"Alright, your appointment is booked for this Friday. Remember to wear something comfy and keep your skin dry and clean, that's a request from me to you as your artist."
"Whatever you say." Velia agreed nodding as though he could see her
"Are you sure you want a tattoo on your hip and thigh though? The skin there can be very tender."
She laughed and looked down at her left arm, her most recent project. It took her twelve hours and two different appointments, "Yes, this is exactly what I want to complete my side piece."
"Sounds like a plan. I won't turn your money away." He hung up without a goodbye.
She hung up and immediately had to answer the door. Her furniture delivery was here two hours early, and her social battery was already drained.
Swinging the door open she came face to face with a short fat man, "Hello."
"I have a delivery for Velia. So. ko. Iva." his face twisted trying to pronounce her last name
"Yep, that's me."
He gave her a once over with a leary glare, "You bought a lot of shit."
"Yeah. I just bought this house. I kinda needed it."
He rolled his eyes, "Leave the door open, my team will bring it in," then he levelled a hard glare at her, "We don't assemble shit."
Velia nodded and propped the door open before going to busy herself in the kitchen. She didn't know what to do while someone else who was technically working for her was walking through her house.
Did she make small talk?
Ignore them?
Give orders? Take orders?
She had no idea what to do so she washed the counters with invisible stains.
"Where do you want the couch?" a man called, grunting.
"Living room, to the left."
The short fat men grumbled and complained.
She gave directions for almost two hours while the fat one bitched. She had bought a for her three-bedroom home, but with the money, they were getting paid for this job she figured he would be nicer. The other men moved all the furniture without a word.
When they were finished she handed a fifty to each man and then twenty-five to the small one, "I've got twenty-five more if you tell me what your problem is." she held the cash out feeling brave
He looked taken back by her statement and glared before turning on his heel and striding away. The other men followed him out grinning and laughing under their breath.
Velia followed behind to shut the door but when she tried to shut it there was a glory boot in the way.
"Hello!" a soft voice exclaimed, pushing it back open.
A tall woman stepped through dressed in tight blue jeans a black tank top and a black leather jacket.
"Oh! Hello."
The woman smiled and held out a glass foil-covered tray, "I've brought cookies."
"Thank you, that's very sweet of you."
"I just noticed the movers leaving and thought I'd pop over before it got too late."
"Well thank you again..."
"Gemma. Gemma Teller Morrow, my son, Jackson, lives a few houses down."
Velia held out her hand, "I'm Velia Sokolova."
"So where are you coming from?"
"I just moved from New York."
"Wow, that is quite away. Are you on your own? What about your mother and father?"
"I am on my own and my parents are dead." Velia expressed uncomfortably
"Oh, Darlin. I'm so sorry I brought it up."
"It's fine. They've been gone for almost ten years now, but it doesn't seem to get easier"
Gemma wrapped Velia in her arms and ushered her into her own home like She owned the place, "I know how you feel. When my mother passed it was awful. Now my father is on his way out too. It's heartbreaking"
Gemma took a seat on the brand new couch and brought Velia down with her.
"You have to put all these boxes together?" Gemma asked dragging her gaze around the room
"Yeah. It's not a big deal."
"Don't worry about it. I'll send some of my boys over tomorrow afternoon and they'll get all this taken care of."
"No, thank you. I can handle it."
Gemma gave her a look, "I bet there's even more upstairs, isn't there?"
"Well yes..."
"Then it's settled. My boys and I will be over tomorrow and they'll get to work while we go out and have a little girl time"
Before Velia could protest Gemma squeezed her in a hug and was out the door a second later.
Velia didn't know what to do. This woman came in like a storm and took control. Now she had plans she didn't think she wanted and even more, people were going to be in her personal space, touching things.
The idea revolted her, but Gemma intrigued her.
She spent the rest of the night way too uncomfortable for her liking and only ended up putting together her bed frame before giving up.
The instructions were a pain in the ass and the little tools were small even for her own hands. The highlight of her night was the cookies Gemma had brought over. They were chocolatey goodness and exactly what she needed.
That night the couch was better than having to move the bed but not the best for a restful night of sleep.
When the sun came up, she was up. Her back aching along with her neck and the bags under her eyes were so dark she could pass for the undead.
When this happened she knew exactly what to do. Coffee, but because she didn't have her maker yet that meant she needed to go out to get one.
That meant she needed to shower and try to look a little bit more alive.
The last thing she needed was an overzealous nutcake trying to make her into the real deal dead. So she showered, put her hair up and slapped on the minimum amount of makeup to make her look alive.
"There should be a coffee place a few blocks away," She muttered to herself as she dressed in blue jeans and an old sweater that belonged to her brother.
Gathering her wallet and keys she set out for her much-needed bean juice.
The neighbourhood that surrounded her was quiet and beautiful. The trees were lush and children were playing in the streets.
It was everything that she wanted and more. Her dreams did no justice at all. Deep down she knew this was the place for her. Far from the business, she was running after her father died when her brother's bitch ass ran off with some woman he had met at a strip club.
Velia shook her head to clear the negativity from her mind. This was her fresh start. She was positive now, not so pessimistic. Her brother was back now, and he was running things while she was gone.
Technically she was still the boss but maybe one day if he could grow a pair he would take over and she could live a peaceful life without worry. If not she'd put a new man in charge and relocate the business here.
She liked it in Charming. So much so she wasn't even mad when an asshole shoved her leaving the coffee shop as she entered.
Taking a deep breath to center herself she ordered a large vanilla coffee with extra sugar.
"It's a good day. It's a good day. It's a good day." She chanted walking home, but the world has a way of fucking with you
Her phone rang a second later, with her brother's name flashing.
Another deep breath, "What do you want Connor?"
