I came back to Charming on my own. Hitchhiking for the fun of it. I walked to the garage, and Bobby was the first to see me. He smiled and went to say something, but I held a finger to my lips and approached him.
"Is Chibs in there?" I asked.
"Yeah he is, the whole gang is. Unruly bunch they can be." I smiled.
"I taught them well." I jerked my head towards the garage. "Is he working or in the clubhouse?" I asked.
"Working." I patted his shoulder.
"Thanks lad." I put my bags down by my bike, making sure it was out of sight. I walked quickly and silently to the garage. Bobby and Tig were facing me, and Chibs was facing them. They saw me, and I silenced them with the same gesture I used on kept talking as if I weren't there. I moved silently and quickly towards him. When I was close enough, I paused, then caught him in a headlock. He jumped and brought an elbow back into me. I gripped tighter. I tangled his legs with mine and he went down. I let go and stepped back, he hit the ground face down not seeing me at all. Everyone laughed, he was cursing them all but when he turned around and saw me, he laughed too. I helped him up and caught him in a hug.
"I missed ye." I said against his rumbling chest.
"Oh I missed ye too lass." He said.
"That was good. " Clay laughed, patting my shoulder. "Its good to have ye back."
"Who else can I ge'? Im in the mood ta cause a wee bi' o' trouble."
"Happy is out, we could scare him." Bobby suggested.
"Oi, wha' aboo' Half Sack?" I asked. The laughter died, something had happened.
"Alot happened while you were on the job. The Devil's Daughter's went back to Arizona and we began working together, but alot of other stuff happened." Jax said. I chewed on a split in my lip. They took me inside and filled me in on the the last year or so.
"Shi', I shouldn' have gone. I could 'ave helped here." I said when they filled me in. "Atleas' ye go' the boy back."They nodded. "Oi, would one o' ye be as kind as ta grab me bag? The green military surplus bag,its by me bike." I asked. I didnt see who went, but a moment later Clay handed it to me. " Well, I had brough' everyone gif's. I pulled ou' a reaper charm I had found. It looked similar to the m.c.'s reaper.
"I was goin' ta give this ta Half Sack. I knew his year was comin' to a close. I figured ye were goin' ta patch him in." I held it up. I saw his mugshot on the wall, I stood and hung the charm on the frame. " Clay, come 'ere." I said, digging through my bag. I pulled out a box of Romeo y Julieta Vintage I cigars out of my bag. " I noticed ye enjoy a good cigar. If I had known the bigges' threa' had been hidin' behind a cigar business, I would have found somethin' else." I smiled as I gave them to him.
"I still like good cigars, thank you Smiley." He said. I dug through my bag.
"Oi, uh Jax. Yer nex'." I pulled out a silver rattle and a expensive remote controlled race car out."These are fer yer boy. I couldn' remember how old he was, so I wen' with both." I said.
"It's perfect, Tara and I have another, he's young enough to still use it." I smiled.
"Congra's ' these are fer you an' Tara." I said pulling out small hand painted portraits they could fit in wallets.
"Are these Tara and I?" He asked.
"Aye, I had them commissioned, the artis' did a wonderful job." He hugged me.
"Thank you." I turned to Bobby. I fished out two different antique knives. I turned to Bobby and handed him the antique custom made knife that had an ebony handle.
"I figured tha' if any one ou' of this group would love old knives, It would ye.''
"Gemma." I pulled out a necklace it was a sapphire so blue it looked black on a silver chain. I handed it to her.
"Shit Smiley. It's beautiful." She said. I smiled. I dug in my bag and found Opie's surprise.
"This was fer Opie, the charm is one hundred percen' silver, the chain is titanium, no one's getting pas' it." I said, handing Jax the wallet chain, it's charm was identical, but unique to Half Sack's.I knew Jax was Opie's friend, and figured it would be best to give it to him to pass it along.
"I stopped by Switzerland, an' I found these." I handed Tigger a box of alcoholic chocolates."They have vodka in them." I said. He nodded and smiled. "The ladies love it from wha' I saw." I said winking at him. Everyone laughed. I looked at Juice and said.
"Now, I know ye've never been ta Puerto Rico, bu' I brough' ye a taste o' yer heritage." I said pulling out the bottle of Puerto Rican rum and handing it to smiled. "Oi, ye ever wan' ta visi' I can arrange it. Come ta me, I'll ge' ye the bes' deals. Same fer the res' o' ye. Wan' ta go anywhere. Come ta me. I know people." I said. Everyone nodded.
"An' me personal favorite a bottle of Scotch from the homeland, I go' two fer the price o' one. This firs' one is jus' fer a taste o' home." I handed him a bottle. "Bu' this second one is a prize indeed. I go' my paws on a Glenlivet 1943." I said pulling out the second bottle. I passed the bottles to Chibs.
