Chapter V

{Charming, May 10, 1995} The sound of the Harley engine was loud in the dark stillness of the night as he rolled into the driveway of Amelia's cathedral dwelling. It was just after midnight Aiden knew that she would probably be asleep or at the very least reading in her bedroom. He hoped it wasn't the latter. Looking up at the sky he prayed to whoever might be listening to please let her be asleep, faded off into a peaceful dream where life was perfect. He checked his pocked to ensure he had the key she had given him months ago so he could come and go as needed. Even though he kept an apartment int town, they had more or less been living together since meeting the previous summer. Her mother was never around so the arrangement worked out well for them. Marie the housekeeper had told him on numerous occasions that he was good for Amelia, that he made her happy, and she didn't have an issue with his presence. She was also extremely loyal to Amelia as were the other people who helped maintained the home, and so no one ever leaked out to her Mommy Dearest that he was around.

He sighed deeply as he sat straddling his bike long after cutting the engine off. The circumstances of the evening weighing heavily upon his shoulders, regret washing over him as if a dam had broken. He had never intended for things to get so fucked up, but they had, they had gotten fucked faster than he could have ever believed. Aiden continued glaring up into the dark night sky, he felt lost.

"You two cover the back, and only enter once you hear us inside shout the all clear, you boys understand?" Tig looked over at Jax and Aiden as he spoke the words.

"We got it," Aiden responded quickly looking over at Jax who nodded his response to both men.

Walking together towards the back of the house they quietly rounded the corner. The night was quiet except for the barking of a dog in the distance. The shit hole dwelling where a couple of key Mayan players were supposedly laying low looked desolate. Aiden was just about to whisper his observation of that fact when suddenly out of the darkness a large figure appeared in front of him, he heard the click of the hammer being pulled back, and reacted immediately.

The sound of his gun firing was louder than it had ever been before as the bullet hit the target it was aimed at square in the forehead. The sound of the crunching of the skull sounded like a nut being cracked open. Jax and Aiden watched as the gigantic Mayan Solider landed on the ground with a large thud. The fall was rapid but to the Jax and Aiden the motion was as if it were slow motion. Both men stood still for what seemed an eternity barely noticing as the other SAMCRO members quickly raced around the corner after hearing the gun fire.

"God damn man, great shot, another Mexican bites the dust," Tig sang the words out as he gave Aiden a huge brother slap on the back as if he had just won the mother fucking lottery.

Aiden stood glaring down at the lifeless figure in front of him. Blood splattered on his black T-shirt. He could feel the warm bodily fluid on his chest as the it penatrated the fabic of his shirt. He held his gun as steady as he could, the whole situation had happened so quickly seemed so surreal. Truthfully he had, had no time to think just pulled the trigger in response to a threat. Aiden was slightly repulsed at himself that it had been so easy for him, to just aim and fire, not even allowing his mind to think about who or what the bullet would be piercing. He prayed his brothers didn't see the tremor of his hand. Aiden Janowitz had, had a first happen to him, he had taken another human beings life. Shit had suddenly gotten real.

Unlocking the door Aiden walked into the monstrously huge house, he had entered the doors a million times, but he didn't think he would ever grow accustom to the luxury that was Amelia's day to day life. His eyes roamed the vast foyer with its marbled floors, and crystal chandler that hung in the center of the room. The house was so aseptic with everything in its perfect place, every picture, every vase, every flower that graced magnificant vases, all in perfect placement. He felt anything but aseptic, as he felt the dried blood on his T-shirt rub against his flesh as he walked. Slowly he began his ascent up the elaborate stair case which led to Amelia's bedroom. His brow furrowed as he saw the light creeping under the crack of her door, Aiden had truly hoped she would be fast asleep dreaming of only bliss, not awake to the nightmare that was real life. Whoever had heard his pray with looking up at the dark sky moments ago had not listened to his plea. Holding his breath he opened the door slowly unable to make eye contact with her as he entered the room. Barely mumbling a hello he quickly bolted for the bathroom suite. Only after shutting the door behind him did her breathe a sigh of relief.

Amelia watched Aiden enter the room a broad smile of joy crossing her face. She had missed him immensely the last several nights. Since the other Charters had arrived town Aiden's appearance in her bed at had been just a few evenings here and there. Their lazy days together had been very few and far between as well. Even though he had banned her from hanging around the clubhouse after the incident in the parking lot, she had heard the whispers that there was some ongoing conflict with another MC. The word Mayans had been muttered often when the boys thought no one was listening.

"Hey baby," Amelia sat her book down upon the bed and rose to greet him.

A look of concern and confusion crossing her delicate features as he breezed by her barely mumbling a response before disappearing into the bathroom, and closing the door. He had not greeted her with a huge kiss and his face had looked so pale to her. Amelia thought for a moment not recalling a time since they had first met that he had not greeted her with a kiss and smile. Slowly she walked towards the bathroom door opening it quietly. The fog of steam from the shower already collecting in the air met her immediately. Her first thoughts were to undress and join him. When she looked over at the glass walk in shower to find Aiden standing staring blankly at the tile wall in front of him not even acknowledging her presence, Amelia could only stand staring.

Even though the warm steam from the hot shower filled the room She felt a cold shiver travel through her body. Goosebumps appeared on her flesh as she stood watching him continue to stare blankly as the water poured over his body like a sheets of rain. Everything in her screamed to go to him, but she could only stand glaring at him in a memorized state of shock. A consuming dread crept over her.

Looking down on the floor she saw his pile of crumbled clothing. Seeing his clothes on the floor brought a sudden relief to her. She smiled at the thought of how many times their clothes had found themselves crumpled and discarded on the floor. The image of them together in such a manner eased her mood and relaxed her mind. Reaching down she picked up his black T-shirt from the floor wanting to inhale the scent of him. The shirt felt stiff in her hands as if something was dried upon. The smell that it emitted almost a strange metalic odor. The temporary relief that she had felt quickly left her as the dread began to creep back. Peering back at Aiden who continued to stand under the shower stall with the water pouring upon him, she suddenly felt nauseated. For the first time in the almost year they have been together Amelia felt scared as she continued to watch him. An eerie feeling of impending doom consumed her, and she felt as if a darkness had moved into the light. Little did she know that there was a dark cloud on the horizon, a storm heading for them of great magnitude, a storm that would rip through Charming, rip through them all as if they were nothing. For now it hovered on the horizon but it was there looming and once it arrived it would be years before the calm would ever be felt again.