Chapter 16: Reactions, Extractions, and Infractions

POV: Happy

Fucking Juice looked like a hurt puppy. I know how he feels but the bitch deserves it. He actually expects me to jump at the chance to be a knight in shining armor. No. I am the Reaper. Everyone at the table is looking at me. Tig wants me to say no, which is my gut feeling. Chibs, Jax, Ope, Bobby, and Juice are begging for the yeah. I just stare forward because the words won't come out of my mouth. I can't decide. I'm fine with stopping the patch over but the girls are another component. I'm either in or out. I can't go all half assed. If I kill her, her sister won't let it go and that will kill Juice. He's been screwed up since he took out Miles and Kozy literally exploded at the Cartel's call of duty shit in front of him. Fuck! Jax looks impatient. I can't. I just can't.

POV: Shelby

The van is on the move. Tito sits across from me, gun promptly pointed at my chest. Tio Chino is driving along with that punk bitch cousin of mine. If I make it out, I'm gonna break every bone in his body before I pump his skull full of lead. At least Tia Rosario is in the grave. She won't have to bury them. They set us up. If it was up to them, the Calavares would have raped, beaten, and killed us. He always did say I acted more like a man than a woman. Happy said it too the first night we met. I miss him so much but he won't take me back. I hope Marta made it. I hope Juice forgave her. If I can't be with Happy, I hope she can at least be free.

Taking Esai's place after he was gone, that must have been the boiling point. Tio Marcos has to be lying about Happy. He couldn't have killed Esai. He's a hard man. But I can't put that image in my head. Esai whether he fucked up or not should not have gone out that way. I still don't get why Tio Marcos didn't kill the bastard that got Esai. If he knew and Happy did it, I would have never met him. He'd be dead. I know it.

I press my legs together to feel the gun in my knee high boot. Tito hobbled into the van. It's an advantage. Rafa, that lying bitch, I should have slashed his throat. I want him to look into my eyes when I kill him. I want him to know it was me. The cell rings and I hear Rafa tell Uncle Chino, "two down, we have the older one, be there in a few." My heart sank. Marta never made it to Charming. They laughed. I hold back the tears but I feel my hope slipping away.

It feels like forever before we stop. Tito's cell vibrates. He picks it up and listens intently. He nods as if the person calling him was in the van with us. He answers finally in Spanish that he understands and hangs up. Rafa yells back wanting to know who it is. Tito says it's Tio Marcus telling us the route is compromised and to take me to the first meeting site. They both curse. Tio Chino swerves the van causing me to fall sideways into the floor. Tito grabs my legs as the flail for balance and pulls a cord loosely over them. Then Tito does something that I thought I would see when hell freezes over. He winks at me. What the fuck is going on? He climbs on me and tugs at the binding on my hands with his blade. Rafa looks back at the scene and hollers. He begins to get out of his seat when Tito orders him back.

"I got this, Ese. Puta tried to head for the door. I knocked her head in. She won't be moving anymore." He pushes me into the side paneling but I don't hit the van. Instead his boot slams into it for effect. My hair's in my face so I close my eyes. Fucking Gordo! He did it! He's gonna get me out of this one. It's got to be legit otherwise, Tito wouldn't lend himself. Maybe they found proof. Maybe a Calavares is on his knees facing the bullet. I don't know how but I have renewed faith.

POV: Happy

I was beginning to feel sick. Silence has never bothered me but it sure was bothering the Brothers. I closed my eyes and let it out.

"Yay!" Juice jumped out of his chair and threw himself across the table. He fucking hugged me. I swiftly pulled him off the table and let him fall. I kicked him for good measure. He winced. "I love you Brother, but this for the Club not them. If either of them get in my way.."

"They won't! Thank you!" Juice tried to hug me so I pointed my gun at him.

"Try it again Romeo, just try it." I walked out grabbed a bottle of JD off some crow eater and downed it. I needed some liquid courage. The boys started gearing up. Jax confirmed the Bastards would be there to keep the Mayans from backing out of the heroine deal we had made while back. Juice's ADD was more apparent than usual. He wouldn't shut the fuck up and was all over the place. I stared down at the rosary. She knew I was a Son yet she trusted me with this or was that fake too? I was surprised when she didn't try to kill me at Alvarez' house. She tried to beg for forgiveness not her life. The pain in her eyes looked real. I don't know what's real now. The woman I met almost 5 days ago wasn't the one it that nursery. This one was broken. I took another swig to try to forget. I was still angry. Could I kill her? Would I keep my promise?

POV: Juice

He was going to give me that vote if I had to go all Happy on him. Whether he admitted it or not, he loved that girl. She was only one who has ever stood up to him and not been afraid. They were prefect- quick tempered, violent, undoubtedly loyal, stubborn, and arrogant. Other than his mom and aunt, it was the first time he ever referred to a female as a woman and not a bitch. She got in, past the armor of tattoos. She actually made him Happy. There was something pure about the way they looked at each other. It reminded me of my girl. I needed her back and soon. I was going ape shit waiting for the guys to get ready to ride. The van she was in was still moving but it would be a while to get that close to Oakland.

It was music to my ears when we rolled out. I passed Roosevelt on the way. He eyed my suspiciously and tried to pull me over. I ignored him. No more delays.

