My brothers caught up quickly as I headed right back to the bar I'd dropped Katerina off at earlier. I recognized Lauren's suv in the lot next to a delivery truck, but there was no sign of the Audi.
I stormed into the bar and looked for Katerina as Juice and Jax checked the perimeter. Chibs followed me in search of our women. He led me back to the office and flung the door open. Sure enough, Katerina was sitting on the floor sorting through papers and Lauren was working at a computer. They both jumped a little at the intrusion.
"Uh, hi?" Lauren asked looking from Katerina to Chibs to me. I shot her a look and crossed the room. I pulled my old lady into my arms and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss hesitantly.
"Happy, what's wrong?" She asked after pulling away. I took a deep breath and debated on how much to tell her. Juice jogged into the office and announced that it was all clear. Chibs smacked him on the back of the head. I looked back at Katerina and was met with a scowl.
"Your ex drives a silver Audi now. He also lives less than a mile from here. Neighbor said he left early this morning all jumpy and excited." I explained, hoping she wouldn't ask why we'd tracked him down.
"Twitchy, actually. Not jumpy." Juice said with a shrug. Katerina and I both told him to shut up. He blushed and stepped back out in the hall with Jax.
"Happy, the shit you were taking care of was Declan? Are you trying to go back in? Jesus Christ, how stupid are you?" I glared at her and shook my head.
"Get your stuff. We're going home." I growled as she seemed to realize what she'd said. She frowned and shoved past me.
"Don't you hurt her, Happy!" Lauren grabbed my elbow and jerked it so I was forced to look at her. I shook her off and stared at her, wondering how a woman was stupid enough to grab me and try to tell me what to do.
"Chibs, your old lady needs to mind her own business. I'm not in the fucking mood." He nodded and shot Lauren a look as I headed back towards the bar. Katerina was standing by the door with her purse in her hands and tears streaming down her face.
She climbed on behind me and held onto my waist as we headed back home. I could feel her crying against my back and it only made me madder. Katerina jumped off the bike and headed inside before I even cut the engine.
"Kat, do you trust me?" She was sitting on the bed with Harley's huge head in her lap. She looked up at me with red, puffy eyes and nodded slowly. I ran my hand over my face and leaned against the doorframe.
"This is what I do, Katerina. I'm possessive and vindictive. When I was locked up all I could do was fucking sit there while your ex followed you around and showed up that night. Do you know what that's like? For somebody like me to sit in a cell while the woman I love gets fucking attacked by some douchebag?" The anger drained away as I spoke. She started crying again.
"I'm sorry, Happy. I shouldn't have called you stupid. I just don't want you to go back in." She sobbed into Harley's fur and I could barely make out a word she said. Crossing the room felt like walking through quick sand.
"Kat, I'm not going back in. You're not getting rid of me that easy. If you had any idea how many life sentences I should be serving… The point is, I know how to not get caught, baby." I kissed her forehead and felt her flinch a little. Her response surprised me and hurt.
"Why do you and Lauren think I'm going to fucking hurt you? Damnit Kat, I love you." She looked up at me and frowned. I waited for her to calm down and talk to me.
"I love you too. Lauren was on the internet and googled some stuff about your patch." She pointed at the right side of my chest where I wore my Unholy One patch. My eyes closed reflexively as I tried not to get pissed off again.
"Yeah? So google says this means I beat on women or some shit?" I tried to keep the snap out of my voice. Harley whined and nudged me with his head.
"It said that to earn it you have to be ruthless and that it's usually for club enforcers." Her voice was almost a whisper. I shook my head and sent Harley off the bed. Katerina looked up at me as I took my boots and kutte off.
"What about now, Kat? I'm not wearing the kutte, just like in Stockton. I'm the same person I was inside. You can't fucking run scared when my damn skin tells you what kind of person I am." I growled as I pulled my shirt collar down. Her eyes lingered on my tattoo for a minute before she let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry. I know. I just let shit get in my head and I'm just trying to be a good old lady. It's hard." She whispered while she pulled herself into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and nodded.
"It's new, Katerina. You're doing fine. You're the best old lady I've ever had." I smirked and looked down at her to see a scowl.
"I'm your first old lady, Lowman." Her face relaxed as she laughed a little. I shrugged and nodded.
"So? It's not just new for you, darlin'. Just stop freaking out and googling shit. If you want to know something, ask me. If I don't tell you, it's for your own good." She nodded and pulled my head down so she could reach my mouth. I tasted the salt from her dried tears on her lips and instantly wanted more of her. She pulled back too quickly.
"Are you planning on killing him?" She stared straight into my eyes without blinking. I clinched my jaw and asked myself the same question.
"No, it's not the plan. I can't tell you I won't, but I'm not planning on it. He needs to live in fear for the rest of his pathetic life. Death would be too easy." Her eyes didn't leave me as I spoke. She nodded slowly and kissed me again, shoving my back onto the bed.
"I love you, Happy." I nodded as I pulled her mouth back down to mine. Her hips were grinding against my jeans and I forgot all about her stupid ex. The only thing on my mind was pleasing my old lady.
SOASOASOASOASOASOASOASOASOA SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA
"God, Happy." I smacked him on the chest after returning from the bathroom with a Band-Aid. He smirked and tried to kiss me as I dodged his mouth. I smacked the bandage into his hand and turned my bare back to him.
