A/N: Sorry for the space of time between updates. I'll try to be more consistant.
Happy reading, I hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: I own nothing I profit from nothing.
Chapter 14
It was almost 9 before I get home from the Community Center, having stayed to help clean up and to go over some of the ideas I had drawn out with Lucy. She approved of the overall idea and decided we would start hitting up local businesses for the supplies.
'They might be more willing to help if we offered them a "thank you" sign posted at the booth they sponsored, as well as a tax deductable receipt for their donation.' I think as I unlock my front door. 'Something to talk to Lucy about,'
Well it was a start at least, we had the concept, unfortunetly we only had until the beginning of July to get it all together. Just about three months to get funding and permits, find extra volunteers, build booths, organize events, advertise.
I sigh, thinking about all the things that need to be done. Lucy had given me a print out of businesses she thought would be willing to help out based on past donations. I would start there utilizing my lunch breaks to hit them up by phone.
My job doesn't leave me a lot of time for the Center, usually I just volunteer on the weekends, when I can actually spend time with the kids. The shop is open Monday through Saturday 7-6. Sara and I share Saturdays, her working one, while I take the next. Whoever doesn't get a full weekend off gets the following Wednesday.
Hanging up my purse and my coat I head to the fridge to dig out some left over pizza and a Sam Adams before hitting the sofa and queing up the DVR'd soap opera I'd watched since I was twelve. Taking a slug of my ice cold beer I set it on the coffee table and settle in. I'm getting ready to take a bite of my nuked slice when the door bell rings.
Sighing I set the plate down and check the peep hole before unlocking the door and stepping back to let Happy in.
"Hey," I say "What's up?"
"Nothing," He says coming to a stop at the end of the kitchen counter, his back to me, as he scans the living room.
"Okay," I say re-engaging the locks. "Want a beer?"
He merely nods. I roll my eyes at the back of his head. "Why don't you head into the living room, while I grab that," I say turning towards the fridge. "I was just having dinner, reheated pizza, want a slice?"
"Sure," He says from the other room.
Grabbing extra napkins, after heating him up a slice, I take the whole load back into the living room and hand it to Happy. He nods his thanks, before setting the beer on the table, and leaning back with his plate.
"What the hell is this?" He asks motioning towards the tv with his slice while I settle back on the couch.
"Oh shit," I say snapping up the remote "Sorry it's a soap opera, old habit I've never been able to break," I scan through channels until I stumble across a motorcycle documentary on one of the History Channels. "Okay?" I ask before setting the remote down.
He nods, taking a bite of the pizza. We watch the program and eat in silence.
"So," I say lighting a cigarette at the commercial break after we've finished eating. "What are you doing here Happy?"
"Out riding around," He shrugs lighting his own smoke "Ended up here,"
"Uh-huh," I say. "All the shit there is to do in this City and you end up at my door,"
He turns his gaze to me, a slight frown clear on his face.
"Can't help but wonder," I say "Are you babysitting or is this a booty call?"
His frown deepens. "I told you…"
"How do you know Max is back in New York City?" I interrupt him. "No one I've talked to has heard anything about him,"
His face melts back to blank as he takes a moment to consider his answer. "Bob heard from one of his contacts. I didn't ask which one, but he wouldn't have said anything unless he was sure,"
I nod accepting his answer, but making a mental note to ask Sara again what she knows. I can't help but wonder what it means if her own husband has been reluctant to talk to her about the situation.
"What are you doing here?" I ask again.
"Seems to be dinner and a beer," He says.
I roll my eyes and turn back to the tv, letting it drop for now. Stubbing out my cigarette I rise and cross to the book case where I keep my party box. Grabbing my bag and papers I return to the coffee table. Sitting on the floor I break out enough pot for a joint and roll it up. Leaving the supplies on the table I rejoin Happy on the couch and spark it, passing it along after a couple of puffs.
