Thank you so much for your reviews, favorites, and follows! I got back to most of you but thanks also to: stordec23 and Mary!
Brief warning: This chapter contains a reference to someone being drugged against their will. Just wanted to put that out there in case its a trigger for anyone. Nothing graphic, but I know its a tough, touchy subject, and I do not want anyone to be offended by it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Angela and Mel
It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Chapter 28: Taking Care
By Love Ink
Tacoma, Washington:Seventeen and thirty
Happy and Kozik walked into his Angela's apartment looking for food. She'd only been there two weeks and every time they walked into the apartment, she always had some kind of food waiting for them. Apparently, in her boredom, she discovered she had a knack for cooking. The apartment was empty and dark. The only thing that showed she'd been in there was the smell of nail polish that was still hanging in the air. "Ang?" Kozik called out, heading back to her room. He smirked when he saw all of her clothes strewn all over the place. Clearly, she'd been looking for something to wear which meant she'd probably gone out. He headed back to the kitchen where Happy was scavenging in the fridge. "She ain't here."
"Weird," Hap muttered, grabbing a beer and a pizza box from the fridge. "Pizza."
"Thank God, I'm starving," Kozik said, heading over to the kitchen and grabbing a slice. Both men settled down on the couches in the living room, putting the television on, and settling in to wait for her.
It was around two in the morning when the door finally opened. They both turned to see watch as Mel walked in holding Angela in his arms, her head tucked neatly under his chin, her arm hanging limply over his.
"What the hell?" Happy murmured, practically jumping off the couch.
"I don't know what happened," Mel stated, a panicked look on his face as Happy took her from his arms and cradled her close to his chest. "She…told me she was feeling sick after one drink 'n' I told her to grab some water and then she disappeared. Next thing I know, she's on the couch, passed out with these two assholes standing over her."
Kozik muttered a curse under her breath, looking over at the young girl in Happy's arms. "Did they touch her?"
"No," Mel said, shaking his head. "They didn't get the chance. Soon as I saw her go laying there, I stepped in, and got her out."
Happy glowered at him, pulling her in closer to kiss her forehead as he carried her to her bedroom. After pulling back the covers, he gently laid her down, tugging off her shoes and dropping them to the floor one by one. Carefully, he worked off her jeans, grimacing at the sight of her lacy boy shorts. He stopped, running a hand over his face at the image. He'd changed her all the time growing up but seeing her wearing the same lacy shit he'd seen on Croweaters made him stop in his tracks. His little girl was not so little any more. He quickly put a pair of boxer shorts on her, deciding against taking off her tank top. She could sleep in that for one night. Gently, he brushed a stray hair from her face. "We got names?" he asked, knowing Kozik was standing at the door.
"Yeah," Kozik replied, all business now. "We doin' this tonight or…"
He nodded, pulling the covers over Angela before kissing her forehead again. Heading out to the living room, he found Mel sitting at the dining room table looking guilty as sin. "Watch her," he ordered the younger Kozik.
"No," Mel said, standing up, a panicked look in his eyes. "You guys can't just…these are not nobodies! These are people with families! They go missin' and…"
Happy was out the door before he could finish his sentence. He glanced pleadingly at Kozik who just shrugged. "Those assholes shoulda thought of that 'fore they decided to take advantage of our girl."
Mel woke up with a start when he heard the toilet flush. He stood from the couch with a grunt, heading back to the bedroom in time to see Angela lay down in the bed. As if sensing his presence, she turned her head. " 'ey," he greeted, staying by the door, unsure of how close to get to her. "How you feelin'?"
"Like shit," she replied, her voice rough as she turned on her side to face him. "Told you they put somethin' in my drink. Did um...did anything happen?" she asked, her voice sounding small and a little fearful.
