Holly helped Chucky clean up the ice cream shop that Hale was letting the club use as temporary headquarters, bending down so she could clean out the freezers. She was gonna set them up with actual ice cream and candy and stuff so they'd have a cover. She looked over when she heard Jax call for her.
"Ready to set up that meeting?"
"Yeah. let me wash my hands. I'm covered in bleach and dust."
"Can I just say you look hot today?"
"You're only saying that because I'm wearing shorts and a crop top."
"No. You always look hot."
She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she walked back to wash her hands. She came back out and went upstairs, grabbing her phone and dialing her uncle's number while Jax called Rourke.
"Holly. How are you?"
"Sto bene, zio. You ready to talk with the Kings?"
"I need some more assurances about this, Holly. They blew up your clubhouse."
"That was the act of one rogue member who's going to pay for what he's done. I wouldn't suggest this if I didn't believe in it, zio. This will be good for everyone involved. I have faith that this will work. But I'm not gonna force you to do this."
"This isn't just a favor is it?"
"Of course not. I hate when I have to ask you for favors. No matter what they are. I wouldn't bring this to you or the family if I didn't think that this would benefit you. I know this is big and I've asked to be kept out of family business, more than wanting you all to successful, my family's at stake here. I would do anything for those I love and care about. You know that."
She bit her lip as she looked at Jax, who had just gotten the council on the phone, hearing Dante sigh deeply.
"Ok. Let's get this over with."
"Alright. Jax has the Kings on the phone. Rourke, you on board?"
"Aye."
"Zio? You with us?"
"For you, Holly. But because you spearheaded this thing, I want you taking point on this."
"Ok. But I'm not an actual member. I'm just an old lady taking care of her friends and family."
"Don't sell yourself short, lass. Even the most loyal old ladies out here, with the exception of Fiona, aren't as involved in business as you are. I trust ye, lass."
She couldn't help but blush as Jax held her hand, squeezing his hand lightly.
"Ok. I've got the club with us. We have a couple new members so I have to bring them up to speed."
She looked over the table at the guys.
"Thinking over everything that's happened lately and knowing Jax's plan to bring the club out of guns, I came up with a plan. The Kings have their gun business but need someone to sell to. My mother's side of the family is mob. My grandpa is sick and reaching his end, so my uncle's working and biding his time until he can step up, which will be soon. He's looking to expand a bit and they need guns."
"Which'll open up Europe to the Kings."
She looked at Tig, nodding a bit.
"The plan I came up with was to have the Kings sell to my uncle and the family. They'll get more money with the mob than they would with us, my uncle will the firepower he needs and we'll get out of guns like you've all voted for. In exchange for Gaalen, I told the Kings that I would call my uncle and see if he would go along with it. So that's where we are. This meeting is to set up boundaries and list demands and limitations."
She looked back at the phones, sitting back in her seat.
"Before you two start talking, I need assurances that Gaalen is on his way to us."
"Aye. We finally got him to come in. He admitted to the bomb sent to your clubhouse was because he was pissed at you and Jax. We told him that we were sending him Stateside for a recruitment mission. He should be in Cali by afternoon tomorrow."
"Alright then. Connor and your guys will be placed on a plane tonight. A friend of the club has a jet he's putting them on."
"Thank you for not killing them."
"I told you before, Rourke. I never wanted war. That was Gaalen's thing."
"Aye."
She laced her fingers with Jax.
"So the club's hope for this deal is to get the heat of guns off their backs. My hope is that this will be a peaceful relationship. My uncle's a bit apprehensive about this, Rourke. I told you that he's particular about who he trusts."
"He's not alone. We are too."
"I'm glad not alone. A hazard of the business."
"Aye."
"Jumping right into it, what kind of firepower we looking at?"
"Little bit of everything. Some of our guns come from all over. Some are our own make."
"I'm gonna want to see them before I make my decision. I want a buffet. From small handguns to things you can't smuggle in a purse."
"Aye."
