Chapter Seven

Blowing Smoke Dispensary

Jaycee

Smoke swirls all around me as I clam bake the back office. We've been closed for five hours and that's exactly how long I've been back here self-medicating with pot and whiskey. I cannot handle feeling at the moment. Not when I know what has happened.

Jax has called a few times. I can't bring myself to talk to him. Chibs has called more than a few times. He has left text messages and voicemails as well. I won't be surprised if he comes here after a while. He never did know when to leave me alone.

Shaking my head I put the roach out and take another drink straight out of the Jack Daniel's bottle. Opening one of the desk drawers, I pull out my old smartphone. See, we all use burner phones when doing business because they can't be traced. This one is my personal phone. The one I used to carry with me before the club decided I was valuable to them.

Going into my gallery I go through all the photos. Many of them are of me and Juice just playing around. Some of them even date back to the week we met. It's bittersweet to see the man I've loved for years look so young and carefree. So different than the way he was the last couple of years.

Flashback

" What are your plans for the future? "

" Being in the MC. Maybe get married and have a few kids. What about you? "

" I honestly don't know... I'll be around, of course, I just don't know what I'll be doing. "

" Maybe you'll be my old lady. "

" Boy stop. We're just friends. "

" I know we're just friends... Right now. We don't know what might happen a few years from now. "

Present

Setting the phone down I angrily wipe the tears from my eyes. Even when Chibs and I were a thing, I never once forgot about this conversation. Over the years we kind of let the thought of " us " go anyhow. It hurts because now that future will never happen no matter how badly I want it.

Not that I ever expected it to happen, but it was always nice to envision a world where there was nothing holding us back. Like our moment back at Wendy's apartment. That was something I never saw coming. I just couldn't stand to see him so broken.

Now he's really broken. And there's nothing I can do but drown my sorrows.

Stockton State Prison

Two Days Later

After holding up at the dispensary for a couple of days, I head up to Stockton for my meeting with Tully. As of this moment, I still don't know what my answer is going to be. This whole situation has been weighing on me heavily.

By the time I'm escorted to the private interrogation room, it's already eleven ten. I was supposed to be here over an hour ago but I got a late start this morning. Don't ask.

The second Tully is walked in his eyes are blazing at me. The guard takes his cuffs off and leaves us alone.

" You were supposed to be here at ten. " He growls. " What took you so long? "

I so don't need his attitude right now. " I was busy at my shop. Some of us have to work for a living you know? "

" So what you're saying is, you can't be bothered to help your MC out? " He asks baiting me.

God, does he ever read the room? " At this point, I honestly don't give a fuck about the MC. I barely give a fuck about this. " I say sassing him.

He then does what I previously thought he was too much of a romantic to do. He pins me to the wall with my wrists over my head. Part of me hopes guards come in and save me, but the other more kinky part of myself gets excited.

" Who do you think you're talking to, Peaches? " He says with his face just an inch away from mine.

His aura is one of danger and I can't lie, I'm not the least bit scared of him. I try getting free of his grasp and it's then he uses his height and weight to overpower me. It reminds me that I'm up against the wall literally. My emotions are running wild and I can't remember the last time I was more turned on.

One of his hands wraps around my throat making me gasp in a different way. Heat pools in the bottom of my stomach and I have to suppress a moan. Damn, how'd he know my weakness?

Noticing the changes in me he grins in my face and leans further in to rub our noses together. " I bet you wish you could touch me right now, Peaches. " He whispers hotly.

" Please. " I beg wantonly pressing my lower half into him.

Anything to get to touch him.

With a sick smirk, he asks, " Please what, little girl? "

" Please let me touch you. " I say not recognizing my own voice.

What the fuck am I doing? My best friend was just murdered and here I am begging a man I don't know to let me touch him. What is my life coming to?

" No. " He says roughly before letting me go.

I reach out ignoring him but he grabs me back up by my shoulders. " No! Sit the fuck down, Jaycee. The time for listening is now. " He says forcing me into the chair.

Okay, I'm definitely going to need a long hot shower after this meeting. Meeting him the first couple of times, I'd have never guessed he could get so... Hot.

" You look like hell, Peaches. " He says in a gentler after looking me over.

