A cheeky mid-week update? Oh go on then! This is because I've got some wonderful reviews and because I'm now ten chapters ahead! Whoop! Thanks everyone! Enjoy.
Bella had been having a nice night with Matt after spending the day with Quinn and Georgia, he'd taken her to see a movie in Lodi. A horror that hadn't been too bad, then they'd gone for pizza. He hadn't been overly creepy or narcissistic, in fact, he'd been pretty good company.
She had worn the other dress she had brought when she'd gone shopping. A dark blue one that was form fitting and dipped a bit lower at the front than she would usually wear but wasn't obscene. She had seen obscene the previous night.
Now Matt was taking her home. Or that's what he had told her anyway but he was slowing down, the road they were on was deserted, forest lined either side.
"Matt?" Bella asked, her hand going to her purse.
"I wanted to ask you some more about the Sons of Anarchy. See I'd really like to become a member," Matt said, pulling over and stopping completely.
"Erm, well I don't know anything much about that except you have to prospect for a while," Bella said, warning sirens going off in her brain, her heart rapidly beating against her breast bone. Why hadn't she listened to her instincts the night before when he had started talking about the Sons? Why did she never listen to her instincts? Was she defective or something?
"I already know that, I also know you have to do something to catch their eye," Matt said, his eyes shining in the fading light in a way that made her open her purse. "It's gotta be something that proves you're cut out for the life."
Suddenly Matt's hand was in her hair as he slammed her head onto the console in front of her. Her head rang, pain exploded behind her eyes and she felt off kilter. She could feel something running down her face as he forced her back up, the car spinning around her and everything feeling fuzzy.
"No wonder you can run with the big boys, you're a hard bitch to subdue aren't ya," Matt said but she couldn't make out his face as he struck her with his fist. She heard the unmistakable sound of a belt and started panicking, her senses coming back to her slightly as she realised if she didn't get out of here now she was unlikely to. At least with her innocence intact.
She kept her hands down by herside until he leant over her and started tugging at the top of her dress then she slammed them up into his throat as hard as she could. He gagged and Bella went to grab her bag while pushing him off.
With shaking hands she pulled her gun out and turned the safety off. "Get out, leave your keys," Bella insisted forcefully, she was terrified but tried to not let it show in her voice.
"Not happening, you haven't got the stones to shoot me," Matt said, his voice hoarse, his hands still at his throat as he glared daggers at her.
She lowered the gun and shot him in the lower leg. He howled in pain and grabbed the gun forcing it up towards the roof of the car. Bella clung onto it for dear life until one of his hands let go and started tearing at her dress. Automatically Bella loosened her grip on the gun slightly to try and stop him, he yanked the gun out of her grip and smacked her in the head with the butt.
More pain. Blackness, pain, her eyes hurt. Her head hurt. What…? Hands. No, she didn't want hands there. NO. Panic woke her up and she fought like she had never fought before. She scratched, she clawed, she punched, she kicked her foot into his damaged leg.
Finally Bella elbowed him in the temple and he seemed to lose consciousness. She didn't know how long he would be out for and in panic she jumped from the car and started running. Her bag had been under Matt and she didn't want to risk grabbing it. Instead she found herself running down an empty road in just her underwear at dusk with tears streaming down her face.
She ran and ran and ran. Her feet hurt and she could feel moisture on them she was sure was blood, every step was torture, still she ran. Her head throbbed painfully and she felt one of her eyes closing, still she ran. If he woke up now… he could get her, he could reach her. She had to get home, she had to get safe. She cried, wanting her dad, wanting Georgia, wanting the safety and protection of the club she had come to love like family. Still she ran, or more like staggered but she was moving.
Bella wasn't sure how long she had been running for, it felt like a long time, her legs felt like lead and she had cramps, before a pickup truck was heading for her. She wasn't sure what to do. Did she hide, did she ask for help? She knew it wasn't Matt, after all she knew his car almost better than her own by now, but could this person be trusted? She just wanted to get home.
Her decision was made for her when the truck pulled over a little in front of her. A tall man with a long beard and long hair jumped out of the truck. Bella thought she recognised him from somewhere but she wasn't sure where. Still she stayed where she was, ready to run into the woods if she needed to.
"Hey! Are you okay?" The man called, she thought rather stupidly, if she was okay she wouldn't have been running down the road practically naked and bleeding.
Bella stepped back as he came closer.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. I swear. I can take you to a hospital or home," the man said in a calming voice, his hands splayed to look non threatening.