POV: Happy

We pulled in and noticed the a few Calavares and Mayans already gathered. A black van was behind them. Jax approached Alvarez and they pulled their guns. So we pulled ours. The cavalry came and freaked out the Mexicans. Jax and Ope began negotiations. The Calavares were livid. His VP was losing patience every second. He jumped in and questioned everything Jax would say. Once again we had the scoop on them. The Bastards intercepted their first run earlier. Terrell dropped the bag at Alvarez feet. Deja Vou all over again. Alvarez flipped. He grabbed a Calavares and decked him. Jax rubbed it in and reminded him the runs in the last few years went well protected to Stockton thanks to our cooperation.

Alvarez was embarrassed. He grabbed one of his on and went off. His VP was quick to defend him and made the mistake of point his gun at Alvarez. This became an obvious family feud. After a while Alvarez had the Calavares put in the van. Jax and him shook hands. His VP threatened Alvarez. Dissension in the ranks, fucking perfect. Alvarez told the Sons and Bastards to leave so he could take care of family business. His VP and another Mayan aimed their glocks at Alvarez and his men. Juice could wait no longer.

"I need to see her."

"Why? If I remember correctly it wasn't that long ago I had to give you your cut back cause you couldn't hold your own, Ese. What makes you think I'd trust you with her."

"I love her. It's that simple."

"She runs away to you. You kick her to the side and now you love her." Alvarez laughs.

"It was a mistake. It won't happen again." Juice was earnest. He kept his ground. The kid had tears in his eyes. Fucking Pathetic!

Alvarez thought about it then he whistled to his SAA to get her. Juice was smiling like an idiot. His face hardened when Alvarez turned. Alvarez chuckled to himself. His VP and companion sneered at Juice. The younger one blurted it out.

"She's fucking dead. Calavares Prez took her an hour ago. She's his now and when their done, she'll be dead. You won't even recognize her. Juice harpooned him knocking the gun out of his hand. The guns all turned to the VP.

Alvarez walked up to his VP disarmed him and punched him in the face. "What's he talking about carbon?" His SAA hadn't moved. He told Alvarez she wasn't in the van when he got it. A fat Mayan on a bike pulled up. He huffed it to Alvarez pulling out a phone and a bag.

"It was them. The girls weren't skimming off the top. I got that from their house. The phone is Rafa's. He sent you the pictures." The rage in Alvarez let out a scream. He grabbed the Mayan from Juice, put a gun in his mouth, and demanded to know where Marta was. He wouldn't talk so his SAA shot him in the foot. He yelped. No answer. He shot the other foot. His VP pleaded in vain. He talked. Juice was off. I turned to go but Alvarez beckoned me forth and Jax gave the ok.

The fat Mayan went to the van dragging the VP. The SAA stood over the wounded Mayan. Alvarez looked me up and down.

"You're not going to make the same request? Hmmm. We both know who you are and what you do. If it wasn't for the deal I made with Clay my son would be alive. You should be dead. She should be dead too. You love her too? Or did you let her live so you can come back later and kill her?"

I couldn't answer him. I wasn't about to admit it. When I saw the fat one in the background pull her out, I let out a gasp. It was a sudden reaction. I could see the streaks on her face from the tears, blood stains on her clothes and face, and a glimmer of defiance in her eyes.

Alvarez turned to her and released her hands from the cord. He hugged her and told her he was sorry he doubted her. She held him like a child does when they see their father. He whispered in her ear and then turned to me.

"What do you say, Ese?" She caught a glimpse of the Mayan on the floor and jump on him. She slammed his head into the ground. Alvarez chuckled. "That's my girl."

"Where is she? Tell me pendejo!" She pulled the gun out of her boot. Even Alvarez look surprised that his prisoner was armed. Slick ass bitch! That woman is fucking resourceful.

"It's ok mija. Your future brother in law is on it. I hope it's not too late. Gordo's having your late Tio Chino call them now. "

"He's mine then." She pointed at the Mayan. Alvarez nodded.

"That's fair."

"Looks like I'm back on top, primo!" She kicked him in the stomach. The SAA got him up and dropped him in a car truck.

"Ese, I'm still waiting on that answer."

POV: Shelby

I was amazed when they dropped the Calavares at gun point in the van. I was going to live and my sister would be ok. When I heard my Tio yelling I just wanted to jump out and kick Rafa's ass. The shots that ran out followed by Rafa's agony was satisfying. I hugged Gordo when he got me out. I kissed him on the cheek . My heart rate accelerated more when I saw Happy standing there. I wanted to jump in his arms but that wasn't his style besides I did not know that he wanted me back. It wasn't like Happy was going to ask for my hand in marriage to my Tio. I doubted Tio would let me leave with him.

He apologized which was unlike him. I hugged him and felt my Tio again. He was like my dad. It was bittersweet. He whispered to me that when I see Marta to tell her he was sorry and he told me Esai wasn't Happy's fault. It didn't change the rage I felt when I saw Rafa on the ground bleeding. Payback would come slow and painfully to him. I almost forgot Happy was there as I started my rampage.

Tio Marcos' questions to Happy made me nervous. He promised me that the next time he saw me he would shoot me. When he finally spoke, I was confused.

"I know where we can take him." He pointed at Rafa. "I'll help you." He looked indifferent but it was something. He shook my uncle's hand. "I'll call you about your other niece once the Sons have her."

"No need. I sent my men to meet the Sons at the site. They'll inform me and bring me the fallen." He nodded at me approvingly. I got in the car and Happy led me to the place Rafa would pay for his infractions.