"Jesus Smiles. These are not cheap gifts." Chibs said looking at the '43." I shrugged.
"Barely pu' a den' on me las' paycheck. Where's Happy? I go' him somethin' he would like, somethin' Im a wee bi' jealous of." He walked in right at that moment. "Come 'ere lad." I took the box out of my now empty bag. " I had ta hun' this one down. I wen' through a lo' o' trouble fer it." I opened the box, revealing a Fabrique Nationale model 1910 semi automatic pistol. His jaw dropped.
"Do ye know wha' this is?" I nodded.
"Its the same make and model as what was used to kill Archduke Ferdinand. This gun's brother started world war one." He said.
"Do ye know the serial number o' the gun tha' was used ta kill the Archduke?" I asked.
"19047." He said, I was thoroughly impressed.
"Why don' ye take a look at the serial number on this gun lad." I said smiling. He picked up the gun and his jaw hit the floor.
"You got me the gun that killed Archduke Ferdinand and started one of the biggest wars in history?" He started shaking, like a child at Christmas. I laughed.
"So I did."
" How is it that these things barely put a den' in yer paycheck love?" Chibs asked.I shrugged.
"My quality of work comes with a price."
"That gun alone is a small fortune." Jax said.
" I knew the guy who owned it. He owed me a debt, I asked fer the gun an' we're consdierin' his debt paid in full." I said.
"And the sapphire?" Clay asked.
"Practically free, actually, I go' paid ta nab it. Well, a gem in the same box as this one, I grabbed it because it reminded me of Gemma." I shrugged. I had actually lifted it out of the jewelry box of the wife of one of my targets, but I didnt want to tell Gemma that. "Look, they're gifts. I do things like this fer my friend all the time. Someone should enjoy the money I earn. It's better if we don' ask question on where some of these came from." They nodded, catching my drift.
"Well, if we had known you were coming back today, we would have had a homecoming party." Clay said. I made a face.
"Don' worry aboo' it one bit. We'll ge' one tagether." I said. "Well Im in the mood for somethin' ta wan' ta hook a girl up?" I asked, everyone slightly dispersed. I turned to Chibs.
"If I were ye, I would save tha' '43 fer somethin' special."I said. He nodded.
"Ye are somethin' else lass." He said. I smiled.
" I try ta bring joy ta those who bring me joy. Sometimes their joy comes from things. Other times its from memories. Im hopin' this group will be good with both." I said, sitting next to him. He smiled.
"Even if they don', I do." I smiled.
"I've called your girls, they'll be up here tomorrow." Tig said. I smiled.
"Then the real party can begin then can' it Tig?" I asked, everyone smiled." I'll have somethin' special fer ye all. More knife tricks, if ye wan'." I said, judging by the general rowdiness, they wanted it. I leaned over to Chibs. "And I learned the basics of fire eating while I was away." He looked awestruck.
"Someone's been busy."
"Aye, I had a few jobs a week, an' it's been atleas' a year. Everywhere I go' yer gif's is somewhere I wen'.I had some down time in a small island called Pulau, I learned ta fire ea' there."
"Wha' happened in Scotland?" He asked. I smiled.
"Tha' one is my fondes' memory ye'. I go' ta save a life there. A child was abducted, his family could afford me, an' Scotland Yard couldn' do anythin'. I recovered the child." I said.
"An' what of the kidnappers?" He asked. I looked down.
"They won' be takin' any more children." I said. "Enough of this somber talk, eh?" I took the sho' of tequila Tig handed me.
"Tomorrow, here at the club, will be Smiley's official homecoming party. There will be dinner, and booze, and it sounds like entertainment. I've made a few calls and some of the neighboring characters and the nomads are in for a party." Clay announced. I smiled.
"How is it, tha' I'm already considerin' ye lads family?" I laughed, as I realised, that they were. I would do whatever it took to help them be safe.
"Ye boys seem battered." I noticed that while they were truly excited to have me back, they almost didnt have the energy to really celebrate. "I've also noticed more bulle' holes in the walls. New doors fer the chapel, likin' the construction retro look. An' I haven' missed the bruisin' around Juice's neck. Im no idiot. Wha' mess have ye boys gotten yerself into?" I asked, something was up, and it was serious. I noticed that the room fell silent.
"We're selling guns to the Galindo Cartel, and then we're muling their coke." I felt my eyes widen. I took a swig of a tequila bottle near me, then laughed, I had to have heard Jax wrong.