"I want to go home," Bella said quietly, tears still flowing down her face.
"Okay, we can do that, where's home and what's your name?"
"Charming, Bella," Bella supplied as the man shrugged off his flannel shirt and slowly stepped closer to pass it to her. Gratefully Bella wrapped it around herself with shaking hands that she couldn't steady no matter what.
"I'm from Charming too. Is there someone I can call?"
"I haven't got my phone, I don't know anyone's number," Bella said, she didn't know any numbers off by heart but the garages and that would be closed at this time of night. The shirt she had wrapped around her felt rough against the little cuts she had on her body but comforting in that it hid most of her.
"Charming's a small town, if you tell me who to call I'm sure we can get the number somehow," the man said, taking a step closer, Bella jumped back automatically despite thinking the man really didn't mean her any harm.
"Can you find Gemma Teller-Morrow's number?" Bella asked tearfully. She wanted her dad but she was fairly sure that no-one but the club would know his number.
"You know Gemma?" The man asked, his head snapping up from his phone, his eyes intense as they took her in again. She took another step back, getting ready to run.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. I'll call Gemma now. She can tell you okay?" The man obviously had the patience of a saint. She appreciated it even as she watched what he was doing carefully.
The man spoke to someone on the phone who he called Gemma but Bella wondered how she could be certain. Or she did wonder until he stretched his long arm towards her with the phone outstretched towards her.
Slowly she took the phone keeping the man in sight as she took another step back, he was closer now and she didn't want to be afraid of this man. She really didn't. He seemed kind. But she was, she couldn't stand the thought of him touching her or restraining her.
"Gemma?" Bella asked, she could hear the shake in her voice but couldn't control it.
"It's okay baby girl. You can trust Ope, he's family okay?" Gemma said, her voice soothing and comforting, Bella's shoulders shook a little harder. "He's going to bring you back here and we'll take care of everything, alright?"
Bella closed her eyes and held back a sob, she ached everywhere. "Okay," she said, barely a breath. She hung up and passed the phone back to Ope. She realised now where she recognised him from and felt stupid for distrusting him. His picture hung on the wall with the other mugshots at the clubhouse. He was a Son.
"Sorry, about that," Bella apologised, still shaking and crying, she couldn't control or stop it. "I recognise you now, from your picture at the clubhouse."
"Understandable, do you need help in or…?" Ope said kindly.
"Erm… no thanks," She might understand that he could be trusted now but she couldn't stand the thought of his hands on her.
Getting in the truck was a struggle, her legs ached, her feet were torn and her arms would barely support her but she got in. Despite being more afraid than she could remember she held her head high, if she could survive torture from a vampire, she sure as hell wasn't going to let this beat her. With that thought her tears started slowing a little.
"You want to tell me what happened?" Ope asked after a few miles of silence.
Bella thought through the tangle of events that had happened that evening. The flashes of pain and the hands… no, she didn't want to tell this stranger what had happened. That's when the panic hit. She had shot him. She had shot Matt, and left the damn gun with him. A gun that wasn't even hers, but it did have her fingerprints all over it and it was illegal. There was no serial number on it and she still hadn't sorted out her permit. Her breathing came faster as she realised she was probably going to go to jail. She had to get that gun back, she didn't know if it could be tied to Happy but she could not let him go to jail too because of her.
"Hey, hey, calm down, you don't have to tell me, it's okay. Take deep breaths," Ope said, glancing at her with concern on his face.
"I need to go back," she gasped out her chest feeling tight. It felt like she had an elephant on her, it hurt and it was crushing and why the hell couldn't she breathe?
"I'm taking you back, Gemma's waiting for you, remember?" Ope said slowly as though she couldn't understand him or was slow.
"No, I have to go back there," she gasped trying to get him to understand. "I screwed up, I really screwed up."
"Whatever it is, don't worry, Gemma can take care of it for you," Ope said as he pushed the truck faster, getting them further away from where Bella needed to be.
"NO! I need to go back!" Bella said the panic still gripping her tightly.
Ope ignored her and kept driving, she saw the familiar signs as they entered Charming, they would be there in a moment. She needed to get that gun back. Her truck was still at her house but she was sure Georgia or Gemma would drive her. They had to, she had to get that gun.
They pulled into Teller-Morrow and parked up next to the row of bikes, someone was sat on one staring at the sky and smoking. Through her one good eye she couldn't see who.
As the car stopped Bella opened her door and got down as carefully as she could. Her feet burnt against the concrete floor.
