Thank you to tellmesweetlittlelies, Angel897, Ghostwriter, dots-fiction, and occasional-episode for the recent reviews. Longer note at the end. Enjoy.
Chibs is in a terrible mood. He'd been feeling off that morning since Juice's arrival at the house and the stack of photo's showing off River's real life. Things had only gotten worse at the garage when Kozik accidentally dropped a a very heavy wrench on his hand. Then he'd spent the afternoon listening to Tig and Bobby trade strip club stories before being dragged to the clubhouse to speak quietly with Jax about the Juice's situation and calling River's cousin.
The VP had been calm about Juice's race revelation and Chibs was reassured that the occasionally hot-headed Jax felt the same way about a black daddy as he did. Shite was a load of crap. Still, Juice hadn't looked as relieved as expected when Jax laid a hand on his shoulder and told him to tell the Sheriff to shove it. Chibs hopes the younger man believes them and learns a lesson here. He knows how it can feel to be backed into a corner and Juice certainly still looks hunted. It should fade with time though.
The issue with River's cousin was a different kettle o'fish. Jax was still iffy on the benefits of calling in her family and Chibs knew it was going to take another sit down between them to get him to move on it. Another problem to add to the list.
He hadn't hung around the lot after his shift instead heading for home where Gemma said she'd drop River off. Now he sits on his couch, second beer in hand, trying not to think about the real reason he's in such a temper. River. He's not sure why he cares. She'll be gone one way or another soon but the sight of her clearly flirting with Tig that morning is playing on repeat in his mind.
Chibs is usually an easy going man. He's certainly calmer than most of his brothers and he lives by the saying brains before bullets. He's not even a particularly jealous man. Jimmy O had broken him of that problem years ago. It's hard to maintain a jealous mindset when you've had your entire family stolen and you know there's nothing you can do about it. The thing is, Jimmy O is dead and after being officially released from obligation by his estranged wife earlier in the summer Chibs had finally started to get used to the idea that he could have something of his own again.
The thought had started quietly, with no particular woman in mind. He'd ignored it, letting it grow on it's own. Scared if he faced the idea head on he might realize all the ways it was unrealistic and lose the little piece of hope. It had stayed in place though, the vague thought that he was finally in position to maybe find a woman who was just his. Right as he was starting to get used to the idea River had turned up, a fucking disaster on two legs.
He knows River isn't the answer to his old lady problem. She actually creates a lot more problems than she solves. He's been telling himself for the last few days that there's no point thinking of her as anything more than temporary stress relief but, christ. The sight of her laughing with Tig while the dirty bastard wore that grin had been infuriating. Chibs started winding up as he watched them and then she'd reached out to touch the Sergeant at Arms and it was like a sharp snap.
It hadn't helped when she'd come over to try and talk to him. He'd been an arse but he'd been feeling some hate. He hated how she was still able to laugh after everything. He hated how much her concern twisted up his stomach and he really hated how his heart jumped when she touched him to pull them both around the side of the building.
He'd felt terrible when she'd asked if he was in a mood over something that could get them both killed. The question had shocked him back into perspective and he'd been about to try and explain but they'd been interrupted. Then he'd had all the other club shite to deal with. Now, he's been home an hour waiting on Gemma to drop River off and over the course of a few beers he's managed to get himself worked up again.
It's harder to kill someone you've laughed with. He can still see the words she'd written the morning after the poker game and his hand tightens around his beer. He bets River thinks it's even harder to kill someone you've almost fucked. Is that what she's been doing then? Flirting with him to save her own skin and setting up a backup plan by putting the same moves on Tig. Chibs is just getting to a dangerous peak when he hears the cars in the driveway and he slams the beer down on the coffee table.
He tears the door open just as River raises her hand to knock and he knows his fury is written all over his face from the way she shrinks back. He throws a half wave to Phil still sitting on the curb and yanks River into the house slamming the door behind him. Padding down the hallway he throws himself on the couch and picks his beer back up, taking a long pull from the bottle. She settles in the red chair across from him, dropping some bags at her feet.
