Chatty Chapter. Bri talks to Jax; Happy talks to Juice.
"It's empty." Chibs yelled from the master bedroom. I couldn't find it in myself to invade her privacy a third time and look through her room again. "The bed hasn't even been slept in."
"Doesn't mean she wasn't here." I said as I walked out towards the living room. Her house was always in immaculate condition save for the boot prints still on the white carpet. She was almost as obsessive compulsive as myself. "Could have cut out early this morning."
"Doubt it." Tig said as he picked up a picture from the shelf. "She was a blonde too?" He showed me a picture and I shrugged.
"I think that's her younger sister." I searched my brain for any memory I had of interacting with any of her siblings, but none came to mind. From what I remembered she was the only kid in New York with her dad. "Yeah, pretty sure it's her sister."
"Where could she be?" Tig asked as he picked up another picture, this time of her and Happy.
"I'm right here." Her voice sounded annoyed and her accent was coming through more than around been the last few weeks.
"Where have you been?" I asked.
"At my dad's. I've been gone for like twelve hours and I come home to a search party?" She dropped her bag to the ground and pushed past me. "You guys must have done some digging on me last night."
"Ya we did girlie." Chins followed after her. "We want you to meet with Jax and talk things through."
"Ha! Yeah, what's in it for me?" She stopped and gave him a narrowed glare. She must have picked that look up from Happy.
"You have to ask Jax." I side stepped Chibs and Tig to get to her. "Jax wants to apologize."
"I'll meet with Pretty Boy but only if Happy comes here and gets me." She crossed her arm and swung her head so her hair fell behind her shoulders and out of her face. "I'm serious."
"I'll call him." Tig said as he walked into her room and sat on the chair at her vanity.
"Oh, just make yourself at home." She stalked out of the space and stopped in the kitchen. "I don't see why you all didn't just call me. I don't disappear off the planet because of an argument."
"Aye." Chibs nodded. "Ye have some sense."
"Aye, I feel that I have plenty o' sense." She fed him back his Scottish accent and made an irritated face. "I'm not afraid of Jackson Teller. He's a child trying to do a man's job."
"Watch it." Chibs hit the counter with his fist.
"You watch it, you are in my house. I can voice my opinion. You can't tell me he's being smart. He's making blind decisions based on impulse, not based on solid facts." She moved in closer to Chibs.
"Hap is on his way." Tig said, he looked at our faces and turned to walk away sensing the tension.
"Brianna." I walked out the kitchen and pulled her with me out to the backyard. "Talk to me."
"This is your fault." She glowered at me, her eyes dark and full of anger.
"It was a solution to a problem and I just wanted approval and I'm sorry, but I wanna fix this shit between you and Jax. He should have had a vote before saying he wanted to kill the Calaveras." I smiled weakly at her.
"He's a brat." She plopped onto the grass and laid out. "He's too mental."
"Explain." I sat next to her and looked at her face.
"He's all impulse, does he take a breath before he does shit? Or does he just assume killing is a solution to every problem? I don't get it."
"I see. He used to think a lot. The Calaveras kidnapped his wife when she was pregnant though. Jax killed the original president." I sighed.
"So his beef was with the old president? Not the current one or the new club? Last time I checked the new recruits had nothing to do with the old president." She sat up and looked me in the eyes. "He's a head case." She smiled. "I'm over this."
I stood up and helped her to her feet. Following her back through the house but she went into her room and I went out to the living room to wait with Chibs and Tig for Happy.
SOASOASOA
I shuddered as I stood naked in the bathroom, waiting for the shower to warm the room up. I had a rough night, for some reason I couldn't sleep at my dad's. I hadn't heard from Happy and chalked it up to him still not having a phone. I frowned as I stepped into the shower, the water piercing my skin. It felt amazing.
"Jax is stupid." I said to myself as I let the water soak my hair. "All of them are stupid, except Happy and Juan."
I slowly washed my body. The lather from the body wash soothed me, it felt silky and smooth. It was a much needed sensation as I rinsed off and twisted my hair to remove the excess water. I stepped out and wrapped myself in a black towel and walked out into my room and over to the closet.
