Later that evening Lola stood in front of a large, Mediterranean style home in Lodi. She waited impatiently for the front door to open.
A large imposing figure opened the door. He looked her up and down a moment before cracking a smile. "Baby girl! Is your uncle expecting you? He didn't mention that you would be stopping by." said Coop, pulling her into a hug. His large frame almost made her disappear.
"Hey Coop. I didn't tell him that I would be coming by. I sort of needed a last minute favor. Is he busy?" asked Lola, stuffing her hand into her denim skirt pockets. She knew her uncle was a busy man, but she needed information about the Sons. Lola figured he'd be her best bet. "I could come back later on if that would be better."
Coop said, "Come on in. He's busy, but I'll let him know that you are here to see him." Coop allowed Lola into the house. He locked the door behind them and led the way to the living room. "Have a seat. We all heard about your wedding being canceled. You need us to fuck him up?" asked Coop with a smirk.
She watched Coop as he turned several locks on the door. Now that was security, thought Lola. She had a seat on a large sectional and chuckled softly. "No, I want Jared to be in one piece so that he can move on with his life and I can move on with mine. Besides, I am the one that canceled the wedding."
"You should have stuck with the brothers..." said Coop chuckling, as he walked out of the room. He walked down the hall to a home office and knocked on the door before entering. He looked at T.O. sitting behind his desk and said, "T.O., your niece, Lola, is in the living room. Said she needs some kind of favor..."
T.O. nodded at Coop. "Alright..." He stood up from the desk and walked out into the living room with a smile on his face. "Lola! Come here and give your uncle a hug."
Lola smiled stood up hugging him. "Hi. Coop said that you were busy. I won't take up much of your time... I promise."
"You know I always have time for you. What are you still doing in the area? I thought you would have been headed back to Santa Barbara by now." said T.O. as he released her from the hug. He had a seat on the couch and patted the seat next to him. "You doing okay with this whole wedding thing?"
"Sara and I are just really enjoying Charming right now. We decided to stay on a little longer. We might stay the whole summer actually," said Lola. She had a seat next to him on the couch. "I am fine. I am more angry at myself for not seeing Jared for who he was sooner. Everyone knew he was a loser except for me. I am just happy I get to start fresh." She paused, then added, "So the favor I need to ask you. And I don't know if you will be able to help anyway. What do you know about the Sons of Anarchy?"
T.O. got a surprised look on his face. "Why do you want to know about the Sons?"
"A friend of mine hooked up with a guy in Charming and... I guess I am just trying to figure out what she is getting herself into before she is in too deep." said Lola.
"A friend?" asked T.O., quirking an eyebrow at his niece. T.O. was the President of the Grim Bastards MC. He knew the Sons very well. In fact they were allies in most situations. "Would this friend happen to be you?"
Lola said "Hypothetically, let's say that it is me." Lola didn't feel comfortable divulging Sara's personal business.
"Then I would say that I want you to go back to Charming, pack your bags, and drive home. The word through the grapevine is that there was a drive-by shooting at their club today. I have always told you that I wanted you far away from this life. That means the white clubs, too." said T.O. "What guy are you seeing?" asked T.O., not liking this situation.
"I know how you feel about me being involved with bikers. But I feel like I really have a connection with this guy. I am here asking how dangerous it is and if you think that they are good men overall. That is all I am asking..." said Lola trying to be respectful as possible.
"Don't go getting your hopes up, Lo. Whatever this is... it won't turn into anything serious. The MC world is a very segregated place," warned T.O.
"But what about Catorce? He's Mexican right? He's a member of the Grim Bastards. And Juice is Puerto Rican, and he is a member of The Sons," argued Lola.
T.O. quirked an eyebrow at her. "You're not stupid, Lola. You know very well what I mean. And since you brought up Juice... I am guessing that is the Son you are seeing?"
She flashed a smiled and said "I am not seeing anyone. I swear. It literally is a friend that is seeing Juice. You remember my friend Sara? You met her when I graduated from undergrad."
T.O. relaxed considerably and smiled. "Yes, I remember her. Nice girl. Alright... I will tell you everything you want to know. The Sons are good people. They have been friends to the Grim Bastards many a time. I don't know a better bunch of men other than the ones I share a patch with. They care about the town they live in and the people that live there. Most of them have families. But at the end of the day... their lives are dangerous. A club member's wife was killed a couple of years ago. Another club member's wife was found beaten to death. A Prospect was murdered. The Vice President's infant son was kidnapped. They have all done time. Recently, I think 5 or 6 of them went in at the same time. Bikers sleep around with the hanger-ons that drift in and out of the club - especially if they don't have an old lady. And if you aren't an old lady and you are hanging around the club, any member can push up on you if they want. I want you to give Sara the same advice I gave you - stay away from this life. It isn't for good girls like you. You two should be marrying men that have a 9 to 5 and don't get shot at on a sunny Saturday afternoon."