He gives her a cold look and his anger grows when he takes in her newly cut hair. She looks good with the dark messy locks tamed and trimmed. A wave of soft dark falling over her forehead in shaggy pieces, the rest evened out and looking intentionally choppy. He takes another pull on the beer and averts his eyes, staring straight ahead. He hears the soft rustle of leather and when he looks back over she's pulled the phone out of her discarded jacket and she's typing.
What is going on?
The phone reads out the words and he can feel a muscle in his jaw twitching. She's the master of body language, little witch should be able to figure out what's going on just fine without his help. Turning back, he takes in her face and he can see confusion and anger brewing there. He drains the last of the beer and it seems to be the just the right move to push her over the edge from confusion into anger. She drops the phone and her hands move in a series of signs. He catches fuck you and where but he doesn't know more than that.
"Aye, well if yeh wanted me friendly yeh should have thought about that before throwing yehself at Tigger eh darlin'?" He's not looking at her when he speaks but he'd forgotten about the auto record on the phone and he hears the little device go off in her lap. He cuts his eyes over to her again, watching as she reads, her face lit by the bright screen. He knows the moment she hits the point because she's on her feet and she chucks the phone behind her into the chair, her hands fly.
Her temper sets off his own and he slams the bottle down jumping up to tower over her. She's still moving her hands and fingers quickly, her entire body on fire with anger. "I can't understand yeh." He's looking into her eyes when he speaks and he knows she read his lips. It doesn't seem to matter because she keeps signing. He thinks he sees Gemma's name in the mix. He's losing the little control he has and if she's going to silently yell at him he might as well yell back.
"Fine yeh mad bloody woman. What were yeh doing this morning huh?" Her eyes flash and she starts up again, hands flying.
"Sucking up to Tig, trying to make back up plans for yer back up plans." He moves closer as he shouts, his accent thick but she doesn't give him any ground. A frustrated groan tears from her throat and she motions between them continuing to sign.
"Yea, and what was that then? The other night more manipulation and twisting. Yeh've got everyone under a microscope, know all our weak spots without giving up any of yer own" He knows he sounds mad, this entire situation is completely crazy. His entire club is on the brink of collapse and he's yelling at a piece of tail that shouldn't mean anything. He tears his hands through his hair. "Yeh using me to save yer own skin? Gonna use Tig next?"
"No!"
The sound of River's hollow voice literally pulls the air out of his lungs. She looks as shocked as him that she's spoken audibly and her hands which had been mid sign drop to her sides. He takes a step back from her and she follows closing the distance again. She seems to be trying to collect herself and she sucks in a deep breath before signing another terse no.
She reaches for him and Chibs ducks away from her hand. She lets out a huff and relaxes again waiting until he's watching her. She points to her chest and then lays her palm flat on her chest before pulling it away, her thumb and middle finger coming together away from him then points to his chest.
"I don't know what yer saying." He's still breathing hard from the peak of the fight and he grinds out the words tightly. She lets out another annoyed breath and drops her hands looking around hopelessly. He lets his eyes drift to his bare feet until she snaps his fingers in his eye line.
She's staring at him and it's the same face she'd worn the night of the poker game. He's being read like a book. Her entire body is still and she's got her eyes locked on his face searching for something.
When she finally moves it's with a speed and grace that surprises him. Taking one swift step forward, she closes the space between them, her hands snagging in his shirt and she uses all of her slight weight to pull him down. Her lips violently colliding with his.
The motion throws him for a loop. He stumbles at first, wrapping an arm around her to prevent a fall. Yanking his head back from hers he looks down at her face. Her hands are still caught up between their bodies and she's breathing hard, a question on her face. He searches her liquid eyes looking for something to hang on to. He can see the anger but it's fading fast and a trace of lust. Mostly she looks nervous and vulnerable, open.