Once I get my bearings back I huff. " Gee, thanks. "

" Come on now, baby, I didn't mean it like that. " He says noticing just how tired I am. " What's wrong? "

Putting my face in my hands I grumble, " I've had a very bad week ".

" Aww, that's no good, Peaches. " He says reaching out to take one of my hands. " Tell Ronnie all about it. "

I crack a small smile at his nickname for himself. " I'm just so fucking tired of having to give up every ounce of happiness in my life. "

" Who said you had to? " He asks in confusion.

Running my finger through my hair I huff. " There are specific rules I have to follow in order to be in the position I'm in with the MC. The main one being that I'm not allowed to fraternize with patched members of SAMCRO or any of our sister charters. "

" And you did... Fall in love with a patch? " He ask sounding unsure on whether he wants to know or not.

I shrug my shoulders. " The old pres... Clay, my uncle, saw how unhappy I was. Not that I ever complained about anything... I was just very lonely. No regular guy would ever understand this lifestyle and everyone else around was/is off limits. "

" Go on. " He says wanting to know everything.

Sighing I say, " Chibs, the new vice pres almost died in an explosion. I guess I didn't realize how much I cared about him until then. It nearly tore me up to see him look so broken. Clay must have noticed because he had a talk with me. We held church for a vote to allow the rule to be abolished. I don't think I was ever happier than I was the year we were together. "

He doesn't look pleased with that last part at all. " So if you were so happy then why did it end? "

" Jax. " I say ruefully. " When he became pres he reinstated the rule. The worst part is, he actually convinced Chibs that it was the right thing to do. We've been at odds ever since. "

Tully

Well, well, well. This is some interesting information. I never would have guessed that Jax would stoop that low on his own cousin's happiness. No wonder there's so much tension between them.

" You know... If I hadn't talked to Jax recently I would have sworn that you didn't have a deceitful bone in your body. " I tell her honestly. " Knowing what went down really puts things into perspective, Peaches. My question is, why go against him now and not when he changed the rule back? "

She contemplates her answer for a moment. " I met this skinny, lanky, guy ten years ago. He was quiet, shy even... Whenever I was around his eyes were on me. Not once did he ever approach me. He just watched. It made me want to talk to him. Be his friend. " She says sadly. " After being friends for a while I noticed that he was the loneliest person I'd ever met. An outsider in his own family. Not that he had much of one, to begin with. "

Nodding I say, " so you felt bad for the kid ".

Hell, I feel bad for him. Call it too close to him for me, but I know what it's like not to have any family.

" I felt for him period. I introduced him to the MC and it was like he found where he was always supposed to be. " She says before going quiet for a moment. " Things like this... Betrayal... They don't happen overnight. He was backed into a corner and it was a domino effect. He wasn't strong enough for the lifestyle and it swallowed him whole. "

She feels guilty and I can definitely see why. " So you think the boy should be spared? "

" He wasn't. " She says as a tear flows down her cheek before she wipes it away. " They led him away and I can't begin the think of how and where they killed him. I can't, it hurts too much. "

Damn. I hate it when women cry. Especially over someone's death. So Jax hasn't told her that the rat isn't dead... How interesting. I need to get him back up here to get his side of this little tale. If what Jaycee is saying is one hundred percent true, I don't trust him with her.

Staring her down, I let my eyes linger on hers for a few moments before speaking. " I don't want you going back to Charming. I'm going to call my dog walker and have him take you to my place in Encino.

" Excuse me? I haven't agreed to anything yet. Besides, I can't just abandon my family like that, Ronald. " She says angrily looking sexy as all hell.

Putting my phone up to my ear I nod and wave my hand dismissively. " You will. " I say before Leland answers. " Hey, I need you to come pick up that package I told you about. "

She's going to be madder than a pit bull, boss.

" She'll be compliant. " I say looking directly into her eyes. " Because she understands that I'm only looking out for her. "

Alright boss we'll be waiting for her when visitation is over.

" Okay. " I say hanging up.

Crossing my arms I say, " I can't believe you actually think I'm really going anywhere with your " dog walker " ".

