Months rolled by in their domestic bliss. They were finally in a good routine. Kerrianne actually spoke as Chibs drove her to and from school in Ari's car. He kept getting cornered by a pushy woman that wanted him to join the PTA and he couldn't help but chuckle. He never dropped Kerrianne off while he was wearing his kutte but he was still decked out in all black, leather and metal. By some miracle Mama Kim called him something other than 'cracker' and even gave him a pat on the head before she boarded her plane back to Korea.
Ari was in good shape but something still wasn't clicking with her and Chibs. They tried to get down the way they used to but something always came up. Elliott needed her, Kerrianne needed him. Seemed like every time he put his hand on her butt or she felt up his arm there was some emergency. Once they were so close to getting their clothes off when all of a sudden Lulu had explosive diarrhea. Apparently she developed a bowl blockage from eating Chibs' underwear.
"Guess I'll stop wearing them." Chibs joked.
"Eww, dah gross." Kerrianne said before she moved away from him. She sat on the couch next to the stripper pole and continued typing away on her new phone.
"Did you hear that?" Chibs asked into his cell. "She called me 'dah'."
"We should celebrate. Lulu has to stay at the vet a few days. Maybe I can convince Kerrianne to take Max and hang out with Tristen. I'll call you daddy, if you like."
"Jesus," He whistled.
Chibs watched Kerrianne walk down the street with Max. The dog didn't even need a leash to follow her - she loved Kerrianne and she watched her like a true nanny. The Oswald house was only five doors down but with how big the properties were it was pretty far. There were street lights and a neighborhood watch - Chibs had wanted to walk her there himself but she had looked at him dismayed. North Charming was a gated community - not the war torn streets of Belfast. Tristen had been raped but that was miles from there at the fairgrounds - by an outsider. If someone had tried to attack Kerrianne they'd get Maxine's full rage and that was about 70 pounds of pissed off German Sheppard. Kerrianne turned around a waved once she reached the Oswald's driveway. Chibs took out his phone and called their house.
"Hello, Chibs. Yes - I see her." Karen said - he could hear her open the front door over the line and Kerrianne went inside with Max.
"Hang up, dah." She said.
"Thanks," Chibs said before he snapped his phone shut.
"Hey there, daddy." He whipped his head around when he heard Ari call him from the door of their house. She was wearing a long straight black wig and a classic sheer floral robe. She shrugged one side off her shoulder and twirled the sash in her hand. Her lingerie was lacy and black - his two favorite things.
"Sweet mother of Christ." He said as he approached her. She was definitely thicker than he remembered. She had turned her weight gain into muscle without him noticing. Her hips and thighs were just so perfect. Her breasts nearly popping out the top of the bra. Chibs could hardly decided what to put his hands on first.
"I have a surprise for you." She said as she pulled him inside by his belt buckle.
"Is it your snug little pussy seated on my face?" Chibs asked as he kicked the door shut.
"No, but now that you mention it it's been a while since I've had a mustache ride." She said. He looked at her curiously when she reached up. To his surprise she pulled her wig off. They both knew that her baldness was a huge turn off for him but from what he saw she wasn't bald anymore. Her hair had grown back quite a bit - it was already past the 'peach fuzz' stage and was curling into little ringlets. Chibs looked at her like she had shown him the greatest thing in the world. "It started growing last month - I could hardly wait to show you."
Chibs was speechless. "I can put the wig back on if—" Ari trailed off when he took the wig from her and tossed it across the room. Ari put her arms around his neck as he bent down and pulled her legs around him. Chibs kissed her passionately as he walked them to their room. He hadn't been so turned on by making out since he was teenager. Ari felt so good in his hands. Her butt was so squeezable—
"What are you doing?" Ari chuckled when he kept goosing her.
"Your ass is really nice. I mean it was nice before but now it's just… good lord, I love it." He gave her a spank. "Makes the perfect sound."
"Feels better than it looks. Come on, take me for a ride." She egged him on. Chibs smirked before he started pulling her clothes off. Kneading the lace between his fingers as he groped over her. With her soft lips and the light scratch of her nails on his arms he was almost in sensory overload. He pulled his shirt over his head as she made quick work of his belt and button fly.
"Here, get on top." He said as he laid on his back.
"Ha, you really want me to straddle your face?" She asked as she moved into position.
"Oh yeah!" He said as he guided her down to his mouth. Ari moaned as he ate her out. The last time they had sex had been months ago on a day she hadn't felt like crap from her chemotherapy. It was before her hair had fallen out, before the club went to Belfast. It had been lack luster but it seemed Chibs was making up for it now. Sliding his tongue all over and pressing her clit.
His hands went up her thighs and gripped her supple ass. He moaned when she started stroking him. He had abstained from using sweet butts while she was sick. Restricting himself to quick yanks during his morning showers just to keep from going crazy. It felt amazing to have her hands on him. Her smooth palms and firm grip. He bucked upwards when she swept her tongue around the head of his cock.
