Chapter 14

Shep sat outside the clubhouse smoking while he drank his coffee, it'd be a while before the others started to make their way outside. He looked over as Jax walked up and sat down. Lighting his cigarette Jax picked up his own cup.

"You ready for this" Shep asked him.

"Hell man, I guess so. Thanks for the help. CJ and Melissa have covered anything that could come up. Those two know their shit, they're a good team."

"Yea, they're a pair, always have been since they were little. One of them alone is always good to have. But when you have them both, it takes it to a different level, it's fucking scary sometimes." Shep said, knowing that Jax was waiting to ask about getting help from Melissa.

"Hap told us some of what Melissa has done for the club here. It's impressive." Jax said while taking a drag off the cigarette he held.

"Melissa's fucking smart, she may look and seem sweet but when it comes to business she's ruthless. You know she's got a Master's Degree in Business, right. She has it set up so that we earn enough legally as a club to cover everything we need and each member is taken care of. Anything we do that isn't legal is all to help someone else or to earn favors the Sons may need later." Shep told Jax.

"I didn't know about the Master's degree. What she's done for you here, that's what I want for SAMCRO. You think she'd mind talking to me, maybe give me some ideas, help, anything that could be useful."

Shep grinned over at him "I told her you'd probably want a little help. She said she'd do it. If you do get her help though, tell her everything she wants to know, show her anything she asks for, be straight up no matter how bad it may be. Melissa hates loose ends, she can just about fix anything if she knows about it. If a she finds out later about something you didn't tell her and it causes issues, well, she usually ends up on the warpath. That's when we make ourselves scarce around here."

Jax laughed "Sounds kinda like my mother."

One of the sweet butts from inside came out and refilled their coffee cups then left.

"Her and Happy, you okay with that?" He asked Shep. "I saw him head to what I'm guessing is her dorm last night."

Shep took a long drag off his cigarette, thinking about how best to answer. "If you'd have asked me that a year ago, I probably would've said no. I'd have wanted to cut his hands off for touching her. But after the attack something was different, it's like they broke her. Who she was, wasn't there anymore. She went days and weeks without saying hardly a word, and when she did it was only to answer what we asked. That still happens from time to time. She did everything she normally had done, she just wasn't there like she used to be. No one could touch her, except me and the family. That's why it was a fucking shock when we found out she'd let Happy, of all people, put his hands on her. Hell, he scares most of us sometimes."

"It shocked us too. It's not like him to have any personal interest in a woman, much less kiss her. Crow Eaters and Porn sluts for a fuck or blow job are his normal habit, barely gives em time to get their panties back on before he tells to leave. Hasn't touched any of em since that day he kissed her." Jax told him.

"That's interesting. You know she's never messed with a Son. Always kept her private business outside the club."

"No shit?" Jax looked over at him.

"Yea. Some tried and she shut em down." Shep chuckled at the memory of a few.

He was serious when he looked over at Jax "If there's something about Happy that fixes some of what those bastards did to her and he has the patience to try, I have to step back and let it play out, good or bad. I know he'll protect her, still told him I'd fucking kill him if he hurt her though."

Jax laughed at the last part "Sounds reasonable. I don't know man, I think this may be something serious and Hap hasn't realized it yet. You should've seen the look in his eyes when he heard that fucker had touched her. It's how I feel when I think about someone touching Tara or the boys."

"Yea, I know the feeling."

"I didn't think you had an Old Lady?" Jax asked him.

"Used to. I'm trying to change that though, she's being a bit of a challenge." Shep shrugged.

Jax seemed to know he didn't want to talk about it so he changed the subject.

"Hap don't watch out he may end up with an Old Lady." They both laughed at the thought.

"I guess all we can do it sit back and watch. She's not as easy to control as she makes it appear she is, she's fucking smart." Shep said and Jax nodded.

They stood up as some of the guys started coming outside getting ready to leave. Happy was one of them. He walked over to Shep and held out Melissa's key to him. Shep shook his head "Hang on to it man." Happy just looked at him and nodded.

-xx-

Happy sat on his bike waiting on some of the others so they could get on the road. They hadn't even left yet and he was ready to be done and back. He thought about last night and then waking up with Melissa's warm, soft body, pressed up against him; he had known she was awake even though her breathing was slow and even. She was resting her hand on his chest and her fingers were just barely stroking back and forth across his skin, just like the night before. He really didn't think she realized she was doing it, she seemed lost in her own thoughts. This time he didn't stop her.

He finally couldn't take it anymore, and pulled her closer to him. Once she looked up at him and her thigh brushed against his cock, he didn't stop himself from kissing her. Rolling over and kissing her while he pressed his cock against her, he thought he would lose his damn mind when she pressed her pussy against him. She heard him groan and did it again, sneaky bitch. If that fucking alarm wouldn't have went off he would have had that damn top off and her tits in his mouth while he got her panties off. He didn't think he'd wanted pussy that bad even when he'd been a horny teenager. Fucking alarm.

