Chapter Ten: Take it out On Me
"Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind."
Apparently when the Jackals went underground it was serious business. Not even the Sons massive network had been able to suss out any viable lead. Which, in turn, had everyone on edge with tempers frayed. Sam Crow was often not a paranoid bunch, there were often too many real life threats to worry about maybes. Still the fact that the Jackals were out there…somewhere watching and waiting was enough to have me in a bad mood more often than not. It wasn't often where I was more short tempered than Anna, but it did happen.
If the Jackals weren't around it would almost seem like business as usual. If you over looked the fact that the Sons were close to losing their IRA gun source because the rebuild timeline put a dent in the 'cause'. They had a limited amount of time to scrap whatever money was needed. The actual amount was being kept in the dark, which made me hopeful that they had a handle on it.
The convention that Oswald was holding was apparently still raging on. More people seemed to be pouring in by the day. They were noticeable in that most if not all had no idea who the Sons of Anarchy were or why most residents gave them a wide berth. It wasn't often that Oswald even threw things like that in Charming, he hated the fact that Charming was a 'hick-town' stuck in the 1960s. Personally, I think his ego was a little crushed by the fact that the boys managed to stop each and every attempt at expansion. A small town was easier to control, something that the guys enjoyed and thrived on.
"Hey, sweetheart!" A guy in an expensive suit shouted at Janice. "Can I get my order sometime this century?"
Mr. Fancy-pants was clearly oblivious to the shocked glances of our regulars. Janice herself froze for a moment, eyes wide as she struggled with what to do. Sure, we were use to some people getting snappy when we were running at full capacity but most managed to remain civil. Of course they knew what would happen, otherwise, clearly this man didn't. His whole existence screamed city boy.
"I'm sorry, sir," Janice apologized finally recovering. "We're getting orders out as fast as we can. We're not use to being this busy."
"That's obvious," Mr. Fancy-pants scoffed. "Do you think you can tell them to hurry? I have places to be."
"Your order will be out as soon as possible, sir," Janice replied. "Can I get you more coffee while you wait."
"You mean that crap you call coffee?" Mr. Fancy-pants sneered. "I wouldn't call that shit coffee. Haven't you people heard of a goddamn Starbucks?"
Since his behavior wasn't atrocious enough. He then preceded to knock his half full coffee cup to the ground, sending ceramic shards and lukewarm coffee everywhere. When Janice turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tears. The last threads of my patience severed.
"Oh, shit," Tex hissed. "We better call the guys."
"Yeah, you think?" Ace murmured running off into the back room.
I was aware that every eye in the diner was on me as I stomped to Janice's side. I laid a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. The regulars were waiting for the incoming explosion. Normally, I'd be able to control myself, but most of our older customers remembered what I was like as a child. A sweet girl with a hair-trigger temper. Most also saw, though they didn't know the cause, that I was closer to the girl I was then compared to the woman I normally was, and had adjusted accordingly.
"Go to the kitchen, sweetheart," I told her. "Get whatever you want." Turning towards Mr. Fancy-pants and the other occupants of the table I continued, "I'll handle this."
"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Mr. Fancy-pants scoffed.
"I don't think so," I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "I noticed that my diner's not running up to your standards.."
"Your diner?" Mr. Fancy-pants repeated.
"Yes, sir."
"Then you can tell those cooks of yours to hurry it up," Mr. Fancy-pants grinned, smugly. "And can you make some more coffee that doesn't take like motor-oil?"
"Right away, sir," I grinned.
He leaned back satisfied that he had gotten his way. I hated people who treated others this way. Mr. Fancy-pants was the kind of person who saw it fit to treat those he deemed beneath him poorly. He had probably been accommodated for that his entire life, well, today was going to be different. He'd learn not to treat perfect strangers like shit, because you never really knew who you were fucking with.
"Izzy," Ace pleaded, grabbing my wrist as I headed towards the brewing coffee pots. "Please…"
Ace had recognized the fake smile and I could tell he also knew what was about to happen.
"I will not be disrespected in my own business, Carter," I hissed. "Now let me go."
"Bells, you know it's not that douchebag you're mad at," Ace tried. "You're reflecting…"
"Carter, I'm going to say this because I'm legitimately fond of you," I started. "Let me go or I'll do what I plan to do to that asshole to you."