"Flannel." I moved over to Happy's section of the closet and pulled a red and black flannel shirt from the hanger before moving back to my side to grab jeans and a shirt. I dressed quickly and tied a red bandana around my head to keep my hair back. I looked in the mirror and smiled, I looked cute, even though Happy's flannel was making me look smaller.
I pulled on a pair of white sneakers and padded out of the room to fetch my bag and phone. I needed to take at least one selfie in this outfit.
"You look nice." Tig said as I walked into the living room.
"Thanks." I eyed him suspiciously and he gave me a weird smirk. "Do I have something on my face Tig?"
"No, no." He laughed. "You just look like a female Jax."
I laughed, and looked at my outfit, I could see it slightly. "Wasn't my intention." I slipped off the Flannel and placed it on the recliner. "Better?"
"Yeah." He smiled.
"So is Hap's bike fixed or what?" I dug through my bag looking for my phone and its charger.
"No." Chibs said.
"Then how is he getting here?" I stood up and looked between the men.
"Van." Tig replied.
"Well, I have a bike but he hates the color of it, think he'd take it if I paint it black? Follow me." I started towards the garage and stood aside as they followed in. "It's nothing too fancy but I think he'd like it if it wasn't personalized to my liking."
I pulled the cover off and they all surrounded it like hungry vultures.
"I didn't know you ride." Juan said as he looked it over.
"Happy taught me actually." I smiled.
"Bri, you'll die." He glared at me. I was sitting precariously on his precious bike. "Get off."
"Teach me." I grinned at him. "I'm a quick study."
"I like you on the back of my bike, I don't need you at my side." He lifted me off and placed me on the grass.
"But Hap, don't you think I'd look good riding?"
"Fine." He sat on his bike. "Come sit on my lap."
"Yay!" I sat on his lap and he started going over the controls and started it up. "Wait!"
"What?" He rubbed my waist. "What's wrong?"
"I'm scared." I grabbed his hand and squeezed his thumb. "I'm not ready."
"Figured." He turned off the bike. "Next time."
"Yeah, next time love."
"Why are you being nice to us?" Juan asked.
"I don't have a problem with you three, my problem is solely with Jax. I can't take my anger out on you, not fair." I hit the button and watched the garage door slowly rise. Revealing Ironhide and his new bride Beauty sitting at his side.
"What happened to the H Mobile?" Juan asked.
"Hap, shot her back window out and I couldn't drive her home so I swiped her from my dad." I smiled. "So let's get that bike out."
"He's here." Tig nodded as the black van pulled in front of the house. They approached him and I waited back, wanting to have him to myself when they were done with the hellos.
"Bri." He walked towards me and pulled me into a hug. "They didn't mess with you did they?"
"No." I squeezed his waist. "They're dramatic, they act like I've been missing a week or went on the run."
"Where'd you sleep last night?" He looked me over and smiled.
"My dad's, didn't get much sleep. I was worried."
"About?" He walked into the garage and eyed the bike.
"You!" I bit my lip as he crouched down to check it out. "You didn't call me and I couldn't call you."
"Sorry. This bike is ugly." He stood up and looked at me.
"I was thinking of selling it." I made my face look as expressionless as possible.
"I'll take it." He said. "I'll paint it black."
"Oh yeah?" I smiled at him. "Good plan."
"Yeah. Let's get you to Jax and get this shit settled. I hate seeing you upset and I hate them going through your past."
"Love you." I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his neck.
"Love you too." He walked us over to the van and pulled open the door to let me in. I climbed in and he shut the door, then walked into the house to lock it up. I watched as he ran under the closing garage door and giggled to myself.
"Do I really have to accept his apology or can I fake it?" I asked him when he got in and slammed his door.
He laughed. "Do whatever you feel is right Bri."
"I wanna do you." I smirked. "That will feel real right."
"Later." He pulled away from the house and I dug through my bag for candy.
"Sexy time with the Killer." I unwrapped a jolly rancher and popped it into my mouth. "I have business at seven though. You can tag along, I'll need a ride anyways."
"What business?"
"My dad, got to meet up, get supplies and pretend I'm totally ok with this gun dealing business I'm in." I looked out the window at the guys riding in front of the van.
"I thought you'd be mad at me." His voice was soft and sounded scratchy.
"Why's that?" I turned to him and furrowed my brows.
