The night sky above her head sparkled dully with the few stars she could see through the thick veil of light pollution that hung thick over the major cities. It was sad that she had never been able to see the smattering of stars that she had read about in books and seen in movies. In her dreams, they were romantic and beautiful as they sparkled across the sky in the darkness. She sat with a faceless man who would wrap her in his arms and whisper sweet nothings in her ear until she was mush. It was only a fantasy, a dream that she would savor and hold close to her heart for all her days.

Veila's phone rang in her hand as she looked up in the sky. A sigh slipped from her lips as she looked down and read Jax's name. Her phone had been going off nonstop since Opie had dropped her off at home. He had been blabbering about how sorry he was for pushing her too far. Then he started going on about how much he missed her lips…

How they got her number, she had no fucking clue, but she wasn't ready to talk to them. Not when Opie was still married, no matter how complicated the situation may be, not when Jax seemed to be using her for fucked up game, and not when Happy was interested in staking some caveman claim on her.

The call stopped ringing in her hand, and she felt instant relief. The first time they began calling, she picked up an unknown number, and Jax started asking her where she had been hiding from them. Happy had called next, and his low gravel voice made her shiver as he had demanded to know where she was. She didn't even say hello before he explained how they needed to talk to her.

She hung up before she could rush into meeting up with them.

She didn't know who it was the second time he called, and it was a bit more awkward. There was silence on the line and heavy breathing. She'd been seconds away from hitting the big red button when Happy's rumbling voice asked her to meet him at a coffee shop.

She did not go.

The voicemails were the worst.

"Happy told us what happened…" Ugh, delete.

"Being an old lady doesn't…" Delete.

Gemma's voicemail was concerning, "Really, I don't know why you're so freaked out about being an old lady. It's like getting married, except more."

Oh, Gemma, who raised you to be an object? Delete.

"Thanks for listening to me last night," Awe Opie said. "We need to talk though, you, me, Jax, and Happy." Delete. Ugh, couldn't he just say thank you and leave her with the memory of their steamy kiss and her almost orgasm?

There was only one from Happy, "Call me." Sweet, simple, and to the point, but who did he think he was? Making demands? Ridiculous.

It was her gold pussy, not theirs.

Fuckers.

From behind her, Sasha cleared his throat, "Boss, we gotta finish this."

Oh, right, she was supposed to be working.

Veila slipped her phone in her pocket and shook herself loose. She had things to do, and she couldn't let herself get distracted. It would be dealt with later, but it was time for business.

She turned back to the alley they were in and tried to get herself back in the swing of things. They had been making a name for themselves in Sacramento for over a week, and she was tired. Her body hurt, and she felt the ache and need for sleep in her bones.

Most businesses like hers did things violently, but she preferred to keep things under the radar by donating to local charities and buying out small struggling businesses so they could rent to them cheaper and offer a little protection if needed. They wanted to be seen by the locals as their white knights, ready to save them in their time of need. It created a good image of her company and made her seem kind and charitable rather than violent and crazy.

None of it would have been possible if Gregori hadn't sent them a hundred men to build their new location. She scattered them around the area so they could watch and wait for opportunities to pop up. While they did this, she began to create business opportunities. Her men used their talents to open tattoo shops, food pantries, auto repair, car sales, and loans. Great for bringing in extra cash and even more wonderful for occasionally laundering of money.

These moves, while seemingly harmless, had brought them unwanted attention. Someone, a coward, had sent a small group to threaten her and her men rather than deal with her face-to-face. That was why she was standing in a dark, filthy alley near midnight.

The miserable fuck dressed in a disgusting shade of purple was on his knees shaking, acting tough as he tried to stare her down, and he was sent to scare her.

Funny.

"Who told you to find me?" She whispered it close to his face, smiling.

He spit on her cheek and screamed, "Bitch!"

It made her want to gag, but instead, she wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"You should have chosen someone more talkative to live," Sasha pointed out as he smacked the man with the back of his hand. The ma staggered back on his knees and groaned.

Veila held up a finger and narrowed her eyes at her friend, "It's not my fault they bled out so quickly. Fuck it, at this point, he doesn't need to live to pass my message on," she turned back to the kneeling man, "But I do need to know who sent him."

Their messenger boy was struggling against the duct tape around his ankles and wrists. It reminded her of something she had been researching when she was bored at night. Laughing, she reached into her sweater and pulled out her knife, and she decided to find out, "You know what, because of all this terrible behavior, I'm gonna cut out your eye."