He tightens the arm around her and takes a ragged breath. She must take it as permission because she lunges up on her toes pressing her lips against his again, softer this time and hotter. Her hands tighten in his shirt and he kisses her back. Reaching up with his free hand to tangle his fingers in her short hair. He pulls her bottom lip between his teeth and she makes a soft noise, her body swaying against him as she tries to keep her balance.
He uses her instability to his advantage, tightening his hold on her and angling his head to deepen the kiss. She follows his lead and she tugs at his lip in a way that sends a growl through his chest. He guesses she can feel the noise from the way she struggles to get her hands free, reaching up to twist them in his hair. Her nails prick at his scalp and he slides the hand on her back down to her round arse, pulling her against the growing hardness between his legs. She gasps at the feeling, breaking the kiss.
He tries to recapture her lips but she sinks down on to flat feet, her body rubbing against his as she goes. He's left staring down at her, both of them breathing hard although for a new reason and he doesn't know what any of this means. He eases the hand from her hair down to cup her face, his thumb tracing over the still healing bruise on her cheek. Her irises are blown out and she runs the tip of her pink tongue over her lips.
"Yeh talked." It's the dumbest possible thing to say. Her eyes narrow and she glances to the side in what looks like embarrassment. Chibs takes a deep breath and uses the hand on her face to turn her back to him. "What were yeh trying to sign before—" he trails off not sure how to finish the sentence.
She pulls away and he realizes she needs to get the phone if they're going to talk this all out. He releases her and throws himself back down on the couch. When she moves back to him the phone in hand he catches her with a hand on her thigh tugging her down on to his lap. She doesn't fight him, sinking down and curling up so her back is braced against the arm of the sofa, her legs over his. She fidgets until they can both see the phone while she holds it.
I told you I can talk sometimes.
She's got the device set to silent so he has to read the words as she types. He doesn't mind, he kind of likes reading her words over hearing them digitally.
"I didn't think yeh'd use the skill to yell at me." She watches his lips as he speaks and then looks back to the phone to type. He gets the impression she uses the screen to double check her reading.
You yelled at me first.
When he glances up from the screen he finds her staring at him a pout on her lips. "Aye," he agrees, "I did." He doesn't know what else to say about the entire thing.
Do you really think I'd flirt with Tig to save my life.
"Yes." She would, they both know she would. He knows enough about her now to know that she's a survivor and a careful player used to deep complicated power games. He's pretty sure she'd do anything to save her own life. It doesn't bother him, he likes that she's got a survivors instincts. What had him so worked up earlier was the idea of her flirting with him to save her life. The idea that the last few days had been nothing but manipulation on her part made him want to pull out his hair.
Fair enough. Do you think that's what this was?
As usual she's picked up more than she should have. "This what?" His anger is fading quickly and he can't help his teasing tone or the way his finger dig into her hip playfully for emphasis. She rolls her eyes and lunges forward managing to land a quick kiss to his lips in answer.
This, that, and the other night. We never even acknowledged that happened.
"Aye." His face goes serious, "Is that what this was? Just now and the other night. Yeh trying to trade sexual favors for safety?" She signs back an immediate no and then starts to type.
If I was willing to trade sex for safety I'd have fucked half of the Lobos Cartel in the last three months.
He knows she's joking. She's got her head tilted and that one-eyebrow-raised-look going on that sends the this is bullshit message loud and clear but he feels something cold down slide his spine. He hadn't thought about the possibility of that honestly. Three months trapped with the cartel the odds weren't good on no one trying something with her. Hell, she'd been in their clubhouse ten minutes before the prospect made a move. Chibs wonders if this is the explanation for Gemma's out of character interest.
"Did something happen there?" He pauses to figure out how to put it, "something with the cartel." They're so far from his comfort zone he has no words to ask this question. Her response is immediate. She shakes her head and signs no.