Ace let me go, though it was impossible to mistake his frown for anything but disapproval. I grabbed one of the full pots of coffee of the burner and walked back to the table, filling some people's emptying cups along the way.
"This a fresh pot?" Mr. Fancy-pants questioned.
It was impossible to keep the menacing smile off my face as I retorted, "You tell me."
Mr. Fancy-pants looked confused seconds before I poured the hot coffee all over his lap. His surprised squeal had everyone shaking their heads before they went back to their own business. While a lot of people may not have actively liked the Sons of Anarchy community, most were of the opinion that women deserved respect. It was clear that while some were horrified, most supported what I had just done.
"You stupid bitch!" Mr. Fancy-pants howled. I had to give him credit, he recovered quickly jumping to his feet and into my personal space. "Do you have any idea who I am? What I can do to you?"
"I think the correct question is, do you have any idea who I am," I responded. "Which I already know that answer: you don't."
Mr. Fancy-pants was practically seething with rage as he got even closer to me. It was enough to have Tex and Ace stepping in between him and I with a firm shove, sending him stumbling back a few steps.
"Get out of my diner," I ordered.
"Or what?" Mr. Fancy-pants retorted.
His colleagues now looked horrified, though they didn't have my sympathy, none of them had lifted a finger when he had been yelling at a seventeen year old girl.
"Phil," A mousy woman with brown hair hissed. "Eliot said to keep a low profile around here."
I almost laughed when I heard the pack of Harley's. This was turning into quite the eventful morning and I smirked at Mr. Fancy-pants, who I knew was named Phil. If he thought that I was scary, well, I couldn't wait to see his reaction to any of the fully patched members. Marco, Damien, and Jax seemed to be the ones to answer the diner distress call.
"You're gonna get it now, sonny," Mr. Henderson whistled lowly. Henderson was a friend of the club, and a personal friend of Piney.
"There a problem here?" Jax asked, using his authoritative Vice President voice.
I had to admit that Jax had gotten pretty good at that voice. It was one that all the boys seemed to have. The answer-me-right-now-or-else voice. The way my brother pitched it to echo around the room was also a nice touch.
"Yeah, there is," Phil exclaimed. "This bitch," Phil scowled gesturing at me. "Poured hot coffee all over me!"
"Man, you really just screwed yourself over," I whistled.
Either Phil was very, very stupid. Or he was so angry that he hadn't gathered that all the boys suddenly surrounding him were wearing the same leather cut. On the way over to Phil, Jax spared me an angry glance. That meant I was probably going to get the every action has a consequence lecture. But, right now they were a little preoccupied with defending my honor. They manhandled Phil out of the diner and into the alley way. His colleagues looked surprised and terrified by that and even more so when the other patrons just went back to their meals.
"I'd suggest the lot of you don't come back here," I growled eyeing the remaining three. "Or if you do, mind your manners."
Spinning on my heel I noticed the looks of approval and disapproval from various people as I walked back into the kitchens. I found Janice on a stool talking to Kat as she worked.
"Hey, you alright?" I asked.
"Yeah," Janice coughed, flushing slightly. "I've just never had a costumer speak to me that way before."
"I'm sorry, Jan," I shook my head. "Some people have no respect."
"Which is why our coffee is always boiling hot," Kat snickered. "Is it true that douche called you a bitch in front of the boys?"
"Yup," I laughed. "Some people just can't get a clue until it punches them in the face."
"Which is probably what's happening now," Tori shook her head. "Christ."
"Whatever the lot of them are doing here, I hope they get the hell outta dodge," I frowned. "I don't think I can take anymore outsider stupidity."
"That's for damn sure," Kat muttered as Tori nodded her head in agreement.
I wondered how bigger charters in bigger places dealt with the outsider's. It was easier in the small town of Charming. People knew who you were without having to say a word. It lead to distance, something that could feel isolating in the worst and best possible ways. These newcomers had no idea what Charming was really all about. I was on the phone with one of our various suppliers when Jax walked into the office, shutting the door behind him as he dropped into Anna's seat. Anna was going to be pissed when she found out that all the action happened on her day off.
"What is with you lately?" Jax asked.
"I'd think you'd already know the answer to that question," I replied, tersely.
"Don't take that attitude with me, Izzy," Jax warned.
"Sorry," I grumbled. "I'm just not dealing well."
