As promised, I bring you a new chapter. I'm in the process of editing and typing up at least 2-3 more over the next couple days. Hope you like it. As always, read & review. ~ khaotik
My head spun as everyone rushed around us, gushing with drunken wishes of congratulations. From across the yard, I caught Filip's eye. He beamed with pride, his cheeks flush as he carried our son.
"Let me see this little princess." The hiss of Clay's voice set my hair on end. I had successfully avoided him since the moment we pulled up to the huge crowd gathered in our front yard. "Chibs is gonna wanna make sure he keeps this one under lock and key." I forced the sneer forming on my lips into a smile and dropped my eyes to the sleeping bundle in the stroller. My hands grip the handle almost painfully.
"Well I'm sure he won't be alone. Opie, Jax and Filip were already discussing arrangements for her security detail. Ellie and Michaela are never gonna date." I struggle to keep my voice light. Filip appears at my side, his free arm snaking around me, pulling me toward him.
"I'm stealin my girl Clay. Tara wants her ta rest." I relax next to him and flash the older man a quick smile.
"You go get some rest baby girl. I'm sure momma is gonna be all over these two little ones." I chuckle.
Filip leads me away, his hand caressing my back. I lean against him, thankful for his interruption. "Y'all righ love?" He kisses my temple. "If this is too much, I'll get rid of em."
"Nah, let them have their fun." I let my eyes fall on my brother and father with a smile. "I'll rest later when Neeta comes over to help out."
"Well let's get this beautiful ass in a chair and ya can hold yer son while I steal my princess away." His pride is adorable. I try to forget the lingering effects of my run in with Clay. He helps me into a chair next to Tara and Lila.
During the incarceration, Tara grew closer with our family, bringing the boys over to family dinners with Dad and Opie. I had my sister back. Sometimes I would look around the table at our family and could feel Donna at my side. She might not have chosen Lila as her successor but at least Opie faked being alive. He only let me see the side that missed her.
Tara came to me a month before the guys were set to come home. She gave me a stack of letters and showed me the words my uncle poured out before he died. JT loved this woman but more than that, he trusted her. His letters painted a sickening picture.
I sat at the hospital with my family on more than one occasion in the days following his accident, believing it was just that. I could never imagine it was something more, something so twisted. John practically predicted the way he would die, clearly pointing his pen at Clay and Gemma. I couldn't look at either of them without my stomach turning.
She gave me permission to tell Filip but I hadn't been able to yet. The timing and the words just never matched up. He knew there was a reason I was uncomfortable around Clay but he chalked up to Donna.
"You need anything baby?" Filip leans over me. I shake my head and smile at him as he places Ian in my arms. Stooping down to look me in the face. "You're amazin. Ya know that?"
"Thank you for everything Filip." I run my hand over his arm.
A drunken roar interrupts us and I hear my father's voice calling Filip back to them. He gives me a sloppy kiss on the temple and almost gallops back to the celebrating group.
I could see the divide in our family. Lines had been drawn since this morning's issues. I knew they still had a late night vote Filip was worried about. They tried to hide it and anyone on the outside would never know the drama. I wasn't even sure Tara knew how desperate this was yet.
I tried to put that out of my mind and enjoy this moment. The moment when it seemed like we were safe and whole. I ignored the nagging feeling in my gut and instead, nuzzled my face against the sleeping boy in my arms.
A few days later, I pace the lot with Tara. The guys were getting ready to leave for a run and I knew the risk for everyone involved. I didn't like any of it and Filip didn't either. He'd raged about it the other night when the vote finally passed.
I couldn't believe my brother and Jackson had voted for this. I still hadn't said a word to either of them. Opie kept his distance. Jax just hung his head and kept mumbling a half-ass apology, promising to explain it when shit settled. This was SAMCRO, shit never settled.
"Kids with Neeta?" Tara asks, her concerned glare is oddly annoying today. I nod, turning in my path.
Jax and Filip break away from where the guys. They head our way and the irritation on Filip's face speaks volumes. My head droops and I struggle to bite back my tears. I promised I wouldn't let my out of control hormones make this worse.
I feel his arms wrap around me, pulling me to his chest. He doesn't say a word as he rocks me. I wouldn't have believed any of his false promises to come back. The bile rises in my throat. Tears sting my eyes. I grip his cut and pull him against me.
"I love ya." He whispers. "My angel."
"I love you too." I push away from him, pressing my forehead against his. "I think I always have."
He kisses me once on the forehead before turning to Tara. "Thank ya for helpin my girl, my family." His voice breaks. His eyes are hidden but I'm not fooled. Jax finally joins us, meeting my terrified eyes before turning away, clearly shaken.
"Bring him back to me." I keep my gaze locked on my brother. "If this goes South, it's on you." I walk away, not wanting to hear anything else Jax could say. Instead I head over to where my dad sits, just as pissed off as I am.
"Y'all right baby girl?" He slurs as I sit down next to him. "Where's my grandbabies?"