"How about instead of sending him alone, go on that recruitment mission with him. Gives you a couple extra days to get everything together before you come down. Use the usual place so my uncle can test out the hardware and make his decision."
"Sounds fair. We've got a shipment coming in tomorrow. We'll get together some samples."
"It'll have to be this weekend. Dad wants to see his piccola colomba before he goes out."
Holly couldn't help but tear up when she heard that, closing her eyes softly and sniffling lightly.
"Sembra che io abbia molto da cucinare."
"Sì, lo fa. Porterò anche quelle immagini."
"Béarla le do thoil. Nó beidh muid ag smaoineamh go bhfuil tú ag iarraidh sabotage a dhéanamh."
"Sorry. We're talking about family stuff. No sabotaging. I promise."
"We'll be on a jet Friday morning. Puts us in Cali Friday night."
"How about we meet Saturday morning? 10?"
"Sounds good to me. I'll let the family know."
"To us too. We'll let the council know."
"Ok. Thank you, gentlemen. And Rourke? Stay in the line. There's something else I wanna run past you."
"Aye, lass."
She said goodbye to her uncle and hung up before taking the other phone and went downstairs, sitting down at a table.
"You still there, Rourke?"
"Yeah we are, lass. What do you need?"
"I was wondering if you could bring Fiona and Kerrienne with you when you come in. It's not in exchange for anything. Filip's birthday is coming up and I know how much he misses them. I'm sure they miss him too. And now that Jimmy O's gone, it'll be safer for them to travel."
"Aye, lass. I'll give them a call."
"Thank you. And Maureen Ashby, if it's not too much trouble. She played a huge part in Jax and I getting our son back and I never got to thank her for that."
"You're a good girl, lass. I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks again, Rourke."
She hung up and ran the phone back upstairs, handing it back to Jax.
"Everything ok, babe?"
"Oh yeah. Just had a couple questions. Had nothing to do with club stuff. But I gotta go. I promised that I'd pick Venus up and bring her to see Nero before dropping her off at the house. She's gonna watch the kids for me today while I'm at work."
"Ok. And hey. Good luck today. You'll have to let me know how it goes."
She smiled and nodded at him before looking over at Opie when he asked what was going on.
"Today's my first court date. Rosen recommended me to someone. Some girl's been in an abusive relationship for the last four years and is now pressing charges. She just found out she's pregnant, asked him to sign over his parental rights and he put her in the hospital after telling her that he was gonna take the kid from her. So that put more charges on the list. To include child abuse and attempted murder. Which always gets people feeling sympathetic. Even without the new charges, I had this case in the bag."
She smiled at the guys before kissing Jax and leaving, heading up to Diosa and smiled at Lyla when she walked in, saying hi to her goddaughter, Luna, kissing her head.
"If you're looking for the tranny, she's in Nero's room."
"Her name is Venus. And thank you."
She knocked on Nero's door, walking in when she was told she could, hugging Venus.
"You're looking good, sugar bear."
"Thank you, V. So are you. You ready to go? I spent more time with the guys than I meant so I'm running a bit behind."
"Yeah. Let's go."
She drove Venus to the prison, paying her way in for visiting hours, going back with her to see Nero. When they saw Nero, she smiled and got up to hug him tightly.
"You doing alright, Nero?"
"I'm doing fine, chiquita."
"I brought a friend who really wanted to see you."
She let Venus and Nero sit and chat, grabbing something from the vending machine watching her friends from the wall, going over after a while when Nero motioned her over.
"What's up, papi?"
"Do me a favor, Holly?"
"Anything."
"Ask Jax to help Venus out? She's got a problem that I can't help her with while I'm in here. But it's a big thing. It's a family thing."
"What is it?"
"It's not my story to tell, chiquita."
"Alright. I'll call Jax today before work."
She looked at Venus before getting up, both women hugging Nero goodbye. She drove Venus to the house, glad that Jessica was still there, introducing the two before looking at Venus.
