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The ultimatum has been made…mistakes have happened…what happens next?
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Chapter 12- Nomad's Code
She put her hand up stopping him, "you take another step towards me and I am going to scream. You want to know why I hung out with Creed last night? Because he is strong, he's safe, he's reliable…all the things you are afraid to be. Why don't you think about that the next time you think of coming to talk to me" she said before rushing out the door.
Creed was standing in the doorway watching her come towards him with tears running down her face.
She walked right into his arms, sobbing in his chest. "Hey, don't do this. Don't cry. He doesn't deserve your tears. Last night was a good night, we had a great time, a great party. I want you to channel that happiness" he whispered in her hair as he cradled her against him, glaring daggers at Noah.
He pushed Katie in the room before turning to face Noah, "you think about coming near her again while I am here, and you are going to be eating your teeth" he warned before following Katie into the room.
She sat on the bed, having listened to everything that Creed said. He walked in and looked at her, "I guess the party was a bust" he said, causing her to laugh and wrap him in a hug.
"I knew there was a reason that I love you" she replied.
The next couple days were really rough and awkward for everyone who knew what was happening at the SMACRO clubhouse.
Creed and Katie were stuck at the hip since Parker left back to football camp. She felt like she was falling, and she was all alone.
After her argument with Noah, she had to pull herself together and see Parker off. He had to leave early so he made good time back to school.
She had her arms wrapped around him with tears running down her face. She was a mess, puffy eyes, her hair up in a messy bun, dressed in Creeds sweats.
Parker had his arms wrapped around her, pressing her harder into him. "I am going to miss you so much. Promise me that you will call me when you get back and I'll call you later" she mumbled against his chest.
He laughed and bent down to kiss the top of her head, "Kat, I love you. I know this week was rough for you with you know who, but I don't want you to give up. You deserve the best things in the world. Don't settle for anything less. You have a big support system behind you, me and Jules included, so don't worry, things are going to work out and if not," he paused and wiped her tears as she looked up at him, "we'll get Creed or Happy to whack him" he said in a fake New York accent.
She burst out laughing and hugged him a little longer before he pulled away and kissed her cheek before getting in the car.
She stood there with her arms wrapped around herself, watching as he left, waving as he drove off the lot. She put her hand up in a wave as he turned the corner and left.
When she turned to walk back into the clubhouse, only to freeze in place when she saw Noah standing at the picnic tables outside the door watching her.
Her tears started again and she hugged herself harder as she walked back into the clubhouse, ignoring him.
He let out a defeated breath and looked up at the sky for guidance. At this point, with all his fuck-ups, he needed some divine help.
Katie ignored everyone who was getting up for breakfast and made her way to the back and straight to Creed's room.
He was sitting at the edge of the bed looking through his phone when she same back in and made herself comfortable in bed.
He turned to look at her amused, "are you going to wallow today?" he teased.
She huffed and threw a pillow at him, "shut up. My best friend just left and now things with Noah are even more messed up than before. I mean damn, am I not worth it? Am I not worth the risk? Why won't he stick up to my brothers. You have no problem with them" she stated, genuinely hurt.
Creed laughed and got up to button his jeans and pull on a shirt and his kutte. "That's because I am me and Quinn is a bitch" he said.
She laughed and threw another pillow at him, "that's not funny" she replied, couldn't keep the smile from her face.
Before he could say anything, his door cracked open, causing them turn to see Abel standing at the doorway, watching the two with curious, suspicious eyes.
"Prez" Creed greeted.
Abel had his eyes on his sister, laying comfortably in Creed's bed. "Creed, can I talk to my sister alone?" he asked coming into the room.
Creed looked at Katie who sat up holding a pillow to her front as protection and nodded. He walked out and shut the door behind him.
Katie sat up further and tensed as Abel sat down next to her. "So, your friend left" he said after a minute of silence.
She gulped and nodded, "yeah Parker had to get back to football camp. He's due back tomorrow, so he's going to drive through the night to get there on time" she explained.
He nodded in understanding, "so, what's the deal with you and Creed?" he asked.
She gave him a knowing look before he put his hands up in surrender and smiled, "I am only asking as a concerned brother who is concerned for you" he stated, trying to defend himself.
She giggled into the pillow knowing that Tommy talked to him on her behalf. "Creed and I have a complicated relationship. Let's just say that he is my best friend who is there for me no matter what for all aspects of what I need" she tried to explain.
He kept his gaze straight ahead and nodded, trying to comprehend what she was saying. He didn't really understand what she was trying to say.
She was watching him as he tried to process what she was saying. She was vague on purpose because she knew that he was going to burst.
She could see his overprotective nature threatening to bubble to the surface.