"Damn, look at how hard you are." She said as she slowed her stroke. Ari felt her face heat up when he moaned against her sensitive skin. He was so into it and so riled up that she could hear him breathing heavily through his nose. He smacked her ass again before he flipped her over on to her back.
"Gonna give your little twat a good workout." Chibs promised. He looked down when she held something out to him. "Lube?" he asked as he took the bottle. "You suddenly into anal?"
"No such luck." Ari chuckled when he pouted. "I just… might not be as wet as you remember. The chemo." She explained.
"Formulated to give a warm, tingling sensation." Chibs said as he absently read the front - squinting hard to read the fine print without his glasses. He popped the cap and poured it on himself. They both gasped when he finally slid in. "Oh - just as tight as I remember."
"Filip…" She panted as she held on to his arms. He leaned down and kissed her as he started to move. It was paradise. Being close to her again. Being able to touch her without fear of breaking the waif she had become during those hellish months of treatment. She had plenty of cushioning. He loved the gentle smack of his thighs against her ass. She had a little wiggle to her now - he loved it.
"Mmm… so plump and juicy… feel so fucking good…" Her breasts were nice and soft. He didn't want to think about which one was fake - with both hands on them he honestly couldn't tell.
"Filip!" He looked up from where he currently sucking her nipple. Her fluffy new curls stuck to her forehead with sweat. She was digging her nails in now. Marking him up good. He was earning it with how hard he was giving it to her. Lube was making it even hotter - tingling against her inner walls. She kept squeezing him.
"You're close aren't you?" He sped up and she tightened her legs around him. She was past talking - her eyes glazed over and she practically purred into his mouth when he kissed her. He rubbed his nose against hers and grinned. "Oh yeah cum for me baby." He moaned as he moved faster. He wasn't going to last much longer. Too excited about having her again.
Ari felt it all the way through her. If she let go of Chibs she was sure she'd just float away. Pleasure so intense she almost passed out. The look of Chibs all rosy-cheeked and out of breath. His deep brown eyes rolling back before he shut them tight. When he put his head back she bit his neck and he yelped. Cumming hard inside her. Ari didn't think it would feel so good but it shot an extra little tingle through her. Gave her a warm fuzzy feeling in her core.
Chibs stayed there until he caught his breath. His face pressed into her neck as she gently scrubbed her nails through his hair. His mind was all hazy and relaxed. Chibs rarely felt so at ease. He pulled back a little and looked into Ari's pretty eyes. She smiled at him before she yawned. "Mm… I must be getting old. You knocked me out with one shot."
"I'll check for gray pubes when your bush grows back."
Chibs knew his blissful existence wouldn't last forever. How could it? He was a criminal, he had killed people and done horrible shit. He didn't really deserve a blissful life. So when the rest of the guys got out of prison and immediately got themselves into trouble he rolled with it. Cause this was his lot in life. His one silver lining was going home to Ari and Kerrianne. He never thought he'd see the day where she'd asked him about his childhood for a book report. And career day had been a hoot. He stood in front of her class, with his scars, brogue, leather and patches and explained what vapor lock was. Ari helped him wheel in one of his custom jobs and the kids took turns taking selfies with it.
That night he shot some guy in the face and packed up illegal guns. Ari continued to listen to all his dirty deeds and found a place to put them. She never looked at him different. For some reason Clay kept trying to pull her closer. He knew that Ari was Oswald's favorite and that they both had deep pockets. But if Ari got closer that meant Kerrianne would be pulled in. They were arm-in-arm at the garden fundraiser. Clay could use Chibs' love for them against him. Chibs didn't know when he started to mistrust his President. It had been creeping in the whole time, ever since Jax let him read that book John wrote. Now he eyeballed everything Clay said and did. He knew there could be no real separation of his family and the club but he was going to try especially now that the cartel was expecting so much from them.
And then there was Ari's friendship with Juice. In her head it superseded any tie to the club. And it hurt her to see the bruises on his neck.
"You're going to tell me everything." Ari said matter of fact. She locked the door to her home office and Chibs thought it sounded familiar to the sound of prison bars slamming shut. It made him tense as she sat down at her desk across from him. The mahogany surface dividing them both physically and metaphorically. Right now he was barely her husband - just some derelict that was hiding shit from her. And she had a huge problem with it. "And if I feel like you're lying or holding something back the next time you try to come in the front gate your code won't work."
"Ari—"
"And you won't be able to call me or Kerri. It'll just be you and your precious club." She threatened.
"You're gonna take my own daughter from me?" He asked indignantly.
"If I feel like what you guys are into is going to harm her. I take my role as her guardian very seriously." Ari said simply. "Start at the beginning."
"Most of it happened while the guys were locked up. Clay made deals in prison that he had to make good on to keep from getting shived by the Russians." Chibs began. Ari held up her finger before she flipped to a page in the notebook she was writing in.
"The Russians you guys double crossed so you could kill Jimmy 'O'."
"Yeah, they weren't thrilled about the counterfeit money. So, through Clays dealings we got hooked up in the Galindo." He was surprised when she recognized the name. Her eyes went wide for a moment before she glared daggers at him.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"How do you know—"
"Cause I watch the news you dumb bastard!" She snapped. "The club is running guns for a cartel!"
