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She Will Be Loved

Chapter 65: Fight for It

By Love Ink

Juice was locked into a heated Domino game with Angela when Happy, Kozik, and Jax walked in together. Angela's brow furrowed in confusion as her eyes went between them. It was an odd trio. The two killers and the young VP. They didn't hang out together very often given that Hap and Koz were a good ten years older than Jax…unless Jax needed protection or muscle. Seeing them together put Juice on edge a little bit. Was he in trouble?

"Out, kid," Kozik said dismissively.

Angela raised an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me?" she asked, clearly a little offended by the harsh brush off. It was out of character for Kozik and felt a little forced. Like he was trying to act tough or something. Her dark eyes looked to Happy as if she was assessing whether the blonde was serious or not. Happy smirked but nodded; he wanted her to leave too.

"Please," Koz corrected with a smirk. "We got club shit to talk about."

She hesitated for a moment. Did she sense the danger too, Juice wondered. It felt like he was going to be told off for something, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what. He'd been in the hospital for a few days, what could he have possibly done? He reached out to cover her hand with his own, squeezing it reassuringly. "It's fine. Go 'head."

Angela sighed, slapping her domino down. " 'm gettin' real tired of getting kicked out of this room," she muttered on a frown. "Don't mess with the game. I'm winnin'."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said on a chuckle. Truth be told, he was kind of letting her win. They'd been playing card games and dominoes for his whole stay since Chloe suggested it was a good way to make sure his brain was working. He was honestly getting sick of them. He just wanted to go home. Watching Angela stand, he wondered briefly if she'd kiss him before she left, or if Hap and Koz's presence would deter her. He certainly wasn't going to ask her to like he would if it was Chloe kicking her out. She got up slowly before leaning over to kiss him. It was a slow kiss meant to reassure him, provide him with confidence. And it did. Maybe too much confidence because he found himself not caring at all that her killer cousin was in the room as he swept his tongue into her mouth to taste her.

"That's enough," Happy stated, an edge of annoyance in his voice as he grabbed Angela's shoulder and forcefully pulled her away.

"Funsucker," she muttered, sticking her tongue out at him.

He held up two fingers in response, making a scissor motion. "Best stick that back in before I cut it off."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she replied, rolling her eyes. He pulled her in for a headlock, rubbing his knuckles into her head before gently pushing her towards the door. She left laughing and holding her middle finger in the air.

Juice grinned at her back, still a little drunk off her kiss. She was barely gone for a second, and he missed her presence. Once the door had closed behind her, he turned to the three men. "What's going on, guys?" he asked, trying to keep it light.

"We brought you this," Jax said, setting his laptop on the small table on top of the domino game. "Figured you could work on getting the info from the plate from the drive by."

A surge of excitement went through him; the idea of hacking into the DMV was daunting, but Juice was eager to try. He loved that kind of shit. "Thanks, man. I'll get started on it."

"We also got somethin' we wanna talk to you about," Koz said, grabbing one of the chairs and pulling it to the bed before sitting on it backwards.

"Okay," he replied, starting to feel a little nervous.

"Wanted to thank you. You protected my Ma. She wouldn'ta gone down fast enough otherwise," Happy stated; the most words Juice had ever heard from him.

Kozik nodded in agreement. "End of your prospect year is comin' up fast 'n' we wanted to see where your head was at."

Juice was confused as he looked between them. Had he given any indication that his head wasn't in the game? That he didn't want the full patch? "I'm in. Hundred percent."

Jax set his hands on the foot of the bed. He glanced at the door, shifting from foot to foot as if contemplating how to explain. "I told you before. You get that full patch, club's gotta come first. Before everything and everyone."

He blinked at him for a moment, trying to connect the dots. Kozik smirked, sensing his confusion. "Angela, idiot," he supplied, leaning forward slightly. "When you got the cut, you didn't have her. Day one, she hasn't wanted you in this shit. Word on the street is, one of the Mayan prospects dropped out. Want to make sure you're not thinking that way too."

Juice wondered who'd dropped out. Last he heard from Lino, the guy was all in. What could possibly have made him drop out? Was he okay? And what did Angela have to do with him getting his cut? Did they think he only wanted it to get her? "N-no. I'm in. I want this. I'm doin' the work. Why would I change my mind now?"