His eyes widened as he tracked her movements. Taking in her long, sharp knife as she waved it through the air. The profanities increased, rolling off his tongue fluidly, but they brought her a calming sense of peace. Men like this didn't start cursing profusely unless they knew they were in trouble. In times like this, the body and mind started to panic and work against each other. The body begins to shake and freak out, while the mind starts telling the body to act, to do what they're told so they can live no matter how slim the chance might be.

Much to this man's dismay, he was in a lot of trouble. Her happiness increased immensely as he struggled. His situation set in as she approached him slowly.

"Nothing to say now?" she taunted him. "No more names you want to call me?"

His body shook, and his eyes held fear, "You're not gonna do shit, bitch."

"Sasha, hold his head. I'm going to cut his eye out," she pressed the tip of the blade into the soft skin under his right eye, "and feed it to him."

The tough guy thrashed around like a wild animal as Sasha grabbed him around the neck and held him still. Her other men in the alley turned away, knowing she wasn't one to speak and not follow through.

Her knife worked quickly. Stabbing through his lower lid and gliding up and around his eye until nothing was holding it in place. He screamed, loud and clear into the crisp night, as she pried his eye out with her finger, popping it out into the palm of her hand. Blood coated her hands and arms like thick, warm, red lotion as it spilled down his face.

She laughed wickedly, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

He rolled over onto his side, clutching his face as he screamed, "You stupid cunt! That's my fuckin eye!"

Veila was filled with adrenaline now. She wanted to see him squirm, hear him beg and plead before she broke him, "I hear eyes pop like grapes," I held his eye up in the dim light, looking it over carefully, "Never tried it myself, of course, but the internet never lies, right?"

Sasha looked like he would hurl any second as his skin took on a light green tint, "Don't worry, Sasha, this tasty treat is for our friend here."

Veila squeezed his cheeks until his lips opened slightly and the eye slipped into his screaming mouth. Her hand covered his lips as Sasha held him still, "Go on, chew and swallow. We have all the time in the world to wait."

He struggled against them until he had no energy left. His body slowly went limp as he struggled to breathe until he finally chewed and swallowed it. When they released him, he puked all over himself while sobbing.

Her laughter rang out, eching against the brick walls wickedly, "Disgusting, can't believe you did it. Tell me, did it pop?"

He glared at her, his eyes taking her in like it was the first time, as if he was truly seeing her for what she was. A crazy bitch, he was utterly defeated, broken, and exhausted. He nodded.

"Are you ready to answer my questions? They're very easy, I promise."

A slow nod.

"Good. What's your name?"

His voice was low and rough, "Derrik."

"Who told you to find me?"

"My boss," he whispered softly as the light started to fade from his eyes.

Her knife found its way inside his thigh, "Wrong answer."

Tears streamed from his one good eye, "Laroy!"

"Very good. Last name?"

"Wayne."

"Lovely. Why did he want you to find me?"

When he took too long to answer, she pressed down on the knife in his thigh and watched the blood pour from the wound.

"This is gonna be Niners territory."

"Gonna be implies it's not, so it's up for grabs."

He didn't reply. That was fine, she didn't need an answer for that.

"Where can we find your boss, Laroy Wayne?"

"Oakland," He answered quickly, "He's in Oakland."

"Wonderful. Sasha, I think we're done here."

Her handy dandy right-hand man nodded and snapped their new friend's neck. They couldn't afford to leave witnesses.

"Gather the rest of the bodies with a few men. Drop them in the center of Oakland tonight."

Sashe turned to her frowning, "I'll take you home. You need a shower."

Looking down, she noted that her clothes were covered in blood and just a little vomit, "Don't worry about me. I'll call a friend." They had been on her mind all night, distracting her.

He laughed, "Your boyfriends?"

She rolled her eyes. They weren't her boyfriends, but she definitely needed to deal with the situation, "Only one of them, maybe," the least annoying one, she thought to herself, "I'm buying a car tomorrow. I hate asking for favors."

"Whatever. I'll see you at home later." He turned his back to her and started giving orders to the queasy looking guys that had watched her work. They knew she was in charge but they also knew that Sasha was her number two. If she wasn't talking he was and they better listen.

"Before you come home, I need you to look into a few warehouses and an apartment for yourself. I'm tired of finding your socks everywhere."

He didn't look at her, "I'll see what I can do."

He left her alone for her uncomfortable phone call. Finding the number was easy, but hitting the call button was hard.

