After I finished applying the last of my makeup, I pulled my hair out of their curlers. I wasn't going for a Shirley Temple look, so I used large curlers that would help to give my hair body and bounce. It's how I always styled my hair when I wore this ivory sundress with colorful flowers covering the skirt. For some reason bouncy curls always equated femininity to me. And today I was really going for the girl and feminine look.
When I went back to my room to grab my shoes, I let out a sigh of relief that JC was still asleep. He hadn't slept well during the night, but Nero had warned me that could happen. He had been so restless when he was actually sleeping that I finally moved to the couch so I could try to get some rest.
Thankfully, with my hair and makeup done I was able to hide the fact that I barely slept. I really wished that I could blame my lack of sleep on JC, but my mind was racing so fast that I couldn't silence my own thoughts long enough to get a proper sleep. I got so nauseated a couple of times that I barely made it to the toilet as my dinner rose up my throat.
I hadn't eaten anything more than a couple of pieces of toast for breakfast because I was worried about having a repeat of last night. No one could pull off looking confident when they were running to the bathroom to lose their lunch.
At the front door I checked my reflection one more time. If nothing else, me being dressed up like this should help to shock some people into silence. All I had to do was make sure that I had the right words to fill that silence.
XXXXXX
When Juice woke up, he was reluctant to open his eyes. His head was pounding but he knew his hangover would have been much worse if Mia hadn't made sure to keep a supply of water beside the bed throughout the night. He owed her big time and he could only hope that she gave him a chance to make it right with her.
He reached out a hand to grab one of the four filled glasses from the night stand. But his hand didn't find a glass. No, instead his hand hit the corner of an envelope that was propped up against one of the glasses.
His eyes flew open and somehow the bright day light didn't affect him. The only thing he could focus on was the envelope that had familiar block letters that spelled out, "JUAN CARLOS".
XXXXXX
I smoothed down the front of my dress and check my makeup in the driver's side mirror one last time. I could kill for a cigarette right now… or a half dozen shots of any type of alcohol available, but I knew I wouldn't enjoy them even if they magically appeared right now. No, for this I needed to be completely sober.
Plus, the butterflies in my stomach probably wouldn't allow anything like that to settle in my stomach anyways. Yeah, now was so not the time to test my constitution. Although… it might be a fun option if things didn't go my way.
"Hey there, Gorgeous. Why don't you let me explore your garden?"
I turned my head to find the would-be Romeo. He whistled then said, "Even better than I expected."
I smiled at him then said in the sweetest voice that I could fake for my reply of, "Fuck off."
"Excuse me?"
I continued to smile, a bit more easily now, then said, "I'll slow it down for you. FUCK… OFF…"
"You stupid bitch!"
He took a step towards me but stopped when he felt my Colt Mustang XSP pocket pistol press into his groin. Did I mention that one of my favorite things about this dress was that it has pockets? The skirt was so full and billowing that it was beyond easy for me to conceal my small firearm in its pockets.
"If you don't want to lose your dick, you should turn around and walk away now." He glared at me and opened his mouth to say something stupid, but I didn't let him get the words out. I pressed the gun harder into his body and quietly asked, "See that guy over there?"
He turned his head and noticed Dad watching us from the now opened door of Scoops. "Yeah. I hear that he's psychotic."
My lips pulled back into a cruel smile. "True. And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"Holy shit."
His eyes got comically wide as all of the color drained form his face. As the realization of my relationship to my dad hit him, he raised his hands up in surrender, so I eased my pistol back a couple of inches.
"Alright. Now you're going to turn around and continue on your way while I do the same thing. But if I ever catch you harassing any young ladies in this city… hell… in this county, I WILL make sure you're only singing soprano. Understood?"
"Y-yes, Ma'am."
"Good." I slipped the gun back into my pocked as I took a step back. He didn't move, so I lifted my left hand and made a shoeing motion. "You can go now."
He then turned and almost tripped over his feet as he made a hasty retreat. I took a moment to check my hair and makeup again before I crossed the street. Dad immediately wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head as soon as I got within arm's reach.
"Good job, Baby Girl," he praised while my head was resting on his chest. "How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good."
He pushed me to arm's length and made no effort to hide his annoyed scowl. "Maria?"
"No, really, Dad. Dealing with that asshole helped to calm my nerves."
He smiled proudly and said, "That's my girl. Alright… Are you ready?"
"Yes. Please don't give me time to think about it or I'll get nervous again."
"Okay. They're ready for you, so let's go."