"Kid doesn't want it," Kozik explained. Juice didn't miss the way Happy's jaw ticked at the mention of his cousin as if he thought disclosing what Angela thought was crossing a line.

Juice didn't blame him. He kind of felt like he was being told something he wasn't supposed to know. "Did she say that?" he asked. Jax and Koz nodded, but Happy didn't. Whether it was true or not, he was protecting his cousin. Anger slowly started to seep into Juice's blood. How could she do that to him? Instill doubt in their heads about his place in the club. "I don't…she's…she means everything to me but so does the club, and I…I dunno what she told you guys, but I want the patch. I want the family. Think I could really help you guys out."

"We do too, Juicy," Jax assured him with a smirk. "That's all we needed to hear."

Kozik nodded in agreement. "You gettin' out soon?" he asked, getting up from his chair with a grunt.

"Hope so," Juice said on a sigh. "Ready to get back to ridin' again."

"Her or the bike?" Jax asked on a wolfish smirk that earned him a smack from Happy.

For a moment, Juice's mind went to the vision of Angela in the pretty lavender lace panties she'd been in the first time they'd had sex. He had to think of something else. Anything else. He let his mind go to the anger he was feeling towards her. The hurt at her going behind his back to talk to his brothers. "My bike," he answered evenly, feeling Happy and Koz's eyes on him.

"Good answer," Kozik said on a chuckle. His phone went off, and he sighed. "We gotta go. Church time."

"Cool, cool. Thanks for stoppin' by."

" 'course, man. Gotta check in on our future brother," Jax said with a smirk.

He and Kozik started heading towards the door, but Happy stayed back. He stood up slowly from the seat, bringing himself to his full height, his eyes black in the overhead hospital lighting. "Can't be mad at the kid for this," he stated, fidgeting with his rings.

Juice tried to force back his anger and act unfazed. "I'm not," he lied.

"She wants what's best for ya."

"I know."

"I want what's best for her," he stated, a slight threat to his words.

Juice nodded. "That mean you're gonna vote against me gettin' the full patch?"

"No. She'll get it eventually," he replied as he headed towards the door. He stopped just before he opened it though, staring him down again. "Don't fuck it up."

Angela practically ran into her cousin as he walked out the door. Happy grabbed her arms, holding her steady before muttering something to her, kissing her temple, and disappearing down the hall. She shook her head at his back, smirking to herself.

Juice couldn't help but be annoyed at her the moment she stepped into the room. She'd doubted him, given that doubt to his brothers. He'd thought she'd accepted he was going to be part of the club. That she was over being stubborn about it. Clearly, she hadn't because she was telling anyone who would listen that she didn't want him to be a part of it. Her betrayal cut him deeply. Why would she push against something he wanted so badly?

"Hey, they were out of green Jell-O so I…got you…" her brows furrowed in confusion the moment her eyes met his. She could probably see the anger written all over his face. "Red. What's going on?"

"Did you tell Jax and them that you didn't want me to get my full patch?" he asked, getting right to the point.

Angela took a moment to process his words before she exhaled. "Yeah. Might've mentioned it when they asked me. Why?"

As angry as he was, he appreciated her honesty. She could've easily told him no, and he would've gladly believed her. A lie was less frustrating than the truth. "Are you fuckin' kiddin' me, Angel? Why?"

"Because I don't," she replied, her shoulders tensing a bit. "I told you that when you got your cut."

"Why though? You don't think I can handle it? Think I'm weak?"

She still looked confused, though he wasn't sure if it was because of his anger or because of what he was saying. "No. I never said that."

"Then why are you going behind my back tellin' my brothers you don't think I should get a full patch?" he spat at her. "Trying to undermine me just as they're starting to accept me?"

"I never said you shouldn't get a full patch. Not once. In fact, I told Jax it was a great idea!" she exclaimed, her voice a little louder than normal but not yelling just yet. She was cognizant that they were still in a hospital setting, and she could easily be kicked out of the room. "Told him you were smart, and all your computer shit could really help 'em out! I just said that it wasn't what I wanted!"

That should've made him feel better, but it didn't. In fact, it angered him more. What right did she even have to stick her nose where it didn't belong? This was club shit. She shouldn't have any kind of say or power in any of it. "Why? Why is it such a bad thing?"

"Because you're too good for them! You…you should be doin' some smart techy gaming shit, not fuckin' runnin' around dodging bullets! That club life is going to change you, and I don't want to see that happen! I like things the way they are!"