"Jessica's gonna stay with you so you have some help with the monsters. She knows all of their allergies and quirks and stuff, so you don't have to worry too much about anything, but just in case she has to step out or something, I have their allergies listed on the fridge along with the foods they like and don't like. I keep it up there incase we have a new sitter or someone from out of town watching them. Abel, Tommy and Valentina have their chores that they have to do and don't trust them when they say don't have to do their chores. But, like I said, Jess is here to help you out."
She smiled when Tommy ran over, picking him up and kissing his cheek before bringing him and Venus into the living room and introducing her to the kids before getting their attention.
"You'll all be good for Jess and Venus and be nice to Venus, right?"
"Yes, mommy."
"And what has mommy told you about people who are different, Tommy?"
"They're people too."
"So what are you gonna do?"
"Be nice to her and not make fun of her."
"Good job. Mommy has to get ready for work. Play nice."
She kissed them all before patting Venus' shoulder.
"I'll call Jax while I get dressed."
"Thank you, sugar bear."
"Anytime, V."
She went upstairs to shower and get dressed, calling Jax.
"Hey, babe. How're the kids?"
"They're good. I promised Venus that I'd take her to go see Nero today and when we went, Nero asked me to ask you to help Venus. I guess she's got some family drama that requires some muscle. So I told him I'd call you."
"Yeah. What's going on?"
"I don't know. And I don't have time to find out. I'm running behind."
"Ok. She at the house?"
"Yeah. She and Jessica are gonna watch the kids."
"Ok. We'll go see her. Love you."
"Love you too."
Jax looked at Venus, listening to her tell her story and explain why she needed the club's help. He felt for her and could understand why Nero asked for Jax's help.
"I know you and I are not destined to have much in the way of friendship after what happened between me and our mutual girl, but I am quite literally at your mercy."
"Hey. What happened is in the past. Holly and I are past it and doing better and you mean a lot to her and Nero. Therefore, you mean a lot to me."
He hugged Venus back when she hugged him, looking at her when she pulled away.
"You can't tell Holly about the child porn shit. She doesn't handle that kinda thing so well anymore."
"Not a word. She seems happier than I first saw her."
"She is. A lot happier. Still going through some shit, but she's doing good."
"That's really good. She's got the kind of soul that could change the world."
"Yeah, she does."
"Are you two any closer to getting married?"
"Not yet. I feel like I'm making her empty promises."
"It'll happen, Jackie."
Holly stormed over to Jax when she caught up with the guys, having gotten a call from Chibs, who called about some legal help. She ignored Barovsky and went over to Jax, who looked over at Chibs.
"I thought we agreed to keep her away from this?"
"It was the only way to clear Venus of this, Jackie. She said she wouldn't do anything until she knew everything."
"Don't yell at him."
"After what happened with the Ghanezi brothers, you get why I didn't tell you about this, right?"
"Of course I do. I'm not mad at you."
"Please stay out here?"
"Not a chance in hell."
She went inside with Venus, taking a look around as Venus went over to check on Joey, tearing up at the pictures of all of the kids and babies on the wall, swallowing the bile that rose in her throat, looking back at Jax.
"Go outside, babe. You don't need to see anymore."
"If I'm gonna be able to clear Venus from this shit, I need to see everything."
"Babe? Nothing's gonna happen to Venus. We're gonna get her and son out and away from this shit. You stay here and you're just torturing yourself. Please go outside."
Holly didn't get the time to say anything or move at all as Venus' mom and her friends came into the space. She glared at Alice as she talked to Venus, listening to the old bitch saying shit that nobody should say. But what made her go from angry to sad was seeing the effect that Alice's words were having on Jax. Watching him tear up made her want to cry. She looked at him after he shot Alice in the head, making him look at her, cupping his face gently and wiping his tears away.
"Our kids will never grow to hate you. You didn't force them into anything. You have gone to the ends of the earth and back for Abel. Those kids mean the world to you and you mean the world to them. Don't you ever let some hell bent heart try to change that for you. Our kids love you just as much as I do. As the club does. And that will never change. I can promise you that."