"Cause I didn't chase after you, I stayed with the club."
I studied him closely. He wasn't much of a talker yet he spoke more today than any other time I've known him.
"I didn't expect you to chase after me, you had club business. You had to stick with your President and help him deal with things." I shrugged. "You and I are different from you and the club. I'll never ask you to choose between me and the club."
He nodded and smiled. He was back to my quiet man. We drove the rest of the way in silence. He wouldn't let me toy with the radio and I thought it best not to talk his ear off or press him to be more open with his feelings.
I felt my stomach flip as he pulled into the compound. I tightened my grip on the seatbelt as he parked the van and got out. I waited and took a few breaths before getting out and walking behind him into the clubhouse.
"You ready?" He asked. I nodded and he opened the door to the closed chapel and I walked in and he closed them back. I was alone in this. It was just the president and myself.
"Brianna." He stood and I walked to him. "Glad you're here."
"Yeah." I sat down in his seat and dared him with a single glance to protest it. "So what's up?"
"I want to apologize for how I handled the situation that was brought to me last night." He sat down on my left side and looked at me. His blue eyes were light and I tried to tell if he was being genuine.
"Ok." I made small circles with my hands and he nodded.
"I should have handled it better, I shouldn't have asked you what I did and I shouldn't have flipped when you didn't see things my way."
"I see." I stood and paced back and forth. My hands shoved into my pockets. "Well, like I said I don't need the Sons. So why should I bother with you?"
"We need you. You have the guns we need and possibly can help us even more in the future." He watched me.
"So, you basically want to be on my good side and not start a war you can't win?" I crossed my arms and stopped pacing when I was at his feet.
"Yes." He rubbed his hands on his jeans and stood up.
"Alright, I'll forgive you, but only because I still have to cash in on that second favor you owe me." I smirked. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Juice, I forgive but I do not forget. Make the most of this second chance because it's the last one you have Pretty Boy."
"Thanks." He pulled me into a hug and I grimaced. He smelled too much of cigarettes and not enough of leather.
"You should stop smoking so much." I pushed him away. "It's not attractive."
"You're being nice."
"I'm not a naturally malicious person. It takes a lot for me to get mad, and I'm not about holding grudges these days. Too old for that plus it's an energy drainer." I searched his eyes again and could tell he was thinking hard.
"You're like twenty one." He laughed.
"I'm closer to thirty." I tilted my head to the side and made a popping sound with my mouth. "Thanks though, I don't mind passing for twenty one."
"Why'd you request Hap to bring you here?" He pulled open the door and walked out ahead of me.
"Because he's my old man." I turned my head and found him at the pool table. "I needed him to stand by me and my decision and I needed to let him know I stood by him when he stood by you."
"You don't hate me?" He asked as he caught my gaze.
"Don't flatter yourself, I'm not available to put forth that much energy into you." I walked towards Happy and sat on the beat up leather sofa.
"You didn't kill him." Happy rasped.
"Yet." I smiled. "I accepted his apology, but I don't trust him."
Happy nodded and I smiled. "You're a head case."
"You can't use my own term on me!" I laughed and stuck my tongue out at him.
"Another Happy face?" He pinched the tip of my tongue and looked at the barbell. "I approve."
"Knew you would. So will you come with later?"
He clenched his jaw and stifled a laugh. "Mmhm."
"Dirty man." I closed my eyes as I felt the vibration of my phone in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen, I didn't recognize the number but answered it anyways.
"Hello."
"Brianna, it's Marcus." The voice was recognizable. I could have guessed it was him, if he hadn't said his name.
"What's up?"
"I need another shipment soon." He waited for my response.
"I got you for tonight if you're free. Picking up a new shipment." I could get him out of the way and have room to handle the Calaveras without interruption.
"I can do that." He said.
"I'll hit you with the address. See ya." I ended the call and pocketed the phone.
Standing between Happy and Jax wasn't how I planned on doing my business, I could deal with having Happy with me because I invited him to come along and Jax had insisted he join us. So here we were and I was annoyed by the amount of cigarettes he was able to smoke in the short time we had been standing around
"Who are we waiting for again?" Jax dropped his cigarette on the dirt and staunched its flame.
"We're waiting for my father." I leaned into my left hip and groaned. "Then I have a deal to handle with the Mayans."