"Didn't mean to." He muttered before kissing my shoulder and covering the bite with the bandage. I leaned back against him and couldn't help but smile.
"I know. It doesn't hurt, I just don't want it to get blood on the sheets." I wondered if he was even listening since his hands were exploring my skin. He stopped when I looked back at him.
"It's not even bleeding anymore, woman. I told you to tell me when to stop." He almost looked like he was pouting until I rolled my eyes and nodded. Happy took that as a cue and went back to rubbing his hands over my hips.
Harley's growls made but Happy and I jump. He never barked or growled when he was inside. Happy moved out from behind me and threw me his shirt as he pulled his jeans on. Harley's growling continued as he backed up to the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving the closed bedroom door.
"Stay in here and call Jax." Happy growled as he put one Glock in between his jeans and back and racked the one he held in his hands. I nodded and grabbed my phone quickly. Luckily, Jax and Chibs had their own speed dials.
Happy moved towards the door as silently as a ninja. He looked back at me and waved his hand towards the bathroom. I nodded and hurried over to it as I told Jax what was going on. There was a crash from down the hall and Harley flipped his shit. He was barking and growling loudly as he positioned himself in front of the bathroom door.
Happy opened the bedroom door and disappeared down the hall. The unmistakable sound of a gun going off rang through the air followed by crashes and scuffling. I let go of Harley's collar and watched as he sped out of the room and towards the danger. I crouched down and moved to the bedside table quickly. I grabbed the gun Happy kept in the drawer and flipped the safety off. I heard grunting and something slam into the wall as I moved to the bedroom door.
"I thought I told you to stay in the bedroom." Happy pulled the gun I aimed at his chest out of my hands and turned the safety back on. His skin was broken open over his cheek bone and had blood all over his arms and hands.
"Are you okay?" I brought my hand up to his cheek carefully. He kissed my palm and nodded. I looked around him and saw Harley pattering down the hall calmly.
"Don't, Kat." Happy tried to grab my wrist as I headed towards the living room. The bookshelf had fallen down onto the coffee table and there was a bullet hole in the wall leading to the kitchen. My hand shot up to my mouth as my eyes followed the trail of blood to Declan.
He was propped up on the wall and his eyes met mine as Happy walked up behind me. Declan's arm was bleed profusely from what looked to be a large bite. His face was swollen and bruised. My gag reflexes kicked in as I noticed a disconnected finger sitting on the floor by his bleeding hand.
"Shit." Jax's voice distracted me and I looked away from the finger. He and Tara were standing just inside the front door. Tara moved forward towards Declan and tossed a large canvas bag down on the ground. Jax walked over to join Happy and I as Tara pulled out supplies to keep Declan alive.
As she poured something over Declan's arm and Jax and Happy spoke, I didn't know if I wanted him to live or not. It wasn't the shit he put me through with the wedding or his parents. It wasn't even the fact that he'd hurt me. I looked around the living room and up at Happy's cheek as I clinched my jaw.
Tara moved to get something out of her bag and I made my decision. I reached around Happy's back and grabbed the Glock. I heard Tara yell my name before I unloaded the clip into Declan's chest.
"Katerina!" Tara's scream was barely audible through the ringing in my ears. I put the gun on the bar and pulled out a barstool. All eyes were on me as I sat down and grabbed a cigarette out of the pack Happy kept by his keys.
"Shit." Jax repeated as he ran his hand over his short blonde hair. Tara looked like she was going to be sick as she dropped a roll of gauze back down into her bag. Happy's face was expressionless as he pulled his lighter out and handed it over to me.
"I'll call Miles and Phil. Get this shit cleaned up." Jax said as he pulled out his cell phone and walked into the kitchen. Tara followed him, speechless. I handed Happy his lighter back and inhaled the first smoke I'd had in over eight years.
"Are you right with that?" Happy asked as he reached past me and got a cigarette of his own. I blew a couple smoke rings and nodded my head.
"He came into our house and hurt you. Even if I could look past that shit, he knew where we live. I'm good." I said before taking another puff of the cigarette between my fingers. Happy nodded and blew a line of smoke up towards the ceiling.
"Really? Killing someone was easier than moving?" Tara asked after shutting off the sink faucet. I shrugged and tapped the cigarette on the side of the ashtray.
"Like I said, he came here and hurt Happy. What do you think he would have done if he wouldn't have been home?" I asked calmly. Tara threw her hands up and laughed darkly.
"What if's don't matter, Katerina. He was down and you killed him in cold blood." Her voice got louder and Harley emerged from the hallway. He sat down next to Happy and stared at Tara.
"It's nothing I wouldn't have done myself. I just thought she didn't want me to kill him." Happy said with a shrug as he patted Harley's side. Jax nodded as if to say he had a point and Tara just shook her head.
Happy opened the door just enough for Miles and Phil to get inside. Their eyes widened at the blood and mess in the normally spotless living room.
"What the hell?" Miles asked as Happy tossed him a pair of rubber gloves. I looked from Declan's body to Miles and smirked.
"He dinged my car door with a shopping cart once." Miles eyes shot up to Happy and he started turning green. Jax snorted and Happy laughed. Tara and Phil just looked on in confusion.
"Clean this shit up. Babe, let's head out back and wash the dog." Happy suggested with a smile. I nodded and hopped off the stool to go get the pet shampoo out of the hall closet.