'Fuck it,' I think 'I'm too tired to play twenty questions. We'll smoke this, then he'll leave and I can take a shower before bed,'
Barbus hops up and lays on the arm of the couch next to me and I idily scratch behind his ears in between hits. The numbness starts to slip over me and I can feel every muscle in my body start to relax.
'Christ it's been a long day' I think as I crack my neck, and stretch my arms up over my head. 'Maybe I'll skip the shower tonight and take one in the morning' Leaning forward I grab my beer and take a swig as I sit back. We finish the joint and the beers before I stand up to put everything away.
"'Nother beer?" I ask Hap, as I grab our plates and empties. Hoping that he'll decline and head back to the club house in search of easier prey.
"Sure," He says. 'Damn'
"You can change it," I say motioning towards the tv with my head before turning and carrying the load to the kitchen. He doesn't reply, and I don't hear the channels changing. Grabbing two fresh beers I head back to the living room, and resume my seat on the couch before handing Happy his beer.
"Why were you at the Community Center tonight?" He asks after a few moments of silence.
"How do you know where I was?" I ask "Did you follow me?" he doesn't answer, taking a slug of his beer instead. "Why did you follow me?" he still doesn't answer.
"Okay, you know what," I say setting my beer on the table "It's late and I'm too tired for whatever this is," I rise, waiting for him to do the same. When he remains in his seat I sigh and cross my arms over my chest. "I told you what you wanted to know. I was honest with you. I don't know what else you want me to say,"
He leans forward and sets his beer on table. "Yeah I followed you. I'm going to keep following you. Why do you go to the Communtiy Center?"
"I volunteer there," I state flatly, glaring at him. "Why are you following me?"
"To make sure no one else is,"
"Satisified?" I ask.
"No," He rises, turning to face me. "I won't be until we know you're in the clear,"
"We?" I ask "This is club shit? You're here because of the clubs obligation?" I can feel the wall slide up, shielding me from the hurt I feel, giving me the time to get him out of here before I crack. "Leave," I say "Get out,"
"I'm not leaving, I've got,"
"Orders?" I interrupt. Walking to the door I reach into my purse and pull out my Barratta. It's a girl gun, but one I can handle, and easy to conceal. Setting it on the table next to the door, I pull my 6 inch hunting knife out of the inside pocket of my coat and set it next to the gun. "If your orders are to protect me, well, I think I got that covered," I sneer. "I'll be sure to talk to Bob, there is no need for you guys to babysit," I unlock the door and hold it open "Drive safe," I say gesturing for him to leave. My fist tightens on the knob as he moves towards the open door.
Instead of walking through it, he grabs the edge of the door and slams it shut before rounding on me.
"Let's get some shit clear," He says as he grabs my arm "I am nobody's puppet. If I didn't want to be here I wouldn't be," He says glaring at me as I try to pull out of his grasp. "I get that you can handle yourself, but these are some very well connected, dangerous people,"
"I know what they are. I worked with them for years. Lived with one for longer," I say through gritted teeth.
"Then you know the kinda shit they're capable of. What they'd do to you if they found you,"
"Why do you care?" I ask exasperated. "What does any of this have to do with you or the club?"
"Your grandfather…"
"Big fucking hairy deal!" I shout pushing against his chest "So fucking what? I've been here for months and nothing has happened. Even if something did you are not responsible for me" I can actually hear his teeth grind together as he grabs my other arm and pulls me against him. "There is no reason for you to be here. Leave," I say as calmly I can, hoping that he can't feel me shaking, as I try to control my temper.
"No," He says. "I'm not leaving. I'll stay on the couch, you don't have to talk to me, but you will not be alone,"
I sigh and look away. "How long?" I ask "How long are you gonna sleep on my couch, follow me around town?"
"Until it's safe,"
"No absolutely not, what would the McGregors think?" I scowl at him, as if I really care what the old people down stairs think about my bed mates.
He merely scowls at me in response. "If you don't let go of me right now I'm going to scream," I say. "I can guarantee that Mrs. McGregor will hear me," When his grip doesn't slacken I suck in a breath to follow through on my word.
"Fine," He growls, "I'll let go, but I'm not leaving."