No. I don't know why they were holding me but no one touched me, aside from the occasional smack. I know in some places people are superstitious of the deaf. Parts of the world still think deaf children are possessed. Most of the guards were foot soldiers and only spoke Spanish, they may have thought they'd catch it…
Chibs reads the note and leans back into the couch with a sigh. The superstition is stupid but may have worked to her advantage here. "Yeh were lucky." She shrugs.
The other night, I felt safe when I fell asleep. For the first time in months I wasn't hungry or cold and I guess my body just started trying to deal with other needs. I didn't plan it to try and get you to protect me.
The explanation makes sense and he nods along. "Been a while then?" he teases her again and she shrugs with a small smile.
It can be hard to date when you can't hear and you're in the Family. Not to mention being kidnapped puts a damper on things.
"Uh huh. So what was the thing with Tig this morning then?" Her eyes light up at the question and she types.
At first he was mad and I was trying to help him calm down. Then he was sad his daughter only talks to him for money. It was kindness.
Chibs feels guilt spread through his chest as he reads. He didn't realize Tig was having a hard time with anything outside the MC. "Guess we don't see that around the lot too often." He says softly, she shakes her head.
There's plenty of love in your club but you're all so caught up in everything right now it's stretched thin. We'll call Vinny and he and papa will fix it.
She looks so certain of this last fact and Chibs isn't sure how to explain his conversation with Jax. He settles on the truth. "About that, Jax is worried about what calling will bring our way. Do yeh know what yer cousin will do?" Her lips press into a tight line before she ducks her head to type.
He'll kill them.
That's the problem. If her cousins flies into California and starts a war with the Cartel it could disrupt SAMCRO business or worse bring violence they can't handle to Charming. "That might be a problem." She shakes her head.
Think bigger picture. My family has 100x the foothold the Galindo or the Lobos do in the US. We're integrated into legitimate business in a way they never will be. If we push off the cartels from you in retaliation, we can fill the business gap with half the risk you're taking with now.
He realizes this is her ace in the hole and she's just shown him her cards. If her family could get them out from under the cocaine muling and offer them a similar arms deal while simultaneously removing the Mexican blow back it could change everything. The Irish would be more comfortable with Italians than the Cartel too. Chibs feels his heart pick up at the potential. "Can yeh tell Jackie that? Can yeh actually make those promises?" Uncertainty fills her face and he waits as she types.
Vinny can and I can convince him but not unless we call.
There are a lot of unknowns here but also a lot of possibilities. Exhaustion settles over him and he glances to his watch. It's been a long day and the conversation is taking a heavy turn considering the hot little female body still draped over his. "We'll figure it out tomorrow. Yeh hungry?" She shakes her head and signs no then types.
We only have a few days left.
He sighs, he knows but right now he's been wound up and let back down too many times in one day. He can't force his brain to think any deeper. Certainly not deep enough to sort through the mysterious timeline from Luis. It's the one big unknown still left hanging out there. "I know." He lets out a deep breath, "but I need a break lass. Can we just sit for a mo'" She doesn't bother looking down at the phone to confirm his words and he watches her put it to sleep.
Leaning forward off his body she puts the phone on the coffee table and grabs the remote settling back into his chest with her head tucked under his chin. Turning on the TV she passes him the controls and then twists her hand up in his shirt over his heart. His whole body goes slack and he settles into the soft moment before the storm.
It's not until hours later, after she's fallen asleep curled up against him on the couch that he realizes she never told him what she was signing right before they kissed.
This was a set up chapter and action is going to pick up over the next few. I'm going to try and post daily this week and into next weekend because we're getting a new puppy and I'm trying to get ahead. This story is not finished but I am about 80k words ahead of what's posted so there's a backlog this time to prevent another delay.
I do hope you're all enjoying this. Your reviews and the follows have kept me feeling really positive and I appreciate everyone who is reading. Writing is something I do to escape and I cannot put into words how much it means that random people all over the world want to join me in escaping in this plot with me.
Reviews are welcome but thank you to everyone who's reading!