Chapter Eleven: Abel

Abel sat at the large carved table with the rest of the club. "It's all go with the Irish. The dummy corps been set up, thanks to juice and we got the one niners and the Cacuzza family on side." Jax summarized.

"Point of no return" Abel mumbled.

"Deals done" Jax continued "The guns will be here by Friday, Saturday we deliver to the one niners, next Thursday we make the drop to the Cacuzza family. Any questions?" Everyone shook there head. "Good. Meeting adjourned" he said banging the gavel. As he was heading out Jax grabbed Abel's arm. "I know you don't agree with this. Neither do I but it's the clubs decision and we both gotta support it" he started once everyone else had left the room "This is a democracy and the boys seeing you fight the decisions they made ain't gunna do no one no good. Got it?"

"Got it" Abel said staring at his feet.

"Iight. Now where were you last night?" Jax asked with a cheeky smile. "Chibs said you hooked up with some girl. And by the looks of it she was a feisty one" he pointed to the scratch above Abel's eye which was deeper then Abel had first thought.

"Nah it was nothing like that"

"Really then how come you weren't interested in any of the girls who've been throwing themselves at you the last couple weeks. Hey I get it son I'm the same with your mum"

"Its really not like that, she's off limits"

"Its not a dude is it?"

"No" Abel laughed "Just not mine to take"

"Son no ones yours to take until you take em. Oh shit" He said looking out the window into the bar "Looks like your mum is pissed" Abel looked around and saw his mums disapproving face as she walked towards the meeting room. They walked out to the bar to meet her.

"I need to talk to Abel" she said sternly.

"Sorry son" Jax said before abandoning him.

"Thanks for the support dad" Abel called to Jax's retreating figure. "What's up ma?" he said sheepishly.

"Beth is what's up. Sit" she commanded. Abel sat down at the small table against the wall. "You gunna tell me what's going on with you two?"

"Nothing"

"You two slept together?"

"No, ma nothings happened"

"What are you doing Abel? You know Tommy still loves her"

"Fuck Tommy. He's the one that screwed her up" He said in a hissed.

"Abel, Beth is a good girl she doesn't need to be the toy you and Tommy are fighting over"

"It isn't like that"

"Oh please Abel you didn't look at her twice before…before you…" she couldn't finish.

"Exactly. This is nothing to do with Tommy. If this was some fucked up sibling rivalry thing, I'm pretty sure it would have happened before they broke up"

"I'm serious Abel don't go any further with this if its nothing. You could lose Tommy for this and the respect of the club"

"What's the big deal if I do? If Tommy's stupid enough to throw a good thing away and shack up with Jessie why should I stay on the sidelines?"

"Because its not that simple Abel and you know that. Look I could never stop you doing something when you put your mind to it but she's going through something, you said it yourself and so are you. You gotta think hard Abel. Are you sure your not just interested in her because she's safe. You've known her for years after getting out it isn't surprising your looking for something normal to cling on to" Abel said nothing as what his mum said sunk in. It was true that he had only started having feelings for Beth since he got out and that she seemed to be the only thing in Charming that hadn't changed, even his parents seemed different. But surely he wasn't just looking for normality. "I'm not saying you don't care about her. You wouldn't have come to me if you didn't but maybe its not in the way you think" They sat for a minute before Abel asked.

"How'd you know it was Beth I didn't tell you her name?"

"There aren't many 20 year olds you know who split with their boyfriend a year ago and have religious parents. It wasn't that hard to figure out. I went to talk to her this morning she's going to the psychiatrist this afternoon"

"Good" Tara's hand reached out to grab his.

"You've always had a big heart Abel, it's one of your best assets but it's got you into trouble before. Make sure it doesn't lose you your brother" she gave his hand a squeeze then got up. "I love you" she said before walking away.

Abel took a deep breath then headed to the bar. "Your phone" Juice said handing him the small wood box. "Thanks man" he grabbed his phone and turned it on. Two missed calls popped up and one voicemail. He dialed the number and listened to Beth's message.

"Hey Abel it's Beth. I just thought I'd call and say thanks for not going to my parents. Tara came round, she's uh…well I'm seeing a shrink at 12. I'm not really sure if it'll help but… well anyway uh thanks I guess. It'd be good to see you after. But only if you want" she added quickly "Ok right well bye…It's Beth by the way"

"What's with the goofy grin?" Juice asked over the bar. Abel hadn't noticed but his face had stretched out into a smile while he was listening to the message and strangely he had been holding his breath.

"Nah nothing. Just some good news" Abel said forgetting instantly what Tara had said not five minutes ago.