"No. I got to you first," he answered. Guilt twisted in his stomach. Before he'd lost her in the crowd, she'd told him she was feeling weird. That she thought someone had slipped something into her drink. He'd dismissed it and told her she was crazy. These were all stand up guys destined to be doctors! They'd never do something like drug a girl's drink. He thought they were above that. Then he found her laying still on the couch with a guy tugging at the button of her jeans. He'd been wrong. Terribly wrong. "I'm so sorry, Gee. I should've listened."
"Fuckin' gringos," she murmured on a sigh, her eyes sliding closed.
"You're not gonna tell your cousin I didn't listen to you, are you?"
Angela let out a long breath as she flipped onto her back, her dark eyes focused on the ceiling where she'd put dozens of glow in the dark stars. "No," she rasped sullenly.
A sigh of relief left his lips before he could stop it. "Can I get you anything?"
"No," she croaked, turning on her side so her back was to him. "Just leave me alone."
Mel hung his head as he headed back into the living room. He felt awful about what he'd done…or hadn't done. It could've easily led to something far worse if he hadn't gone looking for her. He shuddered to think what Hap and Kozik would've done to him if something like that had happened to her on his watch. The idea that they were getting their revenge on those guys now made him sick to his stomach.
Happy stalked back into Angela's apartment, ignoring the sleeping guy on the couch and heading straight back to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out a hand to touch her cheek. The boys who had hurt her had been taken care of. He hadn't killed them, but they would be singing in another octave for the rest of their lives. They didn't deserve to keep the balls they had. Any guy who had to drug a girl to get her to sleep with him didn't have balls in the first place. Now the two guys who thought it was a good idea to drug his girl didn't have balls figuratively or literally.
Angela stirred slightly, groaning as she opened her eyes. "Hi," she croaked, sitting up slightly.
He handed her a glass of water and an Advil. "You all right?"
"Mmm-hmm," she said, swallowing the pill and chugging down the water.
"What happened, kid? Thought I taught you better."
Angela sighed, tilting her head back against the headboard. "One of the brothers was serving jungle juice. I thought he looked shady, but Mel seemed to trust him. And Mel's Koz's brother so..."
"You trusted him," Happy finished, clenching his hands into tight fists and ignoring the pain that shot through his already bruised knuckles. He and Mel were going to have a little chat, that was for sure. "And he almost let it happen."
"He got me out of there, Hap. He made sure I was okay," she said, throwing the guy a bone. She knew he had a beating coming his way, but she figured she'd lighten it a bit. Happy didn't seem too convinced though, so she changed the subject. "You get 'em?"
Happy nodded, a smirk turning up the corners of his lips. "Yeah. Be awhile before they their equipment in working condition."
Angela smiled slightly, glad those assholes got what they deserved. "Good," she said, sitting up and wrapping her arms around her cousin in a hug. "Thanks Hap."
He ran a hand over her soft hair, kissing her temple. "I got you, kid. Always," he said, giving her a quick squeeze before letting go. "Just stop gettin' in trouble
She sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "No promises," she murmured, lying back down. He went to move and she grabbed his arm. "You're stayin' here, right? I'm not...I don't want to be alone."
Happy felt his heart squeeze a bit at the fear in her eyes. Even after seventeen years, it was still strange to him how seeing her in pain or afraid physically hurt him. "Yeah. I'm here. Anythin' you need, you'll get it."
"Thank you," she said on a relieved sigh. "Love you, Hap."
Leaning over, he pressed a long kiss to her forehead before ruffling her hair. "Love you too, kid," he said, smirking as her eyes started to droop close. He pulled the covers up over her before heading for the door.
"Hey Hap," she murmured, stopping his trek. He turned back to look at her, fighting a smile when he saw her looking at him with one eye open. "You have blood on your shirt. Put it in my hamper. I'll bleach it out later."
"Thanks," he muttered, smiling a bit as he walked out and closed the door behind him. That was his little cousin. Taking care of him instead of worrying about herself. As he walked towards the living room, the sound of flesh against flesh made his smile grow larger. Apparently, Kozik had heard what Mel had done.