Abel sat there processing what she was trying to say and knowing the undertones of what she was saying. He could read between the lines.
He closed his eyes and counted to 10 in his head to calm himself down. Before turning to his little sister and nodding.
"That's good that he can be there for you. I am glad that someone will be there for you" he said through clenched teeth.
She couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard, with how happy she was that he was trying to be understanding.
He looked at her with a dubious look on his face, purposely being ignorant. He just wanted to see her happy after her friend left and she looked so sad when he saw her earlier that morning.
She wrapped her arm around his in a side hug as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Thank you" she said kissing his cheek.
Abel smiled and nodded, "I just want you happy Katie. You are different than Tommy and I. You are smart and you have the drive to do something different than what our parents did. I just want what's best for you. You are going places and I don't want anything to stop you" he said, trying to explain himself.
She nodded in understanding, wiping her tears. "I know that Abel. I know that you and Tommy are only looking out for me, but right now, the only thing holding me back is you. I love you, Tommy, mom, dad, the club, everyone. It's my life. This is where I am happy. I promise I am not going to let anything hold me back okay, you just have to give me some breathing room. I know what I am doing" she reassured.
He nodded, "okay, I'll try to back off. Just please try to keep me in the loop and behave a little okay. I am too pretty to have a heart attack" he stated with a straight face.
She laughed and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry, I'll be okay. I grew up with two strong brothers" she said getting up, leaning down to give him a hug, "I have to get to the hospital" she informed him.
He got up looking at her running around the room confused, "I thought you were done with that for a couple weeks while your doctor was on vacation" he asked.
She nodded as she grabbed her clothes and ran into the bathroom, "yeah he is. Dr. McAllister is in Aruba so I don't have anything to observe, but I do have some paperwork to go over for him that I have to go pick up" she explained before standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
"Now, do you mind? I need to shower" she said waving to the door in a shooing motion.
He laughed and walked out, shutting the door behind him. He did not want anyone going in there while his sister was in the shower.
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The guys were sitting around the bar eating breakfast and drinking when they saw Abel walk out and join his brother who was waiting with a plate of food.
Tommy looked at his older brother, trying to assess what really happened in the back room with Katie. "Everything okay?" he asked.
Abel accepted the beer and nodded, "yup, we're all good" he stated, being vague on purpose.
"Is she coming out for breakfast?" Mac asked.
"Why you so interested in my sister?" Abel growled.
"No, she has to get to the hospital to pick up some files or something for the doctor that she was working with this summer while he is on vacation" Tommy explained.
That was all anyone could get out before they saw Katie run through the clubhouse, grab a water bottle and make her way out.
"Bye guys, I'll see you later" she waved on her way out.
She was running late getting to the hospital because of what happened with Noah, so she was trying to haul ass.
"Where you are running off to shortcake?" Creed yelled after her from the picnic tables.
"I have to get to the hospital. I'll be back later, and we can wallow some more" she teased back, turning to walk backwards towards her car.
Creed waved and got on the bike before riding off the lot. He had something to do with his dad.
Quinn and everyone else in the bar felt an explosion rock the ground beneath their feet.
"Fuck!"
"What the Fuck!" the guys shouted at the same time before turning and running towards the far lot to the parking lot.
"KATIE!" the prospect yelled as he ran towards the parking lot, desperately looking for his friend.
Abel and Tommy ran out the clubhouse to see the prospect running, the smoke and fire coming from the parking lot.
"What the hell happened?" Abel yelled.
"Katie's car exploded" the prospect replied looking around the lot for his friend.
"Mac, get the women and everyone else inside and stay there until we figure out where Katie is" Abel ordered frantic.
He was worried about his sister, but his dad wasn't there, so he needed to be in charge and in command mode.
He froze outside the lot looking at the carnage in front of him. Three cars were blown up and on fire, Katie's car was a burning pile of mangled metal.
"KATIE!"
"KATIE"
"KAT" the guys were frantically yelling for her, trying to get their voices heard over the mini explosions and ricochet noise going on between the cars.
"HERE! I AM HERE" Noah heard from beside the burning car, huddled on the ground, covered in soot.
The nomad frantically scanned the lot before he saw her face down on the ground, covered in dark marks and soot.
Sprinting to her, he took her into his arms and crushed her to his chest.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck me" he chanted over and over again, digging his fingers in her hair, cradling her head, pressing her to him, relief washing over his body.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and her whole body shook from the adrenaline and sobs wracking her body.
"Shsh, you're okay. Fuck me you are okay" he said into her hair, digging his face in her neck, breathing her in.