Lola sat there a little stunned as she tried to take in everything her uncle was saying to her.
Around 8:00 that night Sara knocked on Juice's door.
Juice opened the door and smiled at her. "I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten lost on the way here. Come on in, babe." He spotted a shopping bag dangling from her hand and asked, "What's this?" Juice locked the front door once Sara was inside and led her into the kitchen.
"I stopped off at the bakery earlier, before it closed, and bought dessert. I hope you don't mind. I picked up chocolate cake." Sara took the cake from the bag and set it on the table. She smiled as the scent of dinner wafted through the air. "Whatever you are cooking smells amazing, Juice."
Juice put a sheet pan of garlic bread in the oven before walking over to her. "Thank you for picking up dessert, Sara, but you didn't have to bring anything. And, thanks. I decided to make lasagna after our conversation earlier. Do you want something to drink?" asked Juice walking over to the refrigerator. "I have beer, wine coolers, and soda," he said, grabbing a beer for himself.
"Well, I thought it was only right that I bring dessert since you were making dinner for the two of us. I am glad that I did, especially now that I know that you went to all of the trouble to make lasagna. Which, just happens to be one of my favorite meals." Then she added with a snicker, "You drink wine coolers?" She thought that was a very girlie thing for a badass biker to drink.
Juice quirked an eyebrow at her giggling. "No, I don't drink wine coolers. But I figured that you might. You are a girl after all. So what do you want to drink?"
"I'll take one of those wine coolers that you bought just for me. To be honest... I am not much of a beer drinker." said Sara with a small grin.
Juice walked over and handed Sara a wine cooler. "I figured that you weren't. The other two nights you put back more tequila and whiskey than beer." He leaned in and kissed her on the lips before playfully smacking her on the ass. "Now that you are done laughing at me maybe you could set the table?" He nodded his head in the direction of the plates sitting on the counter.
Sara giggled when he slapped her on the ass and said "Hey! Watch it! You break it, you bought it. Sure I can set the table." Sara thought it was rather romantic that they were going to sit at the table together to have dinner. She couldn't remember the last time she had been on an actual date. Most guys just wanted to take you out for coffee or drinks. Sara took a swig from the wine cooler bottle and picked up the plates and silverware with her other hand. Sara walked over to the small table situated in the breakfast nook and set the table.
Juice chuckled. "Why do you think I am making you dinner? I am putting a down payment on it." He winked at her and pulled the lasagna out of the oven to rest before it was served. Juice took a swig from his beer and grabbed the bowl of salad walking over to the table with it. "I was wondering if you were going to show up tonight," commented Juice as he watched her fuss with the placement of the dinner plates and salad bowls.
Sara paused for a moment and then stood up looking at him. "I can't lie. I thought about running after what happened this afternoon. Where I am from you hardly ever have a murder. And if someone is killed it is usually a car accident or a fight between drunken friends or family that got out of hand. To go from that to bullets whizzing by your head... it takes some adjustment."
"What made you decide not to run?" asked Juice, walking closer to her and wrapping his arms around her waist. That afternoon he had raced over to the hotel once Clay didn't need him anymore. He was afraid that she would be gone by the time that he got there. Getting shot at usually sent most women in the opposite direction.
"This..." answered Sara in a soft voice, pulling him tighter to her. "When you showed up at Lola's room and put your arms around me. I don't know... it just made me feel... safe. I know that sounds crazy because we've just met each other but..." Sara didn't know how to finish that statement so she didn't.
"You are a beautiful girl, Sara. I just... I don't want you to wake up one day and regret your decision. When it finally sinks in what my life is really all about," said Juice. He let her go and walked over to the stove bring their dinner over to the table.
Sara was a little stunned by Juice's comments. She had a seat at the table and took another swig from her wine cooler. She waited until Juice was seated at the table with her before she said, "I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know how any of this is going to turn out a month from now, a week from now, hell - even a day from now. But in this moment... I just want to enjoy being together... whatever that means." Sara served herself some of the salad and lasagna.
Juice smiled at her and said "That's one way of looking at it. I am happy that is your decision. So how long are you going to be in town?" Juice had been putting off asking that question all day. He knew that Sara had to go back to Louisiana, but he certainly wasn't ready to see her go. These last few days had been amazing.
"Well, it is interesting that your brought that up. I was talking to Lola this afternoon and she suggested that we stay in Charming for the summer. I have to admit I like the idea of being able to spend more time with you," said Sara with a smile.
"I'd like that too." said Juice, returning the smile. He couldn't believe his luck because, usually, he didn't have luck when it came to women. He mostly met girls looking to ride the hog. Which was fine, of course, but he also wouldn't mind something long lasting. And looking at Sara he felt like they could be long lasting.
"I'll probably fly back to Baton Rouge in a couple of weeks to pack up the last of my stuff and have it trucked out here. That is - if I ever hear back from the sellers on my offer." said Sara making light conversation. She could see that Juice was in thought over something. "Everything okay?"