Again, he should've felt reassured by what she was saying. She liked him the way he was and didn't want anything to change that, but he had a feeling she was seeing him through the same rose colored classes she'd had in New York where he only told her the bare minimum. She didn't know the extent of shit he'd done with the Ozone Crew. He hadn't let her see that side of his life back then. "I was dodging bullets in New York!"

"I didn't like that either!" she pointed out.

"Look at Hap and Koz! You don't seem to give a shit that they're members!" he exclaimed, throwing everything he could at her. She had to understand why he wanted this so badly. Had to support him, otherwise they weren't going to last very long, and he didn't want to lose her.

Angela threw her arms out to the side. "I was five when Hap started prospecting! I didn't even know what the stupid Reaper meant! I met Koz when I was seven, and he was already fully patched! What was I supposed to do? Throw a tantrum? I had no say in any of that shit! They all asked me what I thought about you getting the patch! What was I supposed to say?"

"Nothing! It's none of your business!" he insisted. "I got a rap sheet a mile long! Did time in juvie! That techy nine to five bullshit isn't me! I'm not Raj!"

He regretted the words the second he said them. She looked as though she'd been slapped in the face. Her eyes grew glassy as a long silence stretched between them. He thought she was going to leave then. Get angry and storm out to avoid fighting about it, but she didn't. Despite the way she was glancing at the door, she didn't move towards it. "You're right," she rasped, swallowing hard. She inhaled deeply, staring down at her feet for a moment before she let out the breath slowly, her eyes meeting his. Her dark eyes were full of pain but determined as she said, "I don't want you to be Raj. I never did. And if you're thinking that the reason I don't want you to be in the club is because I want you to more like him, that's bullshit. I didn't want you to be part of the club since the get-go, Juice. Even when we were just friends, I told you that. Don't you remember?"

Guilt sunk like a rock in Juice's stomach. He did remember that. They'd fought about it just before she went back to New York. He didn't know what to say to that. Didn't know how to process it. "Angel, I…"

"Stop. Just…listen for a sec. You're right. It's not my business, but when the two men I love and trust the most ask me what I think, I'm gonna tell 'em honestly. I can't lie to them. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have talked to Jax so openly, but I never ever said that you couldn't be a club member. Not once to any of them. In fact, I told them you'd be an asset to the club because you will be. I know that. I don't like it, but I like you. So if it's something you want, and it makes you happy, I'll be there because I want you. Okay?"

Juice wished he could get out of bed and wrap his arms around her. Say he was sorry for getting so upset and doubting her. "Yeah," he replied on a nod. He reached out a hand to her, and to his surprise, she slid her fingers through his. He'd thought she'd run away from the fight, turn cold, but it seemed like she honestly wanted to work things out, and he was thankful for that. " 'm sorry. Shouldn't a come at you like that." He rubbed his thumb over the side of her hand, focused on the way her fingers fit perfectly between his. "I want the full patch, Angel. I want to be a part of the club, the family, and I also really, really want you."

"I know," she told him, squeezing his hand with a little smile. "I get why you want it. I just want you to be safe. I don't want to lose you."

He squeezed her hand back, tugging gently so she stepped closer to him. "Nothing will change the way I feel about you. Trust me, I tried to bury those feelings for five years, and they never went away. Club's not gonna change me. Promise you that."

"Pinky promise," she said, holding her pinky out to him.

He hooked his pinky around hers, pulling their hands towards face and kissing his hand. "You have my permission to punch me if I ever change."

"Careful with that," she said, stretching out beside him. "I might take you up on it."

Juice moved an arm around her shoulders, his hand finding his favorite spot on her hip underneath her shirt. His fingers stroked over the koi fish he knew was tattooed there, even though he couldn't see it. "Thanks for stayin'. Thought you were gonna storm out."

She tilted her head back to look up at him. "Not this time," she said, a serious look in her dark eyes. She laced her fingers through his, holding them both up. "This is worth fighting for. You are worth fighting for."

His heart warmed at her words. It was rare he had someone to fight for him. His father left when he was a baby, his mother was always whacked out on drugs, his sister would try, but even she'd given up on him once he got in deep with the mob. He hadn't had someone who fought for him until he met Angela. "Thanks, Angel," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Now where's that Jell-O?"

Let me know what you guys think! :)

~Love Ink