He decided he couldn't argue about it anymore, he'd lost his goddamned mind. He was going fucking crazy. And it was her fucking fault.

Happy looked over at some of the guys and noticed they must have been watching him. Tig smirked at him with a cocky know it all look, while the rest just grinned at him.

"Awful quiet over there Hap, you not get enough sleep. You can ride bitch with me if you're too tired to drive." Tig teased and the others laughed.

Hap just glared at them all as he put on his helmet "Fuck you Tig!"

Jax walked by and slapped him on the back "Don't kill em until after the run, we need every man we got here." And laughed as he went to his own bike.

The only thought that came to Happy's mind as they pulled out onto the highway was "fucking alarm." It was gonna be a long few days.

-xx-

As Melissa stepped out into the hallway from her dorm, he watched her from the dark corner at the end of the hallway. She didn't even glance in his direction. He hated the bitch a little more everyday. She'd pay for what had happened, it had been her and her family's fault. She thought she was better than everyone else. He'd felt better than her when he'd forced her to scream while he raped her. Stupid bitch had gotten away before they had the chance to make her finish suffering. Next time she wouldn't be so lucky. He didn't care what Creagen's agenda was. He didn't even give a fuck if the Tacoma Killer was her new watchdog. Her time was almost up. Taking a deep breath he made sure to control his emotions so they wouldn't show on his face as he walked out into the clubhouse. The bitch even smiled at him as she and CJ walked out the door. Yea, her time was almost up and it was time she started to realize it. He'd make sure she did, starting tonight.

-xx-

CJ was sitting at the bar drinking coffee waiting on her, he handed Melissa a cup and they walked through the clubhouse. Melissa said good morning and smiled at the guys who were there in the main room on her way outside. She had work to get done and CJ was going to sit with her today, he really just wanted to question her about Happy. She knew him too well to think otherwise. They had never had secrets, so she began to think about how much to say to him.

They walked across the parking lot to her office and went in. She sat down drinking her coffee and waited for him to sit down.

"Well?" He asked.

"Well what?" Melissa looked over the edge of her cup at him.

"Don't give me that shit. You know what. I saw him head toward your room last night and not come out until this morning. There's only one bed in your room, and he doesn't seem like the type who would sleep on the sofa in there."

"He didn't sleep on the sofa. You're wrong about him though, he wouldn't have liked it, but he would have slept on the sofa if I wouldn't have been ok with him in my bed."

CJ seemed surprised at that until a slightly uncomfortable look appeared. She went ahead and answered before he asked the question.

"No, we didn't. I think I should tell him about the attack first, let him decide if it's something he can get past."

"Are you fucking serious Melissa? What the hell does he have to get past, you were the one who was fucking raped! You had no choice in the matter! You're the one who has to get past it. Not him. He's stuck his damn dick in who knows how many women, you can bet your ass he won't be asking you if you can get past that! If he has a problem with what happened to you then he doesn't deserve to be in the same fucking bed as you anyway." CJ took a deep breath and sat back. He didn't get pissed off often but when he did, it usually took him a while to cool off.

"Bastard should feel lucky that you even let him touch you." He muttered.

"You done?" She asked.

"I don't fucking know. It pisses me off that you would even think like that and let him decide if you were good enough. It's bullshit."

"You're right. Honestly, I don't think it will be a problem for him." She couldn't help the blush that appeared. CJ didn't miss it either.

"It's not really that I want to tell him so he can decide if I'm good enough, it just makes me a little nervous; well a lot nervous. What if I can't go through with it? I mean, what happened to me was horrible in every way possible. What if that's all I can think about and I can't do it? And he thinks I was just being a bitch and teasing him. I just want him to understand beforehand." It's a good thing she and CJ had always been able to talk about anything. She didn't know if she could have talked to anyone else about this.

He sat still and took a drink of his coffee before he answered "I can understand that. I can't even begin to know how you must feel, but I do know that if he has any kind of concern for you he'll understand too. What you went through was traumatic. Just don't rush yourself and don't let him rush you either. If it's right you'll know it."

"Thanks, I've been a little stressed about it. I don't want you to think he's been rough or pushy with me. He's asked me even before last night if I was ok and last night he made sure to check."

"I'm glad to hear it." CJ looked at her and smiled. "Now time for some work. If I had known you just dragged me over here to gossip like a couple of old bitches I would have sent Mace!"

Melissa couldn't help but laugh. He always helped her work through things and then lightened the mood by making her laugh.

-xx-

It was late when Happy's phone buzzed, he was sitting outside with Chibs smoking a joint. He reached in his pocket, took the phone out. He felt Chibs pat him on the shoulder "I'm turning in" Hap nodded then looked at the message.