Bella looked up to see the figure that had been sitting on the bike, threw the cigarette down and started walking over and then jogging.
"What the hell?" Bella would recognise that deep rasp from anywhere. Happy was in front of her, seeing her shame, she pulled the shirt tighter around herself.
Softly he took her chin and raised her face so she was looking up at him. His dark eyes raged with fire that was at odds with his gentle touch. He swept a finger lightly across her cheek bone that she could feel, even under his tender touch, was bruised and split.
"Who?" He asked her simply.
"Matt," Bella said, feeling pathetic. Happy nodded his mouth set in a line, his touch still soft on her face. "Happy, I screwed up, I really, really screwed up."
"You didn't do nothing girly," Happy disagreed and started leading her towards the clubhouse. She couldn't help her flinch as her abused feet tore further under the rough ground. Happy frowned and looked down at her feet before his eyes got tighter and in one swift movement she was in his arms.
"I did, Happy, I did, I fucked it up," Bella said clinging to him and trying to tell him, to get rid of the panic on her chest. "I shot him, the gun's still there."
"Shit," Happy murmured. "He dead?"
"No, I shot him in the leg," Bella told him, Ope was walking behind them, a frown on his face as Bella buried her head in Happys shoulder so no-one would see her tears again. He smelt good, really good and comforting, like cigarettes, motor oil and something spicy, it fit him perfectly.
"It's all good then. I'll take care of it, don't worry girly," Happy said, his voice soft as he spoke into her hair, his voice showed no sign of strain as he carried her.
"I'm sorry," she muttered quietly. The past week all she seemed to do was cause trouble. And this was real trouble. Trouble that could land on Happy, that could land on the club. It was the last thing she had wanted to do.
"Nothing to be sorry about," Happy said quietly back, his arms seemed to tighten around her a little. "Get Chibs, Georgia and Quinn," Happy instructed Ope. The man hurried towards the clubhouse as Happy kept up his steady pace. "It's gonna be fine, you'll see. I'll sort it out." Bella took solace in his words, said with such conviction that she couldn't help but believe him.
Her dad, Georgia and Chibs came running out of the clubhouse to meet them.
"Oh shite!" Chibs' reaction made her want to giggle for some stupid reason.
"What the fuck happened? Who fucking did this!?" Her dad's roar of anger made the impulse to laugh disappear completely.
"Get her inside Hap, put her in me room, Quinn we need tha story fro' her. Gotta take care o' her first though," Chibs said, taking the lead.
"I know who did it," Happy said fiercely. "We'll go pick him up."
"I don't want a hair on his head touched until we know everything, you get that boys?" Georgia insisted her voice stone cold.
"G-" her dad started saying in a growl.
"No. We need to know everything he did and why then we can make him pay for her," Georgia insisted, her voice reminded Bella of Gemma at her worst.
"I can't go then. I'll kill him," Quinn said, sounding frustrated, Bella couldn't turn her head from Happy's shoulder to look. She didn't want to see his face, she knew she would break if she did.
"Same," Happy said.
"Get her in here, we'll send Bobby and the prospect," Chibs said with a sigh.
Happy laid her down on a bed that was apparently the Scot's, she really didn't want to leave his arms. She felt bereft when he stepped away, all the warmth she'd felt from him leached away and she was suddenly very aware of the men around her as she laid almost bare in a bed. Without realising it she pulled the shirt tighter around her and curled her knees up to her chest.
"Everyone out!" Georgia demanded her eyes focused on Bella.
"Ye want me ta stay love?" Chibs asked Georgia.
"Seeing as you're the closest thing we've got to medical assistance I'd say that was a damn fine idea, wouldn't you?" Georgia snapped at the Scot angrily as Quinn and Happy left the room without a word. Bella thought she felt safer with the two men, but didn't want them seeing her like this. She sat up, ignoring the pain that caused, she didn't want to be laid out vulnerable.
"Aye," Chibs nodded sagely, his eyes taking in her injuries carefully. He left, heading into the bathroom and came back carrying a first aid kit. "Alrigh' love, we'll start cleaning ye face. Ye got anythin' else tha's more urgent?"
"I don't think so," Bella said, flinching away from Chibs as he sat down on the bed next to her.
"Ah, now lass, ye no I'm no gonna hurt ya," Chibs said looking upset at her reaction.
"Sorry," Bella said, feeling ashamed, she knew, she did, that Chibs wouldn't hurt her. She was sure of it. But she couldn't help her automatic reaction.