"Home with Neeta. I didn't want to break down in front of them." I lean forward, propping my elbows on my knees and letting my head hang. My dad rubs his hand across my back in a half-hearted attempt at comfort. I feel Filip's stare on me as I avoid his eyes. I don't trust myself not to cry.
"I'm heading up to the cabin." Dad pushes himself off the bench and stands in front of me. "You gonna be ok?"
"Yeah." I lie. "You be careful pop." He kisses me on the cheek before ambling off toward his bike. Filip takes his vacated seat next to me and pulls me over to him.
"I'll have my phone with me all day. Neeta's gonna bring the kids over here while I get some work done. Promise you'll call and check in as soon as you can?" I bring my eyes up to meet his. My own anger and fear are reflected on his face.
"Aye love." He kisses me. "I promise. You get some rest. You're doin too much."
"We're goin." Clay calls out and everyone moves reluctantly. Filip grips my hand, pulling me behind him as he makes his way toward his bike. A firm grip closes over my arm and I stop. Opie pulls me to him.
"I'm sorry." He whispers as he hugs me. He doesn't need to say anything else to push me over my breaking point. The sobs break as I bury my face in his chest. "I'm so sorry Bree."
"Just get your ass back here in one piece." I finally manage to choke out.
"Yes ma'am." Opie hugs me again before getting on his bike. I turn back to Filip.
Before I can say anything, his mouth crashes against mine in a greedy hunger. "Stay outta trouble." He murmurs after breaking away. I back away, joining Tara near the clubhouse as the guys file out.
The Next Morning
"You didn't have to come with." I tell my dad for the millionth time as he pulls into the hospital parking lot. "It's just a checkup."
"Don't tell me what I need to do." He grumbles, parking the station wagon near the entrance.
Once inside, he mumbles an excuse to wander off and I gladly let him. Dad was angry and sober, never a good combination.
"Ms. Winston." An unfamiliar voice stops me. "A moment?"
Tara's boss Margaret stands behind me. "Is there a problem? Our insurance paperwork is up to date."
"No, nothing like that." She leads me toward a consultation room. "I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Knowles."
"Is Tara ok?" I stare at her confused.
"She is right now." Margaret wrings her hands, apparently uncomfortable. I raise my eyebrow, waiting for her to go on. "She's been offered several positions recently."
"I know." I tell her. "She told me."
"I want her to consider them." Margaret stops and looks up at me. "She needs encouragement from those she loves."
I shake my head and laugh. "You want me to provide that encouragement?"
"I do." She straightens up, suddenly finding her courage. "You don't want a better life for your friend?"
"Tara's my family." I correct her. "I want nothing more in this world than for my family to be safe. I would gladly push her to leave if I thought that would make her safe."
"You don't?" Suddenly Tara appears at the window, her face pale and worried. She opens the door.
"Bree, it's Piney." She doesn't need to say anymore. I push the stroller through the door and we race to the ER.
I pace outside my dad's door, watching as doctors and nurses file in and out. My heart races in fear. Finally Tara emerges from his room.
"I think he'll be ok. His oxygen levels are low and his heart rate is out of control. We're going to monitor him for a little bit and see if we can get it under control." She explains in a low whisper. "He wants to talk to us. He's asking about the letters"
"Tell him." I confirm for her. "He needs to know."
I follow her back into the room. Piney lays there wires and tubes surrounding him as he struggles to sit up. The stubborn man had something he needed to get off his chest. I sit back and listen to Tara explain what the doctor said.
"The alcohol ain't helping dad." I chime in when he starts to argue.
"Tell me about JT." Tara sits down, settling in.
"He was a complicated guy. Angry, impulsive, just righteous as hell." I smile at the vague memory of my uncle. "He hated being wrong. Not very educated but book smart though. He used to devour them, three or four of them at a time. And he was loyal, too loyal."
"Sounds familiar." Tara hangs her head.
"They're cut from the same cloth." My dad chuckles before his grim expression returns. "What I wanna know is what my best friend was scared of when he died."
Tara sighs, leaning forward. She looks over at me for one last confirmation. "I found some of JT's old letters. He was trying to get the club out of the gun business. He knew it was a risk, Clay and the others were invested."
"Trying to get them out how?" My dad's eyes narrow.
"From what I read, he set up a meeting in Belfast with some IRA members and a priest." Tara answers.
"Kellan Ashby?" He sits forward. Tara nods.
"John wanted to end the relationship with the Irish, stop the club from selling guns." She continues.
"He was killed before that meeting happened pop." I interrupt. He lays back, taking in all the information.
Gemma pushes open the door and sticks her head in. "Hey, how we doin? Okay?"
"We're gonna run some more tests, make sure he's stable." Tara meets my eye across the room. I bite my tongue in front of Gemma.
"Just give him a shot of tequila; that will help." Gemma jokes. Tara stands to leave.
"I'll check on you later." She pats my dad's leg and steps out.
"Get some rest. I'll be back after these two are done." I give my dad a kiss and follow Tara out.