"That would be an understatement, wouldn't you think?" Jax rolled his eyes.
"This whole thing is bullshit, Jax," I groaned. "I can't keep going like this. My anxiety is through the roof. I'm biting people's heads off…"
"Pouring hot coffee onto business people's laps," Jax interrupted. "You realize how that could blow…"
"Back on the club," I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I thought about that. He almost made Janice cry, Jax. Then he insulted me in my own place. I couldn't let it go."
"You couldn't," Jax questioned. "Or you wouldn't."
"Does it matter?"
"Bella," Jax warned.
"So, I lost my temper," I rolled my eyes. "I've been seeing a lot of that lately. Mom, clocking Cherry in the face with a skateboard, you stabbed a NORD with a cue stick making them lose a nut, and Marco beat the shit out of some guy a week ago for smacking my ass at a party."
"I'm not stupid, Iz, you didn't do that out of anger," Jax rolled his eyes. "You scapegoated the asshole because you're frustrated with the whole Jackal situation. But, you're not in that alone. We're doing all we can to find them."
"Jax…"
"No," Jax interrupted again. "You need to snap the hell out of it. This isn't the time to be selfish. ATF is breathing down our necks and we don't need any more slip ups like what we just had to deal with. So, cut the princess routine and don't worry about shit until it happens. And it's not going to happen."
"You can't make that promise, Jackie," I mumbled,
"Sure, I can," Jax scoffed, his eyes softening at the childhood moniker. "I'm the oldest that means I'm always right."
"No, it doesn't," I laughed.
"I'm pretty sure it does," Jax disagreed.
Jax was by nature a pretty optimistic, at least when it concerned affairs in the club. As long as the Sons of Anarchy were involved, Jax figured that eventually everything would work itself out. He didn't see the Jackals causing problems because they weren't going to get the chance to blindside us. We were going to be a step ahead of them. Last time we didn't even know that someone would do something so brazenly stupid, now we knew that there were morons out there.
"Seriously, though, Iz," Jax drawled. "Save your anger for the assholes who deserve it in its entirety. Okay?"
"Yeah," I agreed.
"Why don't you head home?" Jax suggested. "I think you've done enough damage for the day."
"You might have a point," I laughed.
I grabbed my jacket and bag, following Jax out of the office. I paused by the kitchen to let Kat and Tori know what was going on before I walked out back. Jax was waiting on his bike with Tex and Ace.
"Prospects are going to follow you back, check out the house," Jax shouted over the rumbling motor. "Marco will probably come back sooner or later."
"Okay," I replied, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll see you later."
It took a focused person to be able to drive near the motorcycles. Most other cars sped around them or opted to turn down a different street. I never had that luxury and learned exactly how fast I could go and I knew to break earlier so the person behind me wouldn't end up on my car.
"Stay out here, Bell," Tex ordered. "We'll check the house from top to bottom."
"Thank you guys."
Ace snagged the house keys from me and together they walked into my house. I was leaning against my car watching as they moved from one room to the others. They were meticulous checking anything and everything that a person could hid in.
"Hello, Isabelle."
I didn't even get a chance to turn and address the person who had spoken before I was hit over the head black spots danced in front of my eyes as I dropped to the ground. Hands seized me by my biceps, yanking me upwards. It should've hurt, and I knew it would judging by the sheer pressure the person, or people were using to keep me still.
"No!" I shouted, angry.
There was no way in hell these assholes were going to take me anywhere again. Not without one hell of a fight. Growling I leaned back into the persons chest, using them to kick the other person directly in front of me. When he crumbled, I brought my foot back hitting him hard. The grip on my arms slackened and I jumped away, whirling around to face my attackers.
"You're going to regret that, you little bitch," One hissed.
He moved towards me but I cut him off with a right cross that snapped his head to the side. Unfortunately, the man recovered a lot faster than I thought he would and his fist lashed out punching me hard in the face.
"Tex!" I screamed, shrilly.
Both Tex and Ace raced from the house with their guns drawn pointing at the two masked men.
"Do not move," Tex ordered sharply. "I will shoot you."
The masked men raised their arms above their heads as Tex and Ace came closer shoving both of them to the ground.
"Iz, go inside, lock the door and call the others."
