vegas was mainly driven in silence. Less than ten minutes after Happy pulled out of the lot, he looked over to see Alex fast asleep. Her feet were propped up on the dash, her arms crossed over her abdomen and her hair was covering her face. Happy let out a slight smirk and thanked God that Juice had the good sense to put a GPS in the van a few months back. Happy didn't want to have to wake Alex every few miles to make sure he was traveling the right way. He had been driving a bike since he was 16 and he avoided a cage at all costs but Happy quickly learned there was a reason why Gemma was the Queen: when she made a request, you damn well better comply with it. Also, if Happy was being honest, spending a few days with Alex wasn't the worst thing in the world. She held an air of mystery around her and he was wondering who the real Alex was.

He nudged her awake when the annoying little computer voice told him that they were turning down Alex's street. He watched from the corner of his eye as she stretched before pulling her feet up Indian style. She pointed to a condo with a Lexus SUV in the driveway and he pulled in behind it. There was nothing spectacular about the row of condos. They all seemed to have well-manicured lawns and they were far enough from the strip that whoever lived here was able to avoid the noise of tourist, but still close enough that it Happy could make out the lining of some of the taller buildings.

Alex grabbed her bag and walked down the driveway to retrieve her mail. Happy watched as she opened the door and he was grateful that her central air seemed to working really well. Vegas was hot as hell, even though it was barely noon. Alex turned to look at Happy.

"You can look around; I'm just going to head upstairs and change." She smiled at him as she all but ran up the steps. Happy looked around the living room and nodded appreciatively. She seemed to have a taste for darker colors as her living room was decorated in dark brown, blue and grey. There was a massive television sitting above a fireplace. She had a massive movie collection and a couple of video games placed on a shelf next to the television. He looked to his right and saw a modern kitchen that held a lot of newer appliances. Happy knew she must do a lot of cooking because people that didn't cook normally don't have a food processor sitting on the counter.

He walked down the narrow hallway and noticed a half bath that wasn't that exciting. He pushed open the closed door and noticed that it was her office. It held a desk with a laptop in one corner and a couch underneath the large window. He looked around and saw pictures of various Sons members, Gemma and Luann but that was about it. No photos of family members or any hint of what she did for a living. Happy remembered about this one porn bitch he used to fuck on a semi-regular basis, mainly because she was a hell of a cook. Her apartment had been a shire to all the dicks she held in her mouth over the years. She had framed covers of all her videos and pictures of every porn star she had ever met. Alex had none of that. It was like she went out of her way to not be Alexis Allana anyway she good.

"Hey." Happy turned and Alex was standing in front of him wearing a red maxi dress with her hair pulled on top of her head and platform shoes on her feet. She smiled softly at him as she raised an eyebrow.

"You hungry?" Happy nodded and she motioned her head for him to follow. "Well let me introduce you to my Vegas."


She had driven about ten minutes before pulling up at an outdoors restaurant. She hopped out and waited for him to follow suit. She seemed confident as she walked towards the front door and when she walked inside, she was immediately engulfed in a hug. Happy stood back as Alex talked to the older gentleman in Spanish and laughed along with whatever was being said. She waved Happy over.

"Jose, this is Happy. Happy, Jose is the best cook in Vegas. He is the only one I have met that knows how to make authentic Puerto Rican food." He nodded his hello and followed Alex out back where she sat down at a table in the back. It wasn't long before a beer was placed in front of him and a margarita in front of her. At his raised eyebrow, she explained.

"I come here all the time. Jose is kind of like my Vegas Tig….without the crazy." She smiled when Happy let out a bark of a laugh. This was the first time that she had ever heard him laugh and she loved how deep and slightly sensual it was.

Happy sat back 45 minutes later with a full stomach and nursing his third beer. He watched in amazement as Alex had torn into her plate with vigorous energy. He always enjoyed seeing a woman who wasn't afraid to eat and Alex had no shame about eating in front of him. After the bill was settled, Alex took on a serious expression.

"I have to go by the studio and talked to Jason. I know he's pissed that I'm quitting the porn biz right now but there are some papers that I need and I don't want him having to use for any kind of leverage." Happy nodded in understanding.

"You sure that is a good idea?" Alex shrugged her shoulders.