"Look there has to be some sort of compromise," I say, exhaling as he steps back. His eyebrow arches, and I rub my hands over my face, taking a moment to regain my composure. This is so not how I had pictured my evening going.
Happy leans back against the counter, and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Okay," I sigh, hands dropping to my sides "So your orders are to watch me, make sure nobody tries anything, right?" He nods the affirmative "Okay," I grab the note pad off of the fridge door and snap the pen out of it's holder. I take a couple of minutes and outline a typical week for me, writing down times and address, contact information for people I'm meeting at each location. "Schedule" I say tearing the page off the pad and handing it to Happy. "I'll let Bob or Sara know if there are any changes or additions," He takes the paper and folds it into his pocket, before recrossing his arms.
"So here's the compromise," I say, mimicking his stance against the opposite counter. "You guys will follow me, nothing I can do about that, and I'll do my best to stick to the schedule. "No one stays in my apartment. Period, end of sentence," The scowl, he's been gracing me with, deepens.
"You are not staying here alone at night," He says. "You're vounerable here,"
"I just moved in," I scoff "I'm not moving again, and I am not having the local biker gang camped out on my couch or front lawn, so just forget it,"
"Got a problem with bikers now?" He asks.
"No," I grind out "I don't. Right now I have a problem with the Japanese, apparently,"
"Not a good time to be cute sweetheart," he growls back.
"Well I don't see you trying to come up with any solutions to this situation," I say.
"You're the one making this a thing," he says. "If you'd just chill for a minute,"
I have no idea what he said after that. My ears started to ring, and my vision started to tunnel the edges bleeding red. Every nerve in my body screamed LIMIT. At this point I usually have two choices I can either, rip his eyes from his skull and use the newly vacated space as a candelabra, or have an anursim.
Pushing away from the counter, I grab the phone off the charger in the living room before locking myself in the bathroom. I sit on the closed lid of the toilet, and put my head between my knees taking a couple of minutes to just breath, and let my vision return.
Once I can see the floor tiles again I sit up and punch in a familiar number.
"Hey babygirl what's up?" Sara's voice rings through the head set.
"Why is Happy under the impression that we are living together unil further notice?" I ask her. When silence reigns for a couple of moments I continue. "What's going on Sara?"
"I don't know," She says. "Hap and Bob had a talk the other night, and now he's hell bent on watching over you," She sighes.
"So this isn't some decree from Bob?" I ask.
"Not that I know of honey, but why would the boys tell me?"
"Well thanks for your help," I scoff.
"I don't know what they've cooked up," She affirms "But your granddaddy did call here, I'll talk to Bob see what I can find out,"
"Thanks," I say with more sincerity. "Now how in the hell am I going to get Happy out of my house?"
"And why would you want to do that?" She asks "Weren't you just telling me how great it was to have him in your bed?"
"Yeah well he's not here to heat up the sheets," I sneer "I refuse to be babysat Sara. Tell me who I have to talk to get this shit to stop,"
"Well your granddaddy started this," She sighs "I'm sure he could end it. Have you talked to him? Any of them? About any if this?" She asks.
"No, I talked to Carly and Jarred, their looking into it, but no word on Max," I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers. "He's got to be working for Subaki, Max isn't capable of keeping a low profile,"
"Seems to be the general concensious," She says. I can hear the lighter flick as she lights a cigarette.
"Great, okay. Guess I've got to make a couple of more calls," I sigh.
"Take the next couple of days honey," She says "Get this sorted out. I'll cover the shop,"
"Alright," I say, my stomaching knotting. Sara never offers time off, never. Covering that time herself, no fucking way. Whatever is going on it's serious enough for her to want to keep me away from her loved ones for a few days. "I'll see you next week then,"
"Sounds good honey," She says "I'll keep you posted on this end. You do the same,"
"Sure thing," I say "Later,"
"Bye" she clicks off and I'm alone in the bathroom with Happy lurking somewhere outside, while my world crumbles. Christ, what the fuck am I going to do?