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(Holli's POV)

Matt had taken off as I lay on the floor silent. I was afraid to move, I had never seen him this insane and I wasn't sure what else he would do to me.

It was over. I had nothing left for this man. I knew it was over a while ago, but this was the icing on the cake. Grabbing my wrists and arm were one thing, he just beat the shit out of me. I wasn't sure what he would do once he found out I was leaving him, but I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

I knew I should go to the hospital. My nose was probably broken and I should really have my ribs checked out, but I just couldn't show my face there. If any one saw me like this they would make me report it and right now that's the last thing I want to do.

(Juice's POV)

I looked at the clock on the microwave, 8:03. I was getting read to head to the clubhouse for the party. We were celebrating Jax and Tara's engagement. It was going to be one hell of a night, we haven't had a good SAMCRO party in a while. Being in Stockton kind of fucked that up.

I heard the light tapping on the front door. If I was in the other room I probably would have missed it, it was so light. I wasn't sure who it could be, it seemed kind of early for Holli to be knocking.

I tossed on my kutte and headed to the door. As I swung it open I saw her sitting on step with her back to me.

"Early one tonight, eh Hol?" I tried to make light of the situation.

As I saw down next to her I noticed she had her hair down, not in its usual mess on her head, and it was hanging over her face. I lifted my hand to her face and brushed her hair back behind her ear.

"What the fuck?" Was all that came out when I saw her face. It was one big black and blue mess. She had dried blood on the corner of her lip and on the tips of her nostrils. The hand print across her face was a bright, blood red.

She didn't speak, she just sat there and stared blankly at the ground. I noticed a small duffle bag sitting below her feet. I didn't even need to ask her what happened, I already knew the answer.

"C'mon, let's go inside." I was afraid to touch her, I wasn't sure what other parts of her body were battered and bruised.

She stood up, I grabbed the small bag, and she followed me inside. I led her to the couch and sat down next to her. I knew Matt was getting handsy with her, but I never imagined he would have gone this far.

Before I could say anything she spoke up. "He beat me up, Juice. We didn't even argue. He made a comment about me helping the club this afternoon, I tried to change the subject. I didn't want to fight. The next thing I knew he was hovering over me and the blood was running from my nose and my lip."

I reached over and placed my hand on her knee. She wasn't here for our usual encounter, she needed real help this time.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?"

"He kicked me. I don't know why he went off the deep end. Before you, I was true to him for over a decade. We never used to fight like this. I'm done, Juice. I left him. I didn't know where else to go. I don't have anywhere to stay."

I tried to keep my sigh of relief silent. She needed to get away from him, but I know how guys like this operate. He won't just settle for her leaving.

"You can stay here as long as you want to. But, we need to tell the guys, especially Jax and Opie."

She sobbed, she knew we would have to but that was like signing Matt's death certificate.

"We also should probably get you checked out. You cold have a broken nose or broken ribs…."

She cut me off "I can't go to St. Thomas. Too many people, too many questions. Plus, they'll make me file a police report and I refuse to do that right now."

"Ok. Well then how about Tara, she can check you out at the clubhouse."

"I'm not ready for the guys to see me like this, especially since everyone will be there tonight. They'll wonder why I haven't told them sooner." I could tell she just didn't want to leave the confinement of these four walls.

I moved closer to her and gently wrapped my arm around her shoulders. The anger and hatred that filled my body was indescribable, but I had to make it subside. Holli needed comfort and protection right now.

"Please, Hol, just let Tara check you out. I promise as soon as she is done I will bring you back here." I didn't want to push her, but she really needed to be patched up. "We'll take your car."

I pulled her up by the hand and led her out the door. I knew the only way I was going to get her out was by taking the lead.

(Holli's POV)

We pulled into T-M and my heart began to race. Seeing all the bikes parked in a row made me nervous, nervous because I knew I was going to have a lot of explaining to do, especially to two very pissed off men.

Juice was being so sweet and caring. I felt bad for unloading all of this onto him. He didn't need this drama in his life, the shit storm that I had brought to him that first night I showed up at his house and started all of this.