"Probably not, but it needs to be done. Plus there is someone I need to check on." Alex stood up and kissed Jose before promising to visit once more before she leaves and heading to the car with Happy trialing behind her.

They pulled up in front of a white building with no sign and Happy noticed that Alex's right hand shook slightly. She went to open her mouth to tell Happy to stay in the truck but he quickly got out before she could say anything. She rolled her eyes, knowing that was probably going to happen. She walked inside the studio and smiled at the young security guard on duty. Happy followed her down a long hallway until they were standing in front of a row of chairs.

"I have to go in by myself. Do you mind waiting right here?" Happy didn't like the idea but he sat down anyway. He kept one eye on the porn playing on the flat screen in front of him while keeping his ears open for any commotion. Commotion didn't take long and within minutes Happy was bolted out of his chair when he heard the yell of a deep voice.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Happy burst through the door to see a tall blond male holding his bleeding nose while Alex seemed to have fire shooting out of her eyes.

"She's a fucking baby. She was only supposed to do fetish films. How dare you sign her up for a goddamn anal shot?"

"She's a whore just like the rest of you bitches and she will do what I want her to do." Before Happy could react, Alex had lifted her foot and kicked the man so hard in the stomach that he stumbled back. She reached in her purse and pulled out a knife before pressing it against the man's throat.

"Don't you ever call me a fucking whore. Where is she? Where the fuck is she?"

"Mexico." Happy watched as Alex's eyes grew big and she pushed the knife down a little further before releasing him.

"You better get down on your knees and start praying because if ANYTHING happened to her at that chop shop, the only thing that will save you will be a divine intervention." She grabbed a folder and walked out of the door with Happy right behind her.


It was later on that night after Happy had taken a shower when he went to go look for Alex. She had remained silent for the rest of the evening other than showing him his room and giving him a washcloth and towel. He walked downstairs and made out her figure sitting on the back porch nursing a bottle of Jack Daniels. She jumped slightly when he pulled the door opened before she turned back to pouring herself a large amount of alcohol and handing him the bottle. The sat in silence for a few minutes just enjoying their respective drinks.

"You wanna tell me what that was all about earlier?" Alex sighed as she lit up a cigarette and took a deep breath.

"Her name is Cassie. She's a baby, barely 18. She came in about three months ago and I tried to look out for her. She reminded me a lot of myself when I first started. She came from a fucked up situation and I tried to teach her the ropes. Jason is making her do some degrading shit to get back at me."

"What's in Mexico?" Alex snorted.

"A porn stars worst nightmare. Jason sends the girls down there to get cheap surgery. Normally they come back with a new set of tits and a nasty drug habit." Alex rubbed her forehead and Happy could clearly see the worry on her face.

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing I can do. She probably will be down there for a while, depending on what Jason is having her get done. All I can do is leave a note with her roommate that she will always have a place at Caracara with me." Happy had more questions. He wanted to know where she learned to handle a knife or throw a punch but he could tell that Alex was guarded about a lot of shit and he didn't want to press his luck. They sat outside for about another hour before Alex announced she was heading to bed. When Happy finally made his way upstairs, he looked in on Alex sleeping before he retreated back to his room.


The next morning Happy could smell coffee and it pulled him downstairs almost blindly. He stopped in his tracks to see Alex with her back to him as she sang along with the radio and whisked a bowl of eggs. She had on a tank top and boy shorts, her long hair was braided to the side and she looked nothing like the sad woman from the night before. When she noticed Happy staring at her, she offered him a wide smile.

"Hope you're hungry." She said as she poured him a cup of coffee and sat it down in front of the creamer and sugar. They made idle conversation as she made two omelets with bacon. The food was delicious and Happy couldn't' remember the last time he had a home cooked breakfast. When it was done and Alex started the dishwasher, she turned back towards Happy.

"Thanks for last night."

"I didn't do anything."

"You listened and that's all I really needed. So I've been thinking: we should be able to head back to Charming in the next two days or so."

"That's quick."

"I only had two more months on my lease so my landlord is letting me off the hook. Most of my furniture I am going to donate. All I need is to pack some personal belongings and transfer my bank accounts and we will be good to go." Happy watched her walk up the steps and wondered how interesting things were going to get with her in Charming full time.