Jimmy Chase's Point of View
The Sons of Anarchy really had to teach their prospects better. After barely sweeping the bitch's house they had run outside to get Izzy. Of course, they might've done a more thorough run through if they hadn't been distracted. For once in my life everything was going according to plan. Two of my boys were the decoys, I knew that the prospects would make the little bitch run into her house, under the guise that she would be safe there.
It was a shame that this girl was the cause of my entire family being dead. If things were different I might've tried to push up on that. The blonde was leggy, filling out those jeans in a way that was almost sinful. I stayed in the darkly lit hallway as she rushed right by me into the kitchen. She hit the first speed dial and immediately connected with someone.
"Dad, they're here," She exclaimed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. They only…"
Little Izzy Teller was so wrapped up in her phone call to step-daddy that she didn't hear or feel me approach, not until I clapped a hand over her mouth and pulled her into my chest. The traditional corded phone fell to the floor with a clatter as Isabelle attempted to fight me off. I could feel her trying to bite me through my leather gloves, but it didn't hurt.
"We meet at last," I whispered, my chin resting on her right shoulder.
Tilting my head slightly I inhaled and smirked. She managed to smell spicy, maybe like cinnamon but sweet to like vanilla. She struggled against me thrashing and squirming but she never managed to shake my grip.
"You and I haven't been properly introduced, sweetheart," I whispered into her ear. "My name is Jimmy Chase, and you, Izzy Teller, are responsible for the death of my entire family."
Isabelle went stock still and for a moment I thought she'd pass out on me. Instead she came alive in an instant using those stiletto boots of hers to stomp on my foot as hard as she could. I grunted leaning forward that stomp had hurt, but not as much as her head snapping back into my nose did. I let go of her and took a couple steps away from her.
"Jimmy Chase, huh?" Isabelle sneered. "A pussy name for a pussy club."
She was backing up towards the knife block, which made me grin. Isabelle wouldn't find any of her knives or the .357 she hid underneath the actual block.
"You looking for this, sweetheart?" I asked, holding up the aforementioned firearm.
Izzy went stock still as I turned off the safety and aimed it at her.
"I've been waiting a long, long time for this moment," I laughed. "I knew the Sons wouldn't be able to protect you forever, after all they've let you down before."
"Shut up," Isabelle snarled. "Don't talk about my family."
"You call those people your family?"
Rage overcame me, swift and hot as I charged at her, grabbing a handful of her golden locks and pulling her towards me.
"You got my entire family killed," I hissed. "You little bitch. Those assholes you call your family systematically wiped us out."
"I never told them to fucking kidnap me," Isabelle growled. "Who knew people could actually be that stupid?"
"They were settling a score," I retorted.
"If you're going to kill me, can you just get it over with?" Isabelle muttered. "As soon as the prospects are done with your two little lackeys they'll be coming right back in here. You don't want to be interrupted, do you?"
I knocked her ankles together sending her to her knees. My hand still had a firm grip on her hair as I turned her to look at me. She stared at me, not in fear or apprehension, but there was something calculating in those baby blues. It was disconcerting. They weren't like average blue eyes they were dark, like the ocean at night and memorizing. I turned off the safety of the gun in my hand and placed it so it was nearly touching her forehead. It had taken almost eleven years but now, at any second, my family was about to be avenged.
The sound of another gun cocking stilled my movements. I looked over my shoulder to see the President and Vice President of the Sons of Anarchy. Both of whom had their guns pointing right at me.
"Don't move, boy," The president snarled.
"Shoot him," Izzy whispered.
"You'll be mopping up skull before you get a shot off," I warned. "Put your guns down."
Both men glanced at one another before they put their guns away under my watchful eyes. Isabelle moved suddenly, shoving her elbow deep into my stomach. I stumbled back with as gasp and moved to shoot her but she had ducked and rolled. Before I could recover a boot kicked me in the chest and knocked me to the ground. The Vice President then put his own boot on my throat, cutting off my air.
"Wait, Jax, don't," Isabelle exclaimed as Jax leveled the gun at me.
I glared at the blonde bitch as she approached, wondering what she was up to. When she grabbed the gun out of Jax's grin I struggled against the boot pinning me to the ground. She crouched down beside me before she punched me in the face.
"You know there's a lot I could've let go," Isabelle began conversationally. "Those pussy little notecards of yours, for one. But, the second you destroyed my house and threatened my best friend, you were living on borrowed time."
She left her crouch and before I could even think of anything she pulled the trigger.