I watched him make his way around the front of my car. He opened the passenger door and reached for my hand.

He laced his fingers with mine and I felt his warm breath in my ear "It will be ok, I promise." It was like with those words my tense body knew to ease a little. He made me feel safe.

Juice had wanted to call and give Jax a heads up that we were coming and what was going on, but I insisted he didn't. I didn't need them to pounce all over me the second I stepped through the door.

I tried to cover my eyes with my big Ray-Ban Aviators but I knew the second someone laid eyes on me they would notice my bruised and battered face.

I took a deep breath as I followed Juice through the door.

(Juice's POV)

I instructed Holli to head back to Jaxs' old dorm as I tried to find Jax, Opie or Tara. I spotted Tara mingling in the crowd.

I pushed through the crowd of people that had already gathered for tonight's festivities and finally reached her.

"Hey. I need you for second, can you come with me?"

She furrowed her eyebrows and gave me a questioning look, but followed without asking any questions. I knew if Jax noticed she was missing he would come looking for her and I wouldn't have to search him out.

Tara followed me into the room. "What's going on?" She noticed Holli sitting on the bed with her head in her hands. I started to talk when Holli uncovered her face and took her sunglasses off.

(Holli's POV)

"Oh my god!" I heard Tara gasp as her hand flew to cover her gaping mouth.

She approached where I was sitting on the bed gently, almost as if she thought I would break just by getting close to me.

"What happened, Holli?" She took a seat next to me, examining my face closely.

"Matt." That was all I needed to say for her to know exactly what I meant. I knew I wouldn't need to go into detail. Tara had her own experience with an abusive boyfriend in Chicago before she came back to Charming, although it wasn't nearly as violent as mine had become.

I hadn't noticed Juice had left until I heard the door open again and saw Jax and Opie follow him in.

"Jesus Christ" they both said in unison.

Juice spoke up "I tried to take her to the hospital but she refused, so I told her you had to check her out, Tara."

She just nodded at him before looking back at me. "I need to know where he hit you and if you have any pain or discomfort."

I could see the rage in Jax's eyes and I knew that if Matt wasn't out of Charming by now, he would be removed involuntarily.

I looked back at Tara. "Just a slap on the cheek, he did punch me and I heard my nose crack but I'm not sure if it's broken. He kicked me in the ribs, they are pretty sore."

"I have to go grab the first aid kit since my med kit is at home. I think we'll just tape you up, but I won't know for sure if you have any broken ribs unless you have x-rays done." Tara was trying to convince me to go to St. Thomas in her own subtle way. I wasn't having any of it.

"I just need to rest, I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow." She just nodded in agreement and headed out the door.

"How long has this been going on? He didn't just hit you tonight out of the blue, Hol." Jax sat next to me as Opie moved in front of me. Juice just faded into the background. No one knew about us and so far hadn't even questioned why he was the one bringing me here.

"He hates that I'm still friends with you. He started getting handsy with me a few weeks ago, just grabbing my arm and wrists and shit. I never thought it would turn into this. I never said anything because there was nothing to tell. I can handle myself." Even though I went running to Juice after every argument for comfort I didn't need Jax Teller fighting my battles for me.

"Obviously you can't. This shit shouldn't happen. Did anyone know this was going on?" I debated on telling him the truth but I just couldn't, not right now.

"No." I saw Juice look at me and I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"I'm going to kill that piece of shit."

(Juice's POV)

The second the words left her lips "No" I felt a twinge of disappointment. Was she embarrassed of me? Of what we did?

I wasn't sure I could be her little secret anymore, but right now wasn't the time or the place to question her about it.

"You'll stay at our house." Jax's words shook me from my thoughts.

"No, that's the first place he'll assume I am. I took some of my things but I know he'll come looking for me when I don't come home." Holli was right, guys like this just didn't give up. Especially if he thought he would lose her for good to the club.

"She can stay with me." I spoke up. The plan was for her to already stay at my house, but now I really wanted to talk to her about all this and that would be the only way the guys would leave her alone.

Jax turned to me "Are you sure?"

I just shook my head in agreement.