"Sorry lad, my hearin' mus' be goin'. I though' ye said Galindo Cartel." I chuckled. " Because gettin' mixed up with them is rash, even fer anarchis's." I leaned forward. They looked anywhere but me. "Shit. The Galindo Cartel enforcers scare mos' of the kiddies in my business. They're serious men, with serious opponen's." I hissed. I looked at each of them. "It's no' my business. I'll leave ye to it. Jus' know righ' now ye can' pay me enough money ta help with this mess.I'll no' kill any of them an' ye migh' be able ta persuade me ta squeeze one maybe. Bu' ye boys can' afford it." I stood up, taking the tequila with me.
"Oi, Juice with me. I wan' ta talk with ye on an entirely differen' subjec'." I said walking out of the clubhouse. Juice had to jog to catch up.
"You kind of remind me of my mom." He said. I lit up a cigarette.
" Im protective of people I care aboo'." I said exhaling. I moved his kut collar, exposing more of the bruising. "Jesus lad."
"Clotheslined myself on a security chain." He mumbled.
"Juice, I kill an' hur' people fer a livin' I can' tell ye exactly how ye go' tha' bruise righ' now ye ready? Ye took one o' the towin' chains, probably from tha' truck." I pointed at it. " Tha' ain' no clothesline bruise, tha's a hangman's mark. Either the cartel tried ta kill ye an' ye go' lucky, or ye tried ta kill yerself." He looked down. "The later then." I sighed." Stupid lad. These boys won' tolerate tha'." I looked at him. " Come here." I pulled him into a hug. " I need ta tell ye somethin', a secre' tha' ye can' tell anyone, especially Chibs." I said, guiding him to a curb, where we sat down.
"I'll keep it."He promised.
"How old are ye? Twenty six, twenty eight tops?" I asked he nodded.
"Mos' know tha' when I was twenty two I moved ta Glasgow.I had been there three months before I was mugged an' raped in an alley."
"The gang marked their victims." He said, gesturing in a smile. I nodded.
"Aye. I tried ta go back ta work as a paramedic. Bu' people in pain, panickin' because they're hurtin'." I shook my head. "More times than no' I made things worse fer them, mentally. I left, the one job I ever loved. Tha' was the star' of a depression, a downward spiral." I took a drink from the bottle and passed it to Juice, he took it. " The IRA contacted me, I agreed ta join them, they taugh' me ta figh' an' they go' me off the grid. Then they asked me ta make my firs' kill. A lad a little younger than ye, I crep' up behind him an' cu' his through'. He never saw a few months of doin' the dirty work fer the IRA, I wan'ed ta end it.I took a rope, strung myself up from a rafter an' jumped. My mentor found me and saved me, bu' no' before I go' this." I lifted up my chin and showed him the scar from the rope burn. He frowned.
" I know its hard lad, trus' me. I've been there. Some would say I have had more reason than mos' ta end it. Bu' it does ge' better. These boys love ye. Hell, Im fond o' ye. If ye need me, talk ta me. I ge' it." I said. He nodded.
"So what do you tell most people when they ask about that one?" He asked. I laughed.
"Mos' are too distrac'ed by me face ta see it. But the story is a targe's security caught me off guard when I was with the IRA, almos' killed me with a rope before I was able ta cu' meself free." I looked at him, he was smiling. "It's no' the end lad. Fer ye, its a beginning. These experiences will shape ye, learn from them. An' I'll always be here fer ye with a bottle o' Puerto Rican rum." He chuckled and nodded.
"Sounds good Smiles." He said. I stood up, offered him a hand. Patted his shoulder before walking back. I sat down next to Chibs again.
" I take it, ye know wha' tha' bruise is." The clubhouse was empty, the boys had a run or something.
"Chibs, I make my livin' off killin' an' hurtin' people.I had a very good idea wha' tha' bruise was before I even saw the chain definition in it." I said. " Gettin' inta bed with the Galando Cartel is a bad idea love. Ye boys won' be able ta leave until he says ye can."
"Wha' did ye say ta Juice?" He asked, ignoring my comment on the cartel.
" I told him a story, of a young IRA soldier, who could no longer do wha' they loved an' tried ta end it all. A friend o' mine, his mentor reached him in the nick o' time." I said Chibs nodded.
"Ye haven' changed a bi'." He smiled. I laughed, then kissed him. I felt his fingers brush my neck. He stopped.
"Is tha' new?" He asked.
" Nope. I've had it since before I lef' the IRA." It's funny how people become more sensitive to old scars that are similar to a close friend's wounds.
" I never noticed it before." He said.
"Mos' don' ever see it." I shrugged and sat back. " Ye wan' ta go through an' catalog all me scars? It could take a while." I moved off him into my own chair. I didn' need him askin' questions aboo' tha' particular scar. He smiled.
"Perhaps." He leaned forward." I ge' the feelin' tha' mos' of them are under yer clothes though."
"Aye, they are, bu' no' in places I don' mind showin'." I said. "An' mos' are covered with ink. No' because I don' like them, bu' because I ran ou' o' space fer my ink withou' touchin' them." I bit my lip, the thought of him touching me, after so long, it was intoxicating. My work phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket and answered it.