"Really?" He asked. He sounded irritated.
"Is that a problem for you? You plan to go crazy and try to kill them?" I smacked his arm.
"No problem." He went to pull out another cigarette.
"No." I reached into my bag and pulled out the box of toothpicks. "Take one." I thrusted it towards him. "I insist."
"Thanks." He took one and placed it between his lips. "Cinnamon?"
"Yeah." I watched Happy take two and smiled.
I watched the caravan of white SUVs pull into the spots next to us and smiled as my dad climbed out of the backseat of the last one. He strolled over to us and gathered me into a hug.
"You feel better?" He asked.
"Ya. I do." I smiled. "Let's get this done. I got the Mayans coming at eight."
"Alright, alright. I got new hand guns for you princess." He lifted a hand and his goons came over with a suitcase and placed it on the table we sat at. I felt like a kid at Christmas when I opened the case. Chrome plated guns. Sleek and flashy. That was my style. I picked one up and felt the good weight of it in my hand.
"Love it." I set it down and pushed the case aside. "I want those three for myself. They wouldn't sell on the street too flashy. Next."
"Sniper rifles. Military grade. Scopes are powerful." My dad smiled at me as I picked one up and checked the scope.
"No." I shook my head. "I don't like it, but they'll sell."
"Why don't you like it?" He frowned at me. "Too big for you."
"I don't like the scope, could it be switched out for a higher grade laser scope?" I tried to remove the scope.
"Yes. I'll have the next ones equipped to your liking. Next we have semi and fully automatic guns." He nodded and the cases appeared.
"I'll take them. I don't need to check them out. Where are the shotguns?" I looked eagerly at the goons. "I want some."
"Why?" Jax finally asked.
"I like blowing substantial sized holes in things and people." I responded as my dad opened the case in front of me. "I'm gonna die of happiness. I need one of these. Do we have any Irish guns?"
"Of course." He said.
"I'll take them all. I'm done here. Register one of the handguns to me though yeah?" I stood up and walked to the swings.
"That's how you do business?" Jax appeared behind me.
"Simple as pie." I turned and looked at him. Then over to the table and saw my dad chatting up Happy.
"You're more in charge than I thought you were." He sat on the swing next to me. "Irish guns?"
"Yeah, imported to Russia, then Ukraine then brought here." I dragged my feet through the wood chips. "Guns aren't my thing really."
"What is?"
"Fake fits and perfect noses." I chuckled. "I inherited guns, had to embrace it. My brother is dead to my dad."
"I thought you were the only child."
I stood from the swing. "You thought wrong."
"Why are you being so open?" He asked.
"Because that's how you build trust with someone, you share just enough so the person knows you and trusts you and they in return share things about themselves." I kicked the wood chips.
"I'll remember that." He chuckled.
"Mayans." Happy yelled and I booked it over to him just in time to see the Mayans pull in, headlights flooded the space as they parked one by one next to the van and Jax's bike.
"I need that duffel." I reached over Happy and grabbed it. "This is going go be quick and easy."
"Brianna." Marcus gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Call me Bri. So let's get to this."
"Alright. Teller, Happy." He shook their hands.
"Everything you asked for is here." I pointed to the cases littering the ground. "Check them out."
"How'd you get them so fast?" He asked me.
"Just met with my dad before you got here. You saw the white SUVS." I sat on the table. "I have a question for you though."
"I'm listening."
"I need to know about this club. You know how they set back up so fast?" I held up the Calaveras cut.
"Where'd you get that?" His brow raised at the patches.
"Not difficult to steal a cut from a newly patched member." I dropped it on the table and frowned.
"I know nothing about the Calaveras setting back up. Only patched some of the others into the Mayans." He adjusted his cut.
"Alright, just needed to ask." I watched his men load the guns into their truck and smiled. "I got them asking for guns."
"Really?" He paused and turned back to face me.
"Yeah. Followed me and threatened to put a bullet in my head." I stepped forward.
"Them with guns could be a problem." He spoke. "I wouldn't sell to them."
"Good to know. I haven't heard from the president so maybe he doesn't need me after all. Be safe. I have guys posted all down the streets, just in case the Calaveras want to play follow the leader."
"I'll be safe."