He wrapped my left arm around his right and lead me to the stairs. They were too narrow for us to walk side by side, so he shifted our arms so that we were holding hands. I followed him up the stairs and tried to take in slow, deliberate breaths to try to keep myself centered.
At the door, he kissed my cheek then quietly said, "Break a leg, Baby Girl."
"Thanks, Daddy."
He knocked on the door while giving my hand one more tight squeeze. Rat opened the sliding window and then opened the door. Dad had already released my hand, so he made his way to his chair as soon as the door opened. He had already warned me that he would have to do that so that I could stand strong on my own. I knew he was right, but that still didn't stop me from wanting to have my Daddy by my side while I addressed the club.
Eight set of eyes focused on me as I took in a couple tentative steps into the room. I nervously cracked my knuckles before I forced myself to drop my hands to my sides. I felt really silly about being so nervous because these men were my friends. No… They were my family and I knew they all wanted the best for me, so this really shouldn't be that big of a deal.
Yeah, right.
"Mia? Happy said you have a proposal for the club?"
I turned my attention to Jax's face and answered, "Yes, Sir. But first… Bobby… I'm so relieved to see you here… I'm glad you're going to be okay."
He bowed his head at the neck, quietly saying, "Thanks, Beautiful."
I turned my attention back to Jax and sincerely stated, "And I'm sorry to hear about your family. I wish I didn't have to do this now, but… but…"
"It's fine, Mia," Jax cut in. "I appreciate the sentiment, but why don't we cut to the chase?"
"Right… right… Sorry." I took a couple of seconds to center myself and then I started my latest pitch.
"Someone once said that after everything I had done for the club that I could do whatever I wanted. (My eyes shifted to Bobby's face and we shared a smile.) That was after my first kill. Then after my second (my left hand unconsciously moved to where my second skull tattoo was healing with the other one on my left hip) I was told that I should be considered an honorary member of the club. I feel that I've been an asset to the club and done a lot for all of you, from expanding one of your businesses to helping to keep it profitable after the explosion. I also know I have more kills under my belt than some of the people sitting at the table and I've never asked for anything… except the truth about the man who… who violated my home. Even then it was Eli who told me the full truth, not anyone in this room. Sorry, Chibs."
"It's alright, Luv," Chibs replied so quietly that I almost didn't hear him.
"But today I'm here to cash in my chips and ask the club for that favor I've been told I'm owed. I… I know a few of you have been worried about JC… err… Juice lately and I have to confess that him acting out and being distracted is mostly my fault. After Clay was arrested, I caught… No… That's not important. But… he was making some bad decisions and I told him that I needed to take a break because I couldn't watch him do it. It was stupid of me to do because all that did was hurt both of us. But he took me back and… and… (I turned to make eye contact with my dad as I tearfully said to him) I'm sorry, Daddy. This isn't how I wanted you to find out." I accepted the box of tissues Rat was offering me and dabbed at the corners of my eyes with one. "But I'm… I'm pretty sure part of the reason he to me back is that… that I told him… that… that… I'm… I'm… pregnant."
I paused there while I watched everyone digest that information. Well, everyone but my dad. I didn't have enough courage in me to witness his anger.
When the soft murmur of voices fell silent, I continued, "I know that once you decide someone can't be trusted, the club takes care of it. So… my plea to you today is to let JC leave the charter and come with me…"
"Go where with you?" Jax asked when I trailed off.
"I've… I've been offered a job in Scottsdale… I would… Where I would run the garage. And… I'm really hoping to start my family with JC there because I can't do this on my own. I have no idea how to be a mother and I need my partner with me to figure all of this shit out. Please, let him leave the club and Charming without hurting him or maiming him. I need him by my side because I can't… WON'T do this on my own."
"So, what you're asking is for us to let Juice leave the club so you can decide if you should move to Arizona together?" Jax asked in a pensive voice.
I shook my head then answered, "No. Sorry. I misspoke. I'm moving to Scottsdale, that's already been decided. What I'm asking from you guys is if I'm going alone or not."
"What does that mean?" Bobby blurted out, concern dripping from every word.
"It means… I would like for you guys to allow JC to leave with me and our baby. We won't bother the Sons anywhere ever again. Uhh… Except for Dad. I'm not that cruel, I want him to be a part of his grandchild's life. But if you ultimately decide that JC is too big of a liability and can't be trusted and… that you want to deal with him… like you have others, then… well… I'd like to know before my appointment in two days."
"Appointment? Appointment with whom, Mia-Luv?" Chibs asked.
