Chapter Seven

Sassi

" What do you think? "

I hold my breath as the little girl looks around her new room.

" I like it. " Bri says while circling around with her finger on her chin making me roll my eyes. " It's bigger than my room back home. And I have a tree to look at out of the window. Can we paint the walls? "

Shaking my head I give her a side hug. " Sure, kid. Any color you want. "

At least she likes the house. Hearing the patter of fast-approaching footsteps I almost cringe. What did I just do?

" Me too? " I hear before I see.

" Anything but black, Bridg. " I groan out.

I know, I know. Why'd I let an escor- I mean ex escort not only come to Charming but move in with me as well? Let's just say she caught me in a weak moment.

Flashback

" Please take me with you! "

This begging started the second we walked through the door. Damn, Jury for telling everyone before I had the chance.

" Bridgette... For the millionth time- " I say while helping Bri pack her things.

She doesn't let me deny her again. " I'll help out with Bri! We have fun, right? "

" Don't bring me into this. " Bri chimes in as she dumps her sock drawer into a duffle bag.

Bridgette rolls her eyes and refocuses. " Please, Sassi, I gotta get out of here before I'm all used up. "

Grunting I look her over. At almost twenty she's right. If she stays she'll be picked over by twenty-five. Hell, I remember being totally against her coming to work for Jury. She was freshly eighteen and the greenest to the lifestyle I'd ever seen. My recommendation was not to hire her flat out. Jury and the brothers had other ideas. They took it to church and voted unanimously.

Perverts. All of them.

Groaning loudly I know she has worn me down. " If I take you with me you will make a complete life change. You get out of escorting, no stripping, and or crow eating. You get a job and help the club when necessary. "

" Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! " She squeals before throwing her arms around me.

Regretting my decision already I tell her, " go get packed we leave at noon with or without you ".

End Flashback

So here we are. One little dysfunctional family. At least I know Bridgette is loyal to me if only that. Plus, even if that weren't the case, she fears me enough to never cross me therefore the club.

" Okay, let's unpack quickly so we can get to the welcome home dinner the club is having for us. Gemma will not appreciate us being late. "

TM

Pulling up to Teller-Morrow we see that the parking lot is at full capacity. Tables are set up, music is playing, and the scantly clad Crow eaters are on ten already. I almost want to turn around and head home for Bri's sake... But the unfortunate reality is she has seen much worse in her almost eleven years.

" Ooh, who is he? " Bridgette coos damn near drooling.

Looking at Juice I shake my head. " Remember the stipulations of you being here in Charming, Bridg. "

" I know, I know... " She was sighing. " That doesn't mean I can't look. "

Look is all she can do. " That one is definitely off limits anyhow. "

Jaycee might think she fighting a battler over her feeling for Chibs, but she's in straight-up denial over how head over heels in love with the Puerto Rican IT specialist. Best friends my ass. They're both in denial. Marriage and kids are definitely on the way for them. Just as soon as we get Uncle Clay to lift the " no fraternizing with kuttes " rule. It's a stupid rule anyway. I help out with the club and I'll be damned if anyone tells me I can't love who I want.

" Sass! Come and meet your cousin. " Jax calls from the picnic table he, Chibs, and Opie I sitting at.

Finally! Taking Bri's hand, we make a beeline toward the picnic tables. He sets the little bundle in my arms and my heart melts.

" Hi, Abel I'm your cousin Sassi. You're a tiny one, huh? " I ask not believing how light he is. " But you're gonna get bigger and stronger. Yeah. "

And I put that on my own life.

" Of course he is, he's a Teller. " I hear a rasp from behind me.

Smiling I turn to face Happy. " Teller's persevere, we all know that. "

" Damn, right. " Jaycee chimes in with a raise of her beer.

The hardened man gazes down at Abel with a look of tenderness that I didn't know his face could make. Kind of has my ovaries tinglin- no. Don't EVEN go there, Sassi. This man is a killer, not father-of-the-year material. I'm not mother-of-the-year material for that matter. Bri thinks she's lucky that the court let her stay with me. Having money on paper due to the modeling is the only reason she didn't go into the system.

Not that I'm complaining or anything. Bri and I are good together and have a working understanding. She does what she's supposed to do and so do I. Meaning, she stays a kid for as long as possible and I make sure the seedier things the club gets up to are never in her view. As far as she's concerned the garage and brothel are the only revenue SAMHILL has. Of course, there are other ways they make money, but she won't know about that hopefully ever.

" Bri! We're going to play basketball. " Ellie calls from the small hoop they have set up.

Bri looks up at me and I nod. " Okay! "

" Stay where we can see you. " I call after her.

They both shout, " we will "!

" Where's Donna, Ope? " I ask looking around for her.

He shrugs it off. " She has to work overtime but said she'll catch up with you later this week. "

" Good. " I say nodding. " You both should bring the kids over to the new house and we'll have dinner. "

Again, he shrugs it off. " Sounds good to me. We'll bring dessert. "

" Speaking of dessert, Bobby made your favorite. " Dad tells me while pointing to the table with the food.

I can feel my sweet tooth poke up a bit. " Red velvet? "

" In cupcake form just for you, baby. " He promises.

Looking around I try to find Charming's own Elvis impersonator. " Where is Bobby? "

" Probably face first in some gashes snatch. " Piney wasps out.

I mentally cringe. " Not a mental image I needed, but thanks, old-timer. "

...

I catch up with Jaycee later in the night only to see her looking toward the parking lot in irritation.

" Who the fuck is that? "

" Hmm? " I ask before looking in that direction only to smack my lips in irritation.

There Bridgette is all in Juice's face. And of course, he's eating the attention all up. Why shouldn't he enjoy the perks of being a full member after all? He isn't the one that made a deal with me, she is.

" That's Bridgette. " I say looking back at Jayce. " A girl I'm mentoring. "

Growling when Bridgette's hands lay flat on his kutte she says, " then I'll be expecting that you'll keep her in check when it comes to my best friend "?

" You know I got your back, Jayce. " I say not liking where this could potentially go.

She gives Bridgette one more side eye before pushing off of the wall and walking away. Great work Bridg. Just great. You so don't want to be on Jaycee Teller Whitney's bad side. What happened to staying low-key?