"Is that any way to say hello to your brother? Can't I ever get a hello or a how are you?"
"What the fuck do you want?" She growled, feeling her blood pressure rising
"Fine. G. wants a meeting."
"Why the fuck are you calling me for? Can't you handle this?"
"I tried. He wants 'his pretty lass'."
Velia turned onto her street, "When?"
"Saturday."
"Time?" She sighed, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
"Five am for you I think."
She was almost home now, just a few houses away, "Give him the cell number. You know which one. I'll be awake."
"I'll let him know."
Her house was in view now, but it wasn't the way she left it, "That it?"
"Can't you ever ask how things are going?"
She hung up.
Outside her little house was a small mass of men. Dressed in leather, wearing shit-kicker boots.
"What the fuck." she groaned.
Not wanting to take chances she reached inside her sweater pocket and palmed her knife. They were laughing when she approached, "Who are you?"
They ignored her.
"I asked who the fuck you are," she said louder this time drawing all of their eyes
A blonde stepped forward, "You Velia?" he asked grinning
"Obviously. You're standing in front of my house," She cocked her hip and sipped her coffee, "Now who the fuck are you?"
"Whoa, there Darlin. Gemma sent us."
Velia rolled her eyes when he flashed his grin. The one she knew he used to make women melt or let him in their pants, "That isn't what I asked dumbass."
Still grinning, he held up his hands in surrender, "I'm Jax, Gemma's son," he pointed to the other men, "There, Hap, Opie, Chibs, and a few prospects."
"You're all here to help put together the furniture?"
His men grinned, "Yeah, she said you could use a hand or four, or six." an Irish voice popped in from the mass giving her a wink.
Her eyes found his scarred face grinning at her behind his graying facial hair, "Let me guess, you're Chibs?" she clapped slowly, "Very creative," she gestured to her own face, "because of the scars."
They separated and gave her enough room to pass through only looking a little pissed.
The man she taunted stepped forward and her grip on her knife tightened. When the door was unlocked she let it swing open before looking back, "Well come in. We don't have all day before Gemma gets here."
"I'm already here, sweetheart," Gemma's loud and cheery voice called out from the sidewalk.
Gemma wrapped her in a hug and smiled, "I hope they weren't giving you any trouble."
"Only a bit surprised. I wasn't expecting boys in leather on my front lawn before eight in the morning."
Jax and the Irish one smirked.
"Turns out they work this afternoon so they're here now," Gemma gave her a wink, "Now we can go a bit farther to shop and by the time we're back they should be outta your hair."
"Alright, let's be on our way then. I need a proper tour around Charming." Velia suggested before walking away from her open front door with Gemma by her side
Gemma patted Jax on the shoulder and smiled, "Boys we'll be back around one. Be done by then."
Velia allowed herself to be driven away by a woman she hadn't known for more than a day and left her almost empty house open to nearly ten bikers.
Their cuts had said Sons of Anarchy California. She'd have to look that up later because it wasn't ringing any bells and she liked to know what she was dealing with.
Gemma drove her around town in her Cadillac observing Velia with curious eyes, showing her everything there was to see in the small town. She also showed her her favourite stores where she insisted that she help Velia find new clothes, shoes and tops.
Before Velia knew it she was dressed in a new outfit that pushed her tits practically up to her chin. The shirt was way too tight and showed off her curves.
"Wow, a lot of ink you got there?" Gemma commented, turning Velia's arms over to see it all, "Are they real?"
"Yeah. You get one and all of a sudden you can't stop."
"That's gotta cost a pretty penny. What do you do?"
"I'm a teacher…"
She raised an eyebrow looking doubtful, "Really? Last I heard teachers don't make enough of all this."
Velia blushed and did her best to hide her arms, "I know some people back in New York."
She looked skeptical, "You're not a whore are you?"
A nervous laugh escaped under Gemma's gaze, "You know that's the third time someone has called me a whore since I got here. Four if I count the taxi driver."
"Well?"
"No, I'm not a whore. That's why I'm not too comfortable in this shirt." She explained trying to adjust her breasts to fit
Gemma knocked her hands away, "You've got nice tits. If you're not a whore then at least show them what they can't have."
"Fine. Just this once." She planned to change as soon as she got home
"Come on. Grab your bags, we should go check on the boys before they burn your house down."
"That is the last thing I need to hear, Gemma."
"Don't worry they're good boys." She drove them back to Velia's house chatting about how much she loved her boys and her grandson Able.
"He sounds adorable. How old is he?"
"He was just born about a month ago. He had a pretty bad heart problem and hasn't been able to come home yet."
"Shit. Is he alright?"
She wiped the corner of her eyes, "He's fine just recovering in that damn 'toaster'," she took a deep breath, "I can't even hold him."
Velia reached across as Gemma parked, "That's devastating."
Gemma nodded and gave her a small smile, "Come on let's go in."
They walked arm in arm laughing now when they found 'the boys' sitting around the new table drinking beers they must have brought over and smoked a few cigarettes.
"Finished here?"
"Just about. We needed a break. Those sheets are a bitch."
The Irish one nodded, "Most of it was in Spanish and Juicy boy can't read for shite."
Velia squeezed past them to open the patio door. When she turned her back a hand grabbed her ass, "Lookin good."
Without thinking she reached into her waistband and flipped open her knife to press it under the offending man's chin drawing a bead of blood, "Do it again, I fucking dare you." she whispered an inch from his face as the anger fueled her
The room was silent as they watched her. When no one said anything she left them to change.
"Fuck I knew there was a reason I liked her." Gemma laughed
The room erupted into laughter but Happy was holding his neck looking off to where Velia had gone.
"Damn, Haps you okay?"
"She did get you good."
His heart was pounding in his chest, "I think I'm in love."
More laughter exploded from the group.