"Scream that a little louder - I don't think all of the dead quite heard you."
"Now is not the time to be glib." She warned. "So, I don't really need to hear the whole story. You guys are in deep—"
"With everyone." Chibs added.
"No shit - it's a cartel." She sighed. "Clay wants me to go to Oakland."
"Why?"
"Something about being black." Ari said. "He thinks I'll be able to finesse Damon Pope—"
"Who is that?"
"Black guy. Business man. Practically runs the city. And to it, has the Niners in his back pocket. They're practically his hit squad." Ari brushed it off as nothing serious.
"So now you're Clay's errand girl."
"If it keeps you out of gun fights, yes." Ari answered.
"Baby… I really wish you wouldn't get so cozy with Clay." Chibs said.
"Any reason why? I mean other than the fact he thinks having deals with a cartel is a good idea."
"Because the second you stop being useful to him he'll think about everything you know and he'll burn you for it." Chibs said. "I don't want you to end up like Donna or Tara."
"It's sweet of you to worry." She started as she stood up. Chibs was surprised when she sat in his lap. When he looked up at her she gently scratched his facial hair. "I can take care of myself. As far as I'm concerned Clay is just another business man. He thinks he can control everything with money and power. I went to school to learn how to handle men like him."
"And this sudden 'lap dance' you're giving me? Another 'handler' tactic?"
"You're so smart, you don't even realize how much." Ari giggled when he tickled his fingers up her thigh. "We're gonna be fine." She assured him before she kissed him. Chibs sighed and closed his eyes. He wanted desperately to believe it.
When Ari showed up to the clubhouse she saw Gemma standing by the office. Even from so far away she could see her swollen and bruised up face. It shocked her and she couldn't think fast enough to hide her surprise. She took a step towards her but Clay barked her name and summoned her inside the chapel. He shut the doors.
"Clay what on Earth—"
"That's not why I called you here."
"Was that… who did that to her? The same people that tried to snatch Tara?" She asked as she sat down in Chibs' usual seat at the table. Clay plopped into his chair and rested his hands on the surface of the table. Ari noticed his gashed up knuckles and felt her blood go cold.
"I said never mind it." He growled. Ari put on her game face. "I wanted to thank you for talking to Pope. Things have finally quieted down with the one-niners—" They both jumped when Opie burst threw the door - his gun already drawn. Clay reached for his instinctively.
"Don't!" Opie yelled. Ari put her hands up when he glanced at her. "You killed my wife and dad. Now you're getting your claws into Chibs' family. You just won't stop until you've ruined all of us. I am ending this!"
"Opie!" Jax came racing in after him. His gun out as well. Ari was just as confused to see him there as he was to see her meeting with Clay. "Not in front of her." he pleaded. "Ari get out now!"
"Sit down!" Opie snarled when she moved. He pointed his gun at her and she whimpered. "Maybe I should take a page from Clay's book - murder her and lie to Chibs about black guys doing it just to keep him buried in grief and in line like a nice little soldier."
"No!" When Clay moved Opie fired at him. And Jax shot Opie. Ari flinched when she held something fly past her head. When she looked up Clay was gushing blood.
"Oh my God. Oh my God…" Ari got up and instinctively put pressure on his wounds. "Oh God, Clay. Oh…" His blood was really warm on her hands - for some reason the look of it made her gag a little. She could feel his pulse racing. She could hear Jax and Opie yelling. "Clay, what do I do?" She asked as she looked at his face. He was getting pale.
"Say it was black." He said to her. "Drive by."
"What?"
"He's right. Let's get him to the garage." Jax insisted.
"No, we can't move him."
"He can't die in here. If he does we all do because of the questions it raises." Jax said as he looked at her. "Oh shit…"
"What is it?" Ari tried not to panic but Jax was staring at her with wide eyes.
"Chibs is gonna kill us all. Ari, get out to the garage. You gotta be in on this now."
She hardly had time to question it when Rat moved her out of the way to haul Clay up and out to the garage. Once she was there she caught sight of herself in a nearby mirror. She hadn't felt the knick in her ear until she saw it in her reflection. One of the bullets had caused a ricochet - she saw several little cuts along her face as well.
"Ari!" Jax pulled her over and made her kneel next to where they set Clay up. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but you have to say it was black when the cops get here."
"What?"
"Black SUV sped up, fired a few shots before it sped off. Me and Opie can't be here when the cops come. Clay shielded you, took two in the chest."
"Jax I can't. Don't leave me here!"
"You have to. People saw you here. How else would you explain what happened to your face. Chibs would kill us all if he found out we were firing guns with you in the room. The club can not deal with an internal beef this twisted."
"Do it, Ari." Clay rasped out.
"I can't - I'm panicking!"
"Then say you didn't see anything because Clay guarded you." Jax said as he hurried away with Opie.
"Clay… oh God." Ari look back when she heard the approaching sirens. "Clay?" He was gurgling and rasping. "Clay?"