His hands traveling over her back and the rest of her body, searching for injuries. "Jesus Katie. Are you sure you aren't hurt princess?" he asked pulling back a little looking her over, scanning for anything abnormal.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his, softly. "I'm okay, I promise. Just a little shook up" she kissed him again, pressing her forehead against his, breathing him in.
She was terrified when the car exploded, afraid that she wouldn't see him again. That everything was done for good and she wouldn't get the chance to be with him again.
"You scared the life out of me baby" he said, cupping her head, keeping her attached to him somehow.
She smiled and cupped his jaw and pressed her lips against his, "I'm okay. My car exploded" she said looking back at the burning metal.
He nodded, "yeah babe, it did. Come on, let's get you to your brothers" he helped her up and kept an arm around her as they walked across the lot.
Abel and Tommy froze, taking off into a run when they saw their sister. Abel pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her and his brother.
"You okay Katie? Are you hurt anywhere?" Abel pulled away and looked her over.
"No, I'm okay. Just pissed. What the fuck happened Abel? What is going on? Why did my car blow up?" she argued.
"I know Kat, but it's just a car. Fuck! You are safe and not blown to pieces along with it okay? Can we just be grateful that you are okay and then figure out everything else later. We'll deal with it okay. Please, just go inside and I'll call Chloe to make sure you are okay" Abel stated.
"Yeah, okay, just, please be careful" she said to her brothers and the people she loved. They were her family. She didn't want them to get hurt.
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Katie sat in Creed's bedroom in some boxers and her bra as Chloe, Lena, and her mom checked her over and patched her up. Essentially fussing over her.
"Okay, enough moping around. We need to have a girls night. Fifty Shades Darker is what we need" Lena said to everyone.
"I'll make some cocktails" Grace said after helping Katie sit up and put on a t-shirt from Creed.
The girls settled into the TV room. It was far enough from the bar and the church that they wouldn't bother the guys and on the other hand, the guys wouldn't hear.
By the time the guys came through the back, looking for the girls, the ladies were halfway through a pitcher of Pina Coladas. Christian and Anna had gone into the red room when the guys burst through the door.
Creed pulled into the lot and saw the burning car, having heard everything from Tommy what happened. He barely parked his bike before he ran through the clubhouse looking for Katie.
"KATIE" the shout got everyone's attention.
The girls turned to see Creed barrelling into the room. "Oh Creed," Katie gasped, then jumped to her feet from her perch on the comfortable beanbag and ran over to the broody enforcer.
Everyone watched as she threw herself into his arms. Noah growled and glared daggers at Creed and Katie.
"You okay cupcake?" Creed asked her, holding her close against his chest, a mighty fine chest too. His hands were rubbing slow, soothing circles on her lower back, ignoring Noah, who was standing directly behind Katie.
She couldn't see his facial expression, but the two men were facing each other, and Creed had no problem baiting the tiger.
"My car blew up" Katie said muffled against his chest.
It wasn't necessary for her to tell him that. He could see that her car blew up, almost freaked out when Tommy called him and told him to get back to the clubhouse and that her car exploded.
"I got that impression babe. Don't worry cupcake, you are okay and in one piece. That's all that matters. We'll go and get you a new one, the insurance will cover everything" he reassured her.
His eyes never left Noah's, digging the hit where it counts. Creed was the one who helped Katie get her car. He always updated her and fixed it up when he was in Tacoma or Rogue River.
The tension was thick between the two brothers. Creed was baiting Noah and he knew it. "Her name is Katie, use it" Quinn growled.
Creed wrapped his arm around Katie's shoulders, pressing her into him some more, but turning her to face Noah and everyone else in the room.
"Actually, I'm good" Creed said.
Tommy moved between the two of them with a smirk. He knew what Creed was doing, but they had serious things going on that they needed to figure out together. Not be at each other's throats.
"Okay, enough! We need to be on the same page on what happened today. Creed, stop poking the bear and Quinn man the fuck up. Both of you need to work together for this" Tommy bellowed glaring at the two.
"You boys go do what you need to do. We are going to take care of our girl and watch Fifty" Chloe said stepping in, pulling Katie from Creed.
She didn't want to start a war between the two brothers. She knew that Creed was only digging at Noah and teasing him, so she wanted to diffuse the situation.
"What's Fifty?" Abel asked.
"God you don't know anything about women" Tommy teased his brother.
The girls laughed, "It's Christian Grey in Fifty Shades Darker" Lena explained.
It took a minute for the guys to realize what she was talking about. When the guys realized it, they grimaced.
"What the fuck Chlo? The hell are you watching this pansy ass for?" Abel argued.
"Oh, don't worry about us honey. We are fine. You go with the boys and deal with everything. We got everything under control" Mia dismissed her son and the boys.