I kept my eyes fixed on the carving on the table because I knew I could be looking at anyone, especially my dad, when I answered, "Planned Parenthood." There were a couple of gasps, but I ignored them and continued, "Like I said, I can't raise a baby on my own. So, either we go with the father of my baby or I go alone. I'm sorry that I'm placing this burden on you guys, but I know that JC's fate is in your hands, not mine. He LOVES this club… And he's sacrificed part of his soul for it… more than once. Please, let him leave the club. Please, let him be the partner I need him to be." I raised my eyes then slowly retreated to the door as I added, "I'll… I mean… I know you might want to discuss it, so I'll leave you to it."
I then turned and hurried out the door before anyone could say anything to try to stop me.
XXXXXX
Happy pushed his chair back prompting Jax to ask, "Where are you going?"
"I'm removing myself… Conflict of interest." He then noticed that Jax was going to try to argue with him, so Happy added, "You all know my vote. I don't think Mia should be left alone right now."
Jax nodded then replied, "Right… of course. Go… Go ahead. I'll proxy your vote."
Once Happy was out the door, Jax turned to the table and said, "So the vote put forward to us is if we're going to allow Juice to leave the Sons or not."
"Don't you mean whether or not we'll give Mia the green light to have an abortion?" Chibs asked sounding like that thought made him physically ill.
"That's one way to look at it," Jax remarked sadly.
"Actually," Rat chimed in. "I don't think it's her unborn baby that we have to worry about the most."
Everyone at the table turned to stare Rat down, but it was Tig who barked out, "Explain!"
Rat jumped in his chair and stumbled slightly over his reply, "It's… it's something… something Mia said when… when she and Juice were broken up."
"And what the hell did she tell you that none of us know?" Chibs asked in an effort to get Rat to get to the pint faster.
"She… uhh… When I asked her why she hadn't been with anyone when we all know she could have her pick of pretty much any guy on the planet she… she said that she couldn't… because she fell in love and only Juice could fill the hole in her heart. I'm not saying it should influence anyone's vote, but… but she was… not herself and that was just when they were broken up, I… I don't even want to imagine how she'd feel or what she'd do if he was dead."
"Alright," Jax stated as he brought everyone's attention back to him. "Let's discuss."
XXXXXXX
I turned when I heard footsteps following not too far behind me. When I saw my dad, my tears started to fall. I ran up to him and threw my arms around him as I remorsefully cried out, "I'm so sorry, Daddy."
"It's okay, Baby Girl."
"No, it's not," I countered through my tears. "I should have told you last night. I… I don't know why I chickened out."
"Shh… That doesn't matter." He guided me over to one of the booths. Once I was seated next to him, he dabbed at the moisture on my cheeks with a tissue. "What I want to know is… how far along are you?"
"Just shy of six weeks."
"Okay. I know you like your vices, have…?"
"I saw a doctor the day I got my stitches out. I haven't had a cigarette since my face was cut and… and I pretty much cut out all alcohol at the same time so that I would have less complications with my… face. The doc I saw was really happy with my condition. She said that I was really lucky because a lot of women would have lost the baby after a brutal attack that I survived."
"Of course, he or she made it through that. They're going to be strong and tough just like their mom."
"I'm glad you think so. I think their mom is just a scared little shit whose more than likely going to fuck them up than anything else."
"Maria…"
Dad cut himself off when he heard the bell ding at the front door opening. I pulled out a couple of the tissues I had pocketed and covered my face so that I could muffle my tears. This was insane. Why did I think that I could come here and influence the club's decision? All that it felt like I had done was hurt my dad. I mean… really, I didn't even have the decency to tell him he was going to be a grandfather in private. Talk about being the world's worst daughter if I ever did see one.
When I felt my dad move out of the booth, I lowered the tissues to investigate. He hadn't said anything, so I guessed that that could be considered a good thing. Then again… Dad could slip into psycho killer mode at the blink of an eye and he usually didn't make a show when that transformation happened.
Once I had the tissues pulled away from my eyes the first thing I noticed was JC walking through the door. Dad was marching up to him and I almost cried out to warn JC because I was sure that Dad was going to slug him. But suddenly I was shocked into silence.
Dad did march up to JC, but when he raised his arms it wasn't to him JC. Instead he wrapped him in a tight hug. JC stood frozen with his arms hanging limply at his sides because he was as shocked as I was that Dad wasn't out for blood right now. I was sure that Dad would want to geld JC if I ever got pregnant out of wedlock, but like he was prone to do, Dad surprised me.
And I don't think I was the only one. JC's head snapped up and his eyes locked with mine. I'm sure we were both wearing the same expression when we heard that noise.
Was…? SHIT! Was Dad crying in JC's arms?