"Byeeee." I turned back around and picked up the cut and shrugged it on. "I look good in leather boys."
"Wrong patches." Happy gruffed.
"Yeah, well I'll take what I can get for now." I grabbed the remaining duffels and walked to the van. "Let's go!" I called out and they hurried behind me.
"This is how you deal with your problem?" Jax pulled on the cut.
"No, no it's not. This is how my dad deals with problems." I slipped the cut off. "Can we go?" I looked at Happy.
"Yeah." He climbed in the van. "Back to the clubhouse."
"Sure." I shrugged. "Back to Charming."
SOASOASOA
The party was in full swing when Jax strolled in, Happy right behind him and Brianna lagging behind. She looked happy as a cut swung from her fingers,a smile plastered on her face as she approached me.
"Who's the party for?" She asked, her breath smelled like red hots once again.
"Kozik." I replied. "He wants to transfer to Redwood."
"Oh, where's he at? I haven't seen him in awhile!" Her eyes scanned the clubhouse.
"You've met him?"
She leaned into my shoulder. "Yes! He's my favorite Son besides Happy obviously."
"Ok, he's in the back with a croweater." I nodded.
"Of course he is. That's the way I met him. He was with some slag in a private room at the strip club." She let out a soft giggle.
"Happy took you to a strip club?" I flashed my goofy grin and laughed.
"Yeah, he did. It was cool. I enjoyed myself." She laughed. "Strippers are future clients."
"I guess that's true. Never met a stripper with real tits." I mumbled.
"Yeah you have! Natalie stripped her way through nursing school. Hers are all natural."
"Really? She was a stripper?" I didn't believe it, I'd have to ask her about it the next time I checked in on her.
"Yeah. She was good at it. It's how I met her. Legs spread swinging around the pole and I was like yup, she's going to be my best friend. Here we are 5 years later and she's basically my sister." Her voice was soft and her eyes sparkled when she said the last part.
"I didn't know you had so many siblings." I blurted.
"Yeah, I'm the third oldest." She leaned against the bar and the croweater serving drinks offered her a beer but she declined.
"Wow." I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands. "I feel bad for not knowing that."
"It wasn't supposed to be common knowledge." She shrugged. "Happy wants to talk to you when you have the time."
"Ok." I watched her walk off towards the dorms and felt a sudden sense of fear wash over me. What did Happy need to talk to me about? He wasn't even much of a talker.
I tensed as he came out of chapel and walked outside alone. I rolled my head from side to side then walked out to get the talk over with. I just hoped it wouldn't end with me getting my ass beat again, I was still healing from that.
"Hey Hap." I sat down on the bench next to him and he glanced at me.
"We need to talk." He said. "It's about Bri."
"I figured it would be."
"I'm not good with this talking things over shit, if you weren't a brother I'd kill you and be done with it and Bri made me promise not to hurt you." He smirked at me like the idea of killing me was still prominent in his mind.
"Alright."
"Don't drag Bri into anymore club shit, you were in no place to bring her up to Jax to begin with now my lady is being threatened by an MC. I don't need shit like this in her life because I can't be with her every day every hour."
"I'm sorry." I looked at him. "I regret that situation."
"I bet, just don't fuck with her and her well being. Don't try winning her over either because that'll get you killed brother or not. I'm fine with you two being friends just don't cross the line and don't disrespect me." He stood up and tossed away his cigarette. He gave me a look.
"I won't cross a line. She made it loud and clear. I'm just her friend and she's with you and only wants you." I hung my head and looked at him.
"I love that woman. I'd hate to see her get upset because I had to hurt you. And for the record I know her a whole lot more than you do." He walked off pulling open the doors and disappeared inside.
I sat and let his words sink in. It hurt to know she had moved entirely on from me and I still held on to pieces of our past relationship.
"Get it together Ortiz." Her voice was in my head again. I stood and shook the feeling away as I went back in side. I saw her wrapped in Happy's arms in a dimlit corner. I felt the heat of anger radiate in my chest, and tried my hardest to push it out.
"Hey hun." The croweater behind the bar whispered into my ear. "Wanna have fun?"
"Yes." I said and I let her lead me back to the room I called home most of the time. It was time for me to smoke and fuck away my feelings.