"Allo?" It was a blocked number, I could ge' it bu' I would have to actually care enough.
"Is this the Ulchabhán?" A voice that was clearly using some sort of electronic scrambler to change it asked.
"The Ulchabahán is a friend o' mine. I run her books, wha' do ye need?" I asked, Chibs frowned.
"I know where you are. I know your friends, the people closest to you." It intoned. I looked at Chibs. I smiled.
"Now are we talkin' literally or ye know who me friends are?" I asked.
"Dont get smart with me.I-"
"No, ye don' ge' smar' with me. Ye know wha' I do fer a livin'. Ye know my associates, an' ye know me friends. Ye piss me off an' I will hun' ye down, an' ye will regre' ever makin' this call." I cut him off. " If ye know so much, ye also know tha' Im well protected, so either give me a job, or don' call this number again." I snapped the phone shut.
"Wha' was tha'?" Chibs asked.
" Some ass hole tryin' ta scare me. Mos' o' the time they ge' scared an' never call again, no attempt on me life an' the world keeps spinin'. I'll keep an' eye on it, let ye boys knos if the threa' is real, then I'll take off, lead them away from ye an' handle it. This happens every now an' then. Some new merc. thinks they can make a name by offin' me." I said .
"No' a quiet momen' in our lives." He laughed,
"Aye, it looks tha' way." I smiled. My secondary phone, the number tha' the SoA an' my girls had rang. I sighed, then answered it.
"This is Smiles." I said.
"Why didnt you tell us you were coming back bitch?" I laughed.
"Nice to see your still alive Dawn. My last year was good, an' yers?" I said.
"Tell you all about them when I get up to Charming." She said.
"Alrigh' then. I come bearin' gif's." I told her.
"You always do." She said before hanging up. I smiled and put my phone away.
"Tha' sounded like a more pleasan' call." I nodded.
"Dawn an' the girls, throwin' a fit I didn' tell them. I wanted ta be a surprise fer everyone, as far as ye lo' knew I was gone fer good." He nodded.
"Aye, a year is a long time ta be gone with ou' a word. The boys were pu' away an' came back before ye." He said.
"I go' a lo' of jobs I wanted." I shrugged. He nodded.
"An' the lad from Moscow?"
"Well, a buddy o' mine helped me with tha'. He asked the kid ta take me ou', well, I was only defendin' myself. Turns ou' he's no' as good as they though'." He chuckled.
"Ye really are a scary lass." I ran my tongue on my scar at the corner of my mouth.
"I didn' think I scared ye." I crossed my legs and leaned back in the chair.
"I didn' until I heard tha' little threa', It's hard ta take ye seriously, knowin' ye like I do." He said. I laughed.
"Well, I don' want ta be scary all the time, tha' woul' be borin'." He smiled.
"It's good ta have ye back."
" I'd say it's good ta be back, bu' it looks like I landed righ' in the middle of a shi' storm. Looks like me trip to Northern Cali isn' gonna be all fun an' games. How can I help?"
"I though' ye didn' wan' ta be involved with the cartel." I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair.
"I can' no' help. I'd feel like I abandoned ye an' yer boys. I'll do wha' I can." I said.
"Well, ye woul' have ta talk with Clay. I'll see wha' ye can do." He said. "Until then, it looks like ye have down time." I looked around. His phone answered.
"Alrigh' I'll be righ' there." He stood.
"An' it looks like ye don'." I said.
"Sorry lass." He kissed me.
"It's alrigh'. I'll clean up here." I said.
"Ye don' have ta do tha'." He looked surprised. " Someone else should ge' it." I shrugged,
"I need somethin' ta do." He smiled.
"Do wha' ever ye wan'." I bit my lip.
"Bu' wha' I wan' ta do is leavin'." He chuckled.
"I'll be back soon enough."
" I think I'll take a ride. I missed tha' bike." I said looking at the green black Harley at the end of the line. He nodded.
"I will see ye later." I nodded, waited until he rode off before I called Dawn.
"Whats up bitchachos?" She answered.
" Did ye know tha' the Sons are workin' with the Galindo Cartel?" I asked.
"Yeah, we did." She said.
"Are the girls in on it?" I asked.
"No. We voted and drew the line, we want nothing to do with it."
"Good girl. When ye ge' up here I wan' ye gone quickly, I don' wan' the gang mixed up with this." I told her.
"Understandable. We'll work it out when we get the there." She said.
"Good lass." With that I hung up. I pulled off my jacket, hung it on a chair, and began cleaning up. I finished, then went for a ride.
Annnnnd she's back, right in the middle of it all! I've really enjoyed writing this story, please let me know what you think of it.