"Did… were you… raped?" Georgia asked hesitantly, her voice full of anguish. Chibs stopped cleaning up her face and also focused on her.
"I… I don't think so," Bella said quietly.
"What do you mean honey?" Georgia asked softly.
"He… I… erm," Bella took a deep breath, she could do this. She could. "I blacked out or was knocked out. I don't know for how long… when I woke up his hands…" She choked on a sob, she didn't want to tell them. She didn't want them to know, didn't want anyone to know, didn't want her shame out there for everyone to see or imagine.
"Okay honey. It's okay. We can check right?" Georgia asked, looking towards Chibs. Bella felt herself tense. She did not want Chibs seeing her. All of her. She would never be able to look at the man again. It was bad enough he knew…
"There would be some signs, aye," Chibs said quietly and Bella saw his hands were shaking a touch. She wondered vaguely if he'd been drinking.
"So we can check," Georgia said firmly. Bella started shaking her head no. She didn't want to know. She didn't want Chibs to see. No.
"Oh honey, we need to know. If… if he did… there's things that'll need to be done," Georgia reached out a hand and smoothed hair back from Bella's face.
Tears poured down her face as Georgia instructed her to lie down. Chibs put a gentle hand on her leg and Bella thought she might pass out. She jerked away from him. She didn't want him to touch her.
"I can'nee do this love. I'm sorry bu' I can' have tha lass scared o' me," Chibs shook his head and stepped back.
"Right, well then tell me what I'm looking for and wait outside," Georgia instructed.
Chibs sighed but did as Georgia asked, Bella cried into the sheets as he whispered what Georgia would need to do and what exactly to look for.
It was methodical. Georgia was quick and efficient but Bella still cried heavy tears. She still shook. Afterwards Georgia just held her for a few minutes before she left the room. Bella sat up on the bed and wrapped the borrowed shirt, and then the covers around herself.
Happy stormed down the corridor after he had laid Bella down on that bed. His blood boiled, she had looked so fucking small and scared. Anger like he had never felt was flowing through his veins.
He walked out into the clubhouse and the prospect who was in the way flung himself away after a glance. Wise fucking move.
"She okay?" Clay asked.
"No," Happy replied simply. "Quinn wants the guy picking up. Names Matt."
"Her date? Done and fucking done," Tig agreed standing up and cracking his knuckles, murder in his eyes. Happy held up a hand, if it was that fucking simple he would take care of it.
"He doesn't want him hurt," Happy insisted, to looks of surprise and anger. He was sure his girly didn't know how much these guys cared about her. He wasn't surprised though, there was just something about her. Something magnetic. It bugged the hell out of him.
"Hang on-" Jax started saying but Clay cut over the Vice President.
"If that's what Quinn wants, that's what we do," Clay nodded solemnly. "He'll pay. You know he will."
"There's more," Happy said to the gathered men. "She shot him, with a gun he's now got hold of. We'll need it back."
Happy watched as Clay looked around the men, obviously deciding who to send to do the job and who to do it right.
"Bobby, are you good for this?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, I got this," Bobby nodded heavily, his face as displeased as the rest of the men.
"Good, take the prospect with you," Clay said.
The two men left promptly and Happy started pacing. He had his tools in his saddle bags, he was hoping he'd get the chance to use them but he was aware this was Quinn's call, not his. Fuck if he didn't want to carve the bastard up though. He'd make it last for hours, fucking days if he could. The guy would suffer for every bruise, every scratch, every fucking tear that had soaked through his shirt.
Heads turned as Chibs came marching into the room and went straight to the bar where he poured himself a scotch. A heavy measure you'd get in no respectable bar.
"Chibby?" Tig asked in worry. Happy felt his fists curl, what had happened now?
"Lass is fuckin' terrified o' me," Chibs bit out before downing his drink and pouring himself another.
"Nah man," Tig shook his head.
"O' she is, I tell ye," Chibs looked furious.
"What why? You didn't do it to her," Jax frowned.
"She… fuck, he touched her," Chibs said in a tight voice. "Bruises an' shite, yah no, down there."
Happy left, he couldn't listen to anymore. He went around the back where he knew a punch bag hung and hit. Rage took him over. He hit and hit and hit. He was going to cut the guy's flesh off, he was going to pour salt in the open wound and then piss in it. He was going to cut off his fingers one by one. He was going to take the guys dick, cauterize the wound and shove the little pecker down the fuckers own mouth. He was going to take an eye. He was gonna-
"You okay man?"