" I told you already, Peaches, you are. " I tell her seriously. " My place is the safest you're going to get from everything going on in Charming. You agreed to the deal. No backing out now. "

I look at the floor stubbornly.

" I'll make you another deal... " I say switching tactics. " Comply with what I want, and I'll give you a piece of information that I know will make you happy. "

She actually laughs at that. " How on earth would you know what makes me happy? "

" Give me what I want and I'll tell you. " I say hoping that her curiosity will get the best of her.

It takes a few seconds but she finally says, " fine. Tell me. "

" Your boy ain't dead. " I say with a shrug.

She shakes her head. " What? Who? "

" Juice? " I ask with a smirk.

Her eyes go wide and I swear tears start forming. " How do you know his name? "

" He got himself arrested. Got here yesterday. I've been trying to make contact with him as per Jax's instructions. " I tell her honestly.

Truth is, I had no idea this guy was her best friend. I'm sure Jax didn't tell me that particular piece of information on purpose. Gonna have to have a talk with him about that soon as well.

" You've got to be fucking kidding me. " She groans. " How is that supposed to make me happy? "

Frowning at her obvious fear I say, " because, baby, I can keep an eye on him ".

" Jax doesn't want you to keep an eye on him. " She says sadly. " If he's in here, my cousin doesn't plan on him leaving alive. "

Jaycee

He looks at me as if he knows that already. Or at least he suspected it. " Jaycee... " He says using my name for the second time. " This war is only going to get worse. I don't want anything to happen to you. "

" Why? You barely know me. " I ask because to be honest, I don't understand why he cares so much.

He ignores the question and asks one of his own. " Why do you keep coming up here to see me? "

" Because Jax asked me to. " I say because at this point I'm not even sure.

He shakes his head. " No lies, baby. "

" I guess... " I start not sure if it's a good idea to tell him anything. " It's because you interest me. "

He leans back in his chair and eyes me down. " What interests you so much? "

" Maybe I don't understand why. " I tell him with a shrug.

His lips purse before he asks, " why what "?

" Why me? You could have anyone you want. " It's true, he's big time and any girl on the outside would jump at the chance of being claimed by him.

Instead of answering, he asks a question of his own. " Did you know that you show your sadness in your eyes? I saw it the first time we met. You were the most beautiful sad woman I'd ever seen. "

Great. I'm an easy read.

" I've never had a family and yours keep letting you down. " He says seriously. " I can't help but think... We could be our own little family. "

This guy is truly disturbed. " What am I supposed to tell them? " Hey I know you've all raised and loved me my whole life, but bye? " They won't accept that. "

" You tell them that your new boyfriend is worried for your safety. " He tells me with a shrug. " I'm not holding you, prisoner, I'm protecting you. Has no one ever done that before? "

That question hits me hard. Sure, I've been protected before... But only after being put in the line of fire in the first place. No one has ever tried to plainly keep me safe from the lifestyle we live. I'm too valuable to the MC as a gunner.

" I guess I never really thought about it like that. " I admit softly.

Grabbing my hands in his, he says, " it's going to be a big change... For both of us. I've never had a woman living at my place. "

" I've never belonged to anyone before. " I mutter not believing what I'm actually agreeing to.

He smiles a truly genuine one knowing he just got his way. " Just the thought of you sleeping in my bed is enough to get me through the next few months. "

Is this just a look into what this agreement has in store for me?

" Is that how much longer you have? " I ask since I've been wanting to know the whole time we've known each other.

He nods. " If I'm a good boy, yes. "

" And if you're not? A good boy that is. " I ask not sure I want to know.

Lord knows I can't handle being a full-time prison spouse. Luanne did it for years and it tore her up on the inside. I can't see myself sticking around if he got more time added on. I'm barely sold on the idea, to begin with.

" Then it'll be longer... " He says with a sigh. " But don't worry, Peaches, you're a hell of an incentive to be a good boy. "

I surely hope so. " It's just... One of the reasons I've never let anyone claim me is I didn't want to end up waiting for some man to come home. "

" When I get home we'll work on your clear lack of trust. " He says not taking it to heart.

I laugh ironically. " You don't even know the half of it. "

" And at some point, you'll tell me. " He says and somehow, I know he's right.