"Sure... everything is fine. I just wanted to remind you... if anyone mentions anything about the shooting today. Don't say anything. I had you leave for a reason. Sometimes the cops like to hassle the women that hang around us. It is better if they don't know that you were there," said Juice, reaching across the table to take her hand.
"I won't say anything, Juice." said Sara sincerely. "So, what is it like? You know... being in a motorcycle club?" She was curious after all of the things that Lola had relayed to her.
"It's a family. I love being part of the club. I started out just hanging out at the club getting to know the guys. Then, after a while, I became a prospect for the club. Essentially a fucking a lackey that the guys got to pick on. But you go through it because you know that you are going to be a part of something bigger if you make it through. And you get to look forward to busting the next chops of the next prospect. We've got a couple of guys now that are prospects. I am a sponsor for one of them right now. I didn't think we'd have prospects after... what happened." Juice had been so sure that Sack's murder would have scared other young guys away from the club.
"Oh... you mean the prospect that was killed?" asked Sara.
Juice raised an eyebrow. "How did you know about that?" he asked curiously.
Sara said, "Oh. Lola told me about a prospect getting killed. After what happened this afternoon at the club, she decided to find out from her uncle what the Sons of Anarchy were all about... if you guys were good guys. I was a little shook up after what happened."
"I guess I can understand that. Getting shot at coupled with me tossing a guy off of a building has to leave you wondering what kind of man I am. I know today wasn't really your best introduction into the club, but in a couple of days we are having a party. If you are in town, I'd really like for you to be there."
"I know what kind of man you are to me and that is what matters. But it was nice to hear from an independent source that you are a good guy. And, sure, I'd love to come to the party. I haven't been to a real party in a very long time. Although somehow I figure a biker party is going to be different."
Juice laughed, then paused for a moment. He asked, "Lola has relatives here in Charming?"
"Oh no, Lola doesn't have family here in Charming. But she has an uncle in Lodi. She said that her uncle knows the club pretty well. His name is T.O." said Sara.
"T.O.? As in president of the Grim Bastards?' asked Juice.
"Yeah, that is him." said Sara.
Juice just nodded. Then he said, "So you haven't said much about your family. What are they like?"
"My mom is a nurse, and my dad is a fisherman. I have an older brother, Archie. He's a marine. I have a younger brother, Zeke. He's still in high school. Our life was a slice of Southern Americana. Church and family dinners on Sunday. Soul Food. Creole Cookin'. Football on Saturdays. As normal as can be really. Then I went to college in Michigan. Go Blue! The winters were rough though. What about you?" asked Sara.
"I grew up in Queens. I have three sisters. Two older and one younger. Broke my balls every moment of everyday. I always joke that I didn't know what it was like to have brothers until I joined the club. My dad worked for a brewery, and my mom owned a little restaurant not far from where we lived. Nothing fancy just a place where people came to get good food."
"So that is where you developed your cooking skills, hmm?" asked Sara with a smile. "By the way - this lasagna is delicious. You really outdid yourself. You will have to let me cook for you sometime."
"I will take you up on that offer," Juice replied.
They had a quiet dinner and dessert together talking about their lives back home. After cleaning the kitchen, they settled in the living room to watch a movie together.
Juice and Sara were cuddled up on the couch together when his cell phone started ringing. He picked it up and looked at the caller ID. He looked at Sara. "I've got to take this call, babe." He kissed the top of her head and stood up with the cell phone. He walked out of the room and went into the kitchen.
"What's up, Opie?" asked Juice.
"You need to get over to the club now. Tig just got shot outside of his house. He shot back, killing a Nord. Clay wants you to do whatever you need to do to find out where the hell Darby is staying right now. That Two-Face looking motherfucker. We'll be waiting on you." said Opie, hanging up.
Juice said "Shit..." He shoved his phone into his pocket and walked back into the living room. "Sara, I hate to do this to you, but I've got to go. There are problems at the club. Do you think you can make it back to the hotel okay?"
Sara nodded and said, "Of course." Sara stood up, slipping her shoes back onto her feat and grabbing her purse. "Be safe, huh?" said Sara as she leaned in and kissed him. Then she added, "Call me later."
"I'll walk you out." said Juice. He grabbed a black duffel bag from the closet and then picked up his gun. "Alright, let's go." said Juice. They walked out of the house toward Sara's car. He thought he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Juice had only moments to react. "Get down!" yelled Juice knocking Sara to the ground and covering her body with his own for the second time that day. Gunshots rang out in the silent night air. The car was gone in a matter for seconds.
Once the gunshots stopped, Sara tried to move. "Juice?" Sara's inquiry was met with silence. "Juan? Say something!" yelled Sara. She rolled his body off of hers and saw that he was bleeding. "Oh! Oh, God! Juice!" Her hands went to his chest trying to stop the blood from pouring out of his chest. Sara felt like a chicken with her head cut off. "Juan please... say something!" cried Sara as tears slipped down her cheeks.