Happy turned to frown at whoever had disturbed him. He saw it was Jax and he just nodded.
"I didn't know you two had a thing," Jax said, lighting a cigarette and offering one to Happy. He took it and relished the tobacco burning down his throat into his lungs.
"We don't," Happy replied. She was too young, she was Quinn's daughter, he was a nomad and she wasn't a slut or a crow eater. Bella was one you'd have to make an Old Lady. And wasn't that thought both disturbing and a turn on at the same time. He never said he wasn't screwed in the head, in fact he was almost positive he was.
"She trusts you, you care about her," Jax offered and Happy didn't reply. He didn't want anyone knowing his shit but he wasn't about to deny the fact that, yeah, he did care. He knew he liked her, he knew she was hot, but until he'd see her kissing that scumbag the day before he'd never acknowledged he liked the girly more than as a potential fuck and his Prez's daughter. Fuck, after what, eight, nine days in total spent in her presence, he fucking cared? What was that shit? He'd never felt that thing about a bitch before. He'd wanted to fuck 'em, he'd desired them, but he'd never actually cared before. Not to say he was a total bastard towards women, his ma had raised him better, but he didn't actually care. Until now. It pissed him off. He didn't like this feeling bullshit.
He knew exactly what had done it for him too. Those damn doe eyes. The first time he'd met her, in Port Angeles, she'd looked at him like he was anyone else and with a small amount of lust. Those big brown doe eyes had never held even an ounce of fear in them when she looked at him. Even the crow eaters feared him, sure they might be willing to let him fuck them but it was like they were waiting for him to smack the shit outta them too. Not once had Bella looked at him like that. Then he'd got to know the Spitfire, she was a sassy, hot tempered, sexy as fuck, caring bitch. Now he was fucked.
Chibs was back patching her up. He talked about random things, about a Mercedes that had come in with a dodgy transmission, about a ride he'd taken out to Stockton a few weeks ago. Anything. She knew he was doing it to take her mind off things but she couldn't stop thinking. She had always kept her nose out of club business, it was nothing to do with her after all. Heck this was only her third time in the clubhouse. But… she needed to know… if this was what they did… if this is what her dad did…
"Chibs?" Bella asked quietly as he checked her shoulder, it looked like she had torn a stitch or two.
"Aye?" Chibs said softly, his face full of concentration, glasses perched on the end of his nose.
"He… he said," she took another deep breath. She needed to know but she also didn't want to. "He wanted to be one of you guys, a Son. This was to get your attention. To prove he could handle it. You guys… this isn't… I mean… you don't?"
"Tha' little bastard!" Chibs cursed, putting down his tools and closing his eyes. His face was screwed up in anger, she had to keep reminding herself that Chibs would never hurt her. Never. "No lovely. No. You know us. We're not a load o' boy scouts, but we don' hurt women or kids."
"Okay. Sorry… I just…" She couldn't think of a way to phrase it that wouldn't insult the man but she had to know.
"You're safe here with us, lovely. Ya know that," Chibs nodded and went back to finishing the stitches on her shoulder.
"Sorry," Bella said quietly.
"Ye got note to apologise for Bells," Chibs reiterated what Happy had earlier. She still felt bad. Like this was her fault somehow. Matt had seemed so nice though, but if she had followed her instincts? This wasn't the first time she had ignored them and gotten hurt. She hoped it would be the last. "Righ' all done. I'll see 'bout gettin' ya some clothes. You just chill here till then."
"Thanks Chibs," she said as sincerely as she could. He smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her forehead before leaving his room.
"Quinn, Clay," Chibs motioned to the two older men as entered the clubhouse proper again.
Faces set, bodies stiff they joined him at the bar and waved away the crow eater. This was private.
"Bella alright brother?" Clay asked softly.
"Nah, not really," Chibs replied honestly, knowing he had to watch his words with her da there and all. "She's patched up, give her a few days an she'll be back fightin' with Jax over usin' tha lift on her own though."
"Thanks brother," Quinn said, inclining his head to Chibs. Chibs just waved the thanks away. Didn't need it and didn't want it. There was little any of them wouldn't do for the lass.
"Tha' guy. Matt," Chibs spat the name out before lighting a cigarette and wishing it was a joint. He'd left the good stuff at home though and he wasn't touching the shit that Tig got. "This was ta get our attention. Prove he can handle tha life. Scared tha crap outta her thinkin' we were all a load o' rapists."
"Hmmm…" Clay said thoughtfully. Chibs knew that look, their fearless leader had a plan.