"Call or text?" She wanted to know.

"Call" He sent back.

He waited and answered the phone when it started to vibrate. Her soft voice instantly made of him think of this morning and her moaning. Damn.

"Hi, I won't talk long, I know you need to rest while you have the chance."

"I'm fine. Glad I didn't have to remind you, you already owe me." He grinned and heard her laugh.

"I'll try to get that taken care of."

"Kinda like having you owe me." He chuckled

"I'm sure you do." She told him. "Everything going smooth so far for you guys?"

"Yea, we've never done a run where we've just passed through every checkpoint like this. You and CJ know how to get shit done."

"It has to be done right, I've always made sure to do everything I can to get all the guys there and back as quick and safe as possible. And, I'm good at what I do." She was proud of the fact that she was very good at her work.

"I have no doubt about that." The tone of Happy's voice was different and she knew he wasn't thinking about the work she had done for the run. "What are ya wearing?" He asked her.

"Hap, I'm not telling you that. Nice try."

He laughed "You gonna go to sleep thinking about me taking off whatever it is you're wearing?" He teased her not expecting her to tease back.

She chuckled "I might start witht that."

Fuck, he thought, that definitely made his cock hard. He groaned "Tell me what you called to say." He had to put a stop to this before he went to bed miserable.

"Goodnight Happy" She whispered.

"Goodnight Sweet Melissa." And he hung up.

He sat there a little longer before heading inside. It was really going to be a long few days.

-xx--

Shep, Happy, and the rest of the guys stood around the truck the next morning before heading out. They were halfway done, just another day and a half to go. Shep had his phone out getting ready to check in with CJ and Melissa, make sure everything was a go.

CJ picked up after a few rings, he was on speaker so that any instructions could be heard by everyone, "I'm here man, you guys all set there? It's all good here."

Shep looked around at the group and got nods from them all, "Yea we are. You and Sweet M gonna be online with us today."

They all heard the pause before CJ answered "I will be. I don't know about Melissa. She had a bad night, came and woke me up about two this morning, swore someone was at her door. She's worked in her office since then, you know how she gets, probably won't come out until tonight.

"Was somebody at her door?" Shep asked and everyone listened silently.

"Something spooked her enough for her to come and get me. Said she heard a noise and could see a shadow at the bottom of the door, it stayed there and the door handle moved some. They left after that. She came and got me after that. I asked Randall and some of the guys that were out at the bar if anybody had been back there. They said no."

"I'll call her, if she said someone was there I gotta believe her." Shep told his cousin.

"I'd wait a while. She's in a pissy mood, threw a glass at Auggie, and threatened to shoot me in the kneecap. I'm almost afraid she might do it too. Mace won't even go in the office, he's sitting outside it. I think she might've made one of the girls here cry too. So I'd wait if I were you." CJ kinda laughed.

"Oh hell, I better get it over with." Shep groaned.

"Good luck man." CJ laughed and hung up.

Everyone around Shep stayed put. They wanted to hear this. Shep shook his head and dialed. She finally picked up.

"Unless you have a truck that's on fire, being held hostage by a cartel, or bleeding to death and called to say your final goodbyes, I really don't know why you're calling me Shep. I know you've probably talked to CJ already and I have nothing to add." Melissa answered sarcastically.

"Now sweetheart, is that anyway to talk to me and the guys here," He teased.

"Do you have me on speaker Shep, turn it off!"

"Fuck no, I'm leaving it. Now tell us what happened last night." Shep told her.

Melissa took a deep breath "I was asleep and around two a noise woke me up. It was a deliberate noise Shep like they made it on purpose. When I looked at the door, at the bottom, a shadow passed by and then stepped back. It stood in front of my door and then the door handle started to move, like they were checking to see if it was locked. It quit and the shadow at the bottom of the door left. Shep, I'm not a fucking idiot, I know what I saw."

"I believe you sweetheart. Just make sure CJ or Mace stay on the sofa in your room tonight and until we get back. That means you can't kill em today." He told her.

"Fine. But I can't make any guarantees on the killing, it's still early." She hung up on them.

Shep looked around at them as they laughed "She's a handful sometimes. Those guys will live rough today if she comes out of that office." He laughed before he got serious again. "I've got to find out who the fucking traitor is."

They all agreed as they headed to their bikes. Each one of them knew how dangerous the problem really was. They just hoped they could do something about it before it was too late.

-xx-

Happy stopped by Shep on the way to his bike "She gonna be okay?"

Shep nodded "Yea, I think so, have to check on her tonight and see."

Hap nodded and went to his bike. He didn't like the thought that somebody was trying to fuck with her and him not being there. Hearing her be a little bitchy though was something he hadn't expected. It had turned him on, made him want to make her mad and see what it would take to improve her mood.

He'd have to remember that.

-xx-