Kozik stopped beating on Mel when he saw him. Straightening up before landing a swift kick to Mel's side. "She all right?" he asked Hap, running a hand over his hair.
"She's fine," Happy said curtly. "He tell you what he did?"
Kozik nodded, glaring at Mel who was lying on the ground clutching his stomach. "Go home, Melly. Ya piece of shit," he muttered, helping his brother up and mussing his hair before pushing him out the door. Once Mel had gone, he turned to Hap. " 'm sorry, Hap. Thought the kid could use some fun. Didn't think my idiot brother was going to be such a shit about it."
"Not on you, brotha. 's all on Mel. She told him. Kid ain't dumb, she knows when somethin's off," Happy said, shaking his head as he sat down heavily on the couch. "Want someone tailin' her for a few weeks. Get a prospect or some shit watchin' her in case those dumbass frat boys are dumb enough to retaliate."
Kozik nodded again. "Sounds like a good plan."
And it did sound like a good plan. A great plan…until he got stuck with the task. Kozik followed the piece of shit Honda Angela drove at a safe distance, but he was pretty sure she knew he was behind her. She was driving too fast, erratically as if she was trying to lose him. He was no prospect, though, and kept up with her at every turn. Out of nowhere, she turned into a divey bar Kozik knew all too well. This was not going to be good.
He slowed down his bike, watching as she slammed the door to her car before striding confidently into the bar. On a sigh, he parked his Dyna and waited a minute or two before heading inside himself. He spotted her the second he walked into the bar. She was standing at the corner pool table with a guy who was more interested in her chest than the pool game and was way too old for her.
"What can I get for ya?" the bartender asked as Koz chose a seat where he could watch her every move.
"Get me a double," Kozik ordered, tilting his head to the side as he watched Angela stupidly miss a shot and giggle as if it was the funniest thing ever. A sense of dread filled him; she was hustling the guy and the big meathead had no idea. The dumbass had two balls left against her five and in one turn, she kicked his ass. Kozik cringed as she held out her palm to take the guy's money, her flirtatious smile gone.
Then, the guy grabbed her arm, hauling her into him, spewing some hate and throwing around every offensive term for women he could think of. Kozik jumped down from his stool, ready to interfere when Angela swung her leg out, catching the already tipsy guy behind the knees and sending him to the ground before putting her booted foot on his neck. "Now, is that any way to treat a lady?" she asked, loud enough so that Kozik and everyone else in the bar could hear her.
Kozik understood what she was doing now. This was a display of power. She was showing him that she didn't need a bodyguard. Her eyes locked on his as she stood back up, tossing half of the wad of cash in her hand back at the poor sucker. She smirked at him, pocketed the cash, and headed back outside.
The guy on the floor got to his feet, taking a step towards the door. Kozik was on him in seconds, pinning him to the wall. "You go after her again, and she'll be the least of your problems," he threatened.
The guy's eyes flicked to the patches on his cut then nodded exaggeratedly; the Sons were well known in these parts. People knew better than to mess with them. "S-sorry, man. Didn't know she was with you."
Kozik pulled him back and shoved him back against the wall harder this time letting him crumple to the floor in a heap before he headed outside. Angela leaning against the old Honda, waiting for him, a smug smirk on her face. "Hey stalker," she greeted, her kohl lined eyes shining with mischief. She hadn't been out of Oakland long and was still rocking the chola make up.
"The fuck was that, kid?" Kozik asked, gesturing back to the bar. "You could've gotten yourself killed!"
Angela shrugged a shoulder. "But I didn't. Stop following me, Kozi," she warned with a glare before getting in her car and speeding off leaving him speechless. He chuckled at her tail lights, shaking his head at her. Kid had balls; he had to give her that.
Angela's badass side doesn't get to shine too much, so I thought I'd throw this piece out there to show it off a bit. She is Happy's cousin, after all. She knows how to defend herself. ;)
As always, let me know what you think!
~Love Ink
