Chapter 15: Dead Silence Vote

POV: Juice

I was woken up by Jax. The clock was showing a little after 2 a.m. The bottle of whiskey was almost empty. Chibs was snoring in the love seat. If it wasn't the Prez, I would have told him to fuck off. Chibs awoke up giving me an accusatory look as I walked out after Jax. The buzz was still on me. My legs felt uneasy on the hardwood floor. Begrudgingly Chibs stomped out cursing under his breath. I was surprised and agitated to see the visitor in the Club's common room. Sitting half -heartedly on the edge of the pool table was a demon, the ever pressing reality check that threatened my stability further.

"Mr. Ortiz. We need to talk." Roosevelt's solemn look gave me no comfort. Chibs got in his face and demanded to know what he was doing harassing me at this ungodly hour. Roosevelt completely ignored him and treaded past by him. He had a plastic bag in his hand. My vision was still blurry and I couldn't make out the contents.

"You came to personally give me a piss test?" I mocked trying to keep my cool and nervousness to a minimum. The alcohol wasn't helping one bit.

"In private, Mr. Ortiz. Don't make this difficult." He walked towards the exit. Obligated, dragging my feet I exited. Chibs protested and followed me. Decided, he remained by the entrance door as we met in the middle of the path between the Club and the bikes. Security lights illuminated the area and hurt my barely opened eyes.

"What now, more black mail?"

"No. This is police business." He crossed his arms over his chest and sucked his teeth.

"Yeah, I remember how that went last time. Go to hell." I turned and he caught my arm. The plastic baggie now dangled in my face. It was a photo. It must have been taken before I left to Oregon because she was in it. Her arms around my neck, her sweet lips meeting mine, on her toes, and my arms around her waist, one hand slightly resting on her ass, and a ridiculous smirk on my face as we kissed. I fucking missed her.

"Where did you get this?"

"I see now I have your attention, Mr. Ortiz." Roosevelt had an over confident smirk on his face for a minute and then he became serious. "We got the call an hour ago over at the diner. The waitress, Jessica, called it in. The girl in the photo, I assume you know, pulled in her car onto the sidewalk erratically. Witnesses said she appeared to be sick, throwing up. A few minutes later a van pulled up. A man pulled a black hood over her and dragged her in. This photo along with her vomit is all we found. Your turn, Mr. Ortiz who is she?" I felt sucker punched. I was pissed at her but that didn't mean I wanted her to get hurt. I thought back a minute and felt sick myself. I hurt her bad earlier. I didn't listen. It sunk in that if I had gone after her she'd be ok. Everything was spinning. It wasn't the alcohol or the weed from earlier. It was her; the possibility that I had truly lost her.

"Mr. Ortiz, answer me! Jessica told me she was in there a few days back with you. You seem pretty cozy too. I need her name if I'm going to find her. This doesn't happen in Charming. She's obviously not from here. All the patrons and staff don't remember her except for the day she came in with you." He looked at me suspiciously. I couldn't tell him. I needed to get her back but it would have to be on my own.

"Just a hang around passing through." Lying seemed like the best thing to do. Roosevelt would just interfere. This would be handled with the upmost brutality if she was harmed. I had to convince the Sons this would be good for us to get her back. Chibs was tired of waiting and he sauntered over. He snatched the photo out of Roosevelt's hand which only piqued his interest more.

"I think you're lying, Mr. Ortiz. Maybe your friend here would like to tell me who she is?" He eyed Chibs.

"There's a lot a pussy that comes through these doors. How the bloody hell am I supposed to remember all their names?" Chibs glanced and saw the lightening going through me. My adrenaline was pumping and I had to get him out of here quick. I wanted to jump on my bike and go even though I had no idea where. My first stop had to be Alvarez. This must be him.

"This girl was kidnapped. Bag over her head and dragged into a van. If you're lying to me I'll arrest you both for obstruction of justice."

"Fuck off pig!" Chinbs placed his arm around me. "Come one laddie I've got to take a piss." He leaned on me and we walked off. Rooselvelt yelled idle threats about cooperation.

"I need to find her!" I called Jessica myself. Luckily she was still at the diner. She gave me the information I needed about the scumbags who took her. I popped open the laptop and searched the San Joaquin Sheriff's department data base. I found the trace on the van. It was stolen in Oakland but it was a rental with GPS tracker. So I hacked the dealership and programed the track to the pre-pay. Chibs filled in Jax. I was about to head out the door when Ope grabbed me and pushed me into the Chapel. I protested.

"Jax, I need to need to go now. It's not about the Club brother."

"Anything that happens to you is about this Club. Sit your ass down, we have a vote. Where the hell is Happy?" Tig walked in and Happy followed. The doors shut and I struggled with the urge to run out screaming. This was a waste. The more time we spent here, the bigger chance she had of dying.

Jax put it out on the table. Mayans were trying to be underhanded and patch over the Calavares. Going after the girls was on the table. I made it clear this was on me but Jax made it clearer than that. Tig was in an uproar.

"Clay is still hospitalized and no immediate retaliation has passed. Some Mexican bitch, a Mayan patched member's niece goes missing and you want to vote immediate action. NO!" He got up and Chibs forcedly sat him down.

"This needs to be unanimous. Mayans can't patch over Calavares. We don't need the Mayans sliding by as we deal with this Niner shit. Tig, we need this. And so fucking what if Juice's old lady gets rescued along the way. " Tig shook his head and aimed his next insult on me. I was losing patience. Vote or no vote I was going to track the van and get my baby back. "Come on, Tiggy, I let you out for this excursion." Jax smiled playfully. Tig realized he had no choice and the vote began. It stopped suddenly at Happy. His silence was frightening. If he didn't vote with me, I would have no backing for my next move. I looked him straight in the eye and stared him down.

"I need this brother. I know you do too." My heart was trapped in my throat as Happy finally voted. It didn't even sound human. His voice was a mutation becoming darker at the howls and laughter of Tig. The gavel slammed and that was that.