"Okay boys let's get to Church and deal with this" Jax ordered.
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Abel was pissed when he walked into Church. He sat down at the end of the table, his brother on the right of him, Creed on the left of him, and the rest of the guys filling their seats. The older generation stood around the table.
"Abel?" Tommy called his brother in concern, watching as he rolled his head, cracking his neck.
"Creed" Abel called out, giving him the go-ahead to see what he found out from the wreckage.
"It was Callabrases. I found boot cowboy boot prints in the soot around the burnt cars. The security footage confirms two figures running away with cowboy boots clear as day" he stated.
Abel's blood started to boil. He was sick and tired of these guys coming back from the dead and ruining his day.
"They tried to kill my sister twice. They are going after our families and this time is too far" he stated.
"No shit. I think this is above our pay grade and we need to involve the Mayans" Tommy said.
Abel groaned and rolled his neck trying to decrease the tension. "This is bullshit! These assholes are really grating my nerve. When our parents dealt with this, they went after my mom, kidnaped her and nearly killed her. I don't want that to happen again" he informed everyone.
If anyone of the guys laid eyes on of the Callabrases, they would kill them. There is no doubt that they would kill them hands down. The only one that would be patient and meticulous is Creed.
The younger Lowman was so much like Happy it was scary. He had much more restraint than everyone else did. He would do whatever he wanted, and he wouldn't stop until every last one of them was beyond dead and buried.
"Is there anything else on them? Has everyone heard anything?" Abel asked, looking at everyone in the room, including the parents.
"Pedro, the head honcho has gone quiet. Linc can't get a lead on him, and there haven't been any tracks and evidence on camera or in town. Basically, he has gone underground. Linc thinks that anyone from the Callabrases who a follower is truly has gone into hiding. If anyone is doing anything in their name, then it's probably rogue actions" Creed stated on behalf of the Nomad's and their research that they have been doing since the situation occurred.
"We don't know who a potential member could be or who could be going rogue on their behalf because they are operating in Mayan territory, so I hate to break it to everyone, but we need to rope in Ricky" Mac informed everyone.
Abel was coiled with fury. They needed to better at figuring out who the fuck these guys were. They needed to change tactics at going about these guys. These people had no integrity, no honor. Who the fuck goes after family, women and children?
"Okay, here is what we are going to do. We need the advantage against these guys. We need to find these guys. Tommy, get with Ricky and figure out who the fuck these guys could be. As much as I hate to say it, we need to get the upper hand and the Mayans are the only people who can help us with that. Once we have an idea of who the fuck these people are, then we can start busting heads" Abel ordered everyone.
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With Church over, Noah made his way outside to get some air. He needed a breather after what happened today.
"Jesus she almost died. I could have lost her for real. I am such an idiot" he said to himself as he pulled out a cigarette.
He was so in his own head, staring at the wreckage of the burnt cars, he didn't hear the clubhouse doors open or anyone else come outside.
"You are such an asshole" he jumped when he turned to see Creed standing behind him, glaring at him.
"Jesus man make some fucking noise" Quinn said turning toward Creed, smoking his cigarette, letting the nicotine take over his body.
"You seriously are a fucking moron. Don't think that just because you almost lost her and threw her a smile you get a pass on what the fuck you did earlier today. You hurt her, you fucking asshole" Creed argued.
"It's not like I meant for it to happen. It's just, every time I get around her my emotions are out of whack and I can't think clearly. I don't know what the hell I am doing. Everything is just a mess. What the hell am I supposed to do?" he pulled out a cigarette and took a puff. He needed some nicotine.
Creed helped himself to a cigarette also, "first of all, you need to stop being douche and get out head out of our ass. Then you need to man the fuck up. If you really do love her, then you need to forget about Jax or Abel and claim her in front of the club. You have to help her feel like she is something and that she can rely on you and be safe in your arms" he explained.
Noah nodded and flicked off his cigarette. He knew this all already. Joey had been telling him this and he already knew the needed to man the fuck up.
"Why are you helping me man? What the fuck happened to making me eat my teeth?" he looked over at Creed with a smirk.
The younger Lowman smirked and flicked his own cigarette, "I love her, plain and simple. I love her and she loves you. I want her to be happy and she wants to be with you, so I figure instead of hurting her by kicking your ass, I would help you man the fuck up and make sure she is happy" Creed explained.
"Looking out for each other and helping each other" Noah stated looking at him from the side with a glint in his eye.
"It's the Nomad Code man, I am always going to have your back, but I love her and she comes first, so you either man the fuck up or I really am going to kick your ass" Creed said before going back into the clubhouse.