She did it and deserved a cookie with milk after her shower. The phone rang several times, and for a moment she thought he wouldn't pick up, "Veila, what the fuck?"

"Well, hello to you too, you grouchy fuck."

"We've been calling you," he said. His voice was rough, like she had just woken him up. She checked the clock. A bit after twelve-thirty now, maybe she had.

"I know you have. I've been busy..."

"Doing what?" His voice was growly and it sent little tingles to her girly parts.

"Investing," she hoped he would let it die there, "Can you do me a favor?"

She could hear him shuffling around, "What do you need?"

Her eyes closed, and she took a deep breath, "I need a ride."

Silence greeted her on the other end, "Really? I thought you'd be the type to call a taxi."

She laughed, "I wish I could, but I can't. I'm covered in blood and a little vomit."

More silence, "Hello?"

"Where are you?" His voice was a growl now, low and dangerous.

"Sacramento."

"Fuck that's an hour away," he didn't sound happy.

"I'm near the Costco in Elk Grove. I can meet you in the parking lot."

"Fine." Click.

"The audacity," she muttered as she stared at the ended phone call. He had a lot of nerve, but then again so did she for asking for help.

Waving to Sasha, she tucked her knife away and began to walk. It was silent and lovely. Light pollution hid most of the stars, but the ones she could see were stunning.

The walk was perfect, and the parking lot was empty. She still hid in the darkest corner and answered her emails while she waited. Gregori was a few hours ahead of her, but she responded whenever possible. He seemed to be doing fine without her, but he checked in and kept her updated with what was happening.

Time dragged on, and the blood on her skin started to get sticky and dry in places, making her uncomfortable, but eventually, a truck pulled into the lot and made its way to her. Relief was instant when Opie, looking ruffled and tired, leaned across the bench seat and pushed the door open.

He threw her a shirt, "Change."

She did as she was told and stripped naked as he watched her. His eyes trailed down her body and lingered on her breasts before taking in her tattoos and piercings, "Only a shirt?"

"You wouldn't fit into my sweats."

"True." The shirt she was wearing was already like an oversized dress on her. Passing her mid-thigh and hanging loose.

"Toss yours in the bed, shoes too. Under the toolbox."

When she was done and dressed, she sat in the front seat and buckled up, "Thanks for this. Sasha needed the van to drop things off."

He cocked a brow, "Things?"

"Yeah."

"What happened, Veila?"

"Someone sent a 'group' to find me."

His grip tightened on the steering wheel, "Who?"

"No one important. Besides, they're dead now."

He frowned, "Did you kill them?"

"Not all of them," Though she wished she had, "Just one actually," she smiled, "I fed him his eye."

The truck rumbled as they drove away, "You're happy about that?"

"Very. Confirmed all my internet research."

"God damn it, Veila. What are you even doing?"

"Making a name for myself. If I can't earn the right level of respect and fear, I'll never be able to get enough business to run for the IRA permanently in California."

"I thought you wanted to work, be normal?"

"I did. I do, but I won't let my father's business die with me."

"Can't your brother take over?"

"He tried. Then he stole from the IRA, and I had to make him go away."

Opie glanced at her, looking nervous, "You killed him?"

She shook her head, "No, but I bloodied him up and sent him to some bum fuck town in Wisconsin."

"You work with the Irish?"

"Yeah. My dad worked with them for fifty years, and I'm going on year eleven."

The next hour went quickly and quietly. He seemed to be taking in everything she told him, but she couldn't be sure. He didn't look at her anymore; nothing about his body language told her anything. When he pulled up to her little green house, he turned to her, looking torn.

"You're okay with this life, aren't you?"

"It's my life, too. Deep down, I know it always will be, too."

"What about everything else?"

"That is an unreachable dream, I'm afraid."

"What kind of jobs were you applying for?"

She blushed and looked away, "Well, I have a degree in education… I was applying for a few teaching positions," she sighed and looked sadly out the window, "but who would want me anywhere near their kids?"

"I would. You're smart, funny, kind, and beautiful."

She smiled at him; he was so sweet, "Thank you, Opie, but you may be the only one. I've been turned away from every job I've applied to. I may have to settle for teaching my kids one day."

"You want kids?"

"One day, sure. When I've got good people to run things for me."

He looked thoughtful for a moment before stepping out into the night. He crossed around and opened her door, "Come on, I'll help you inside."

"I can do it."

He ignored her and lifted her into his arms before slamming the door shut to carry her to her door. Holding onto his neck, she unlocked the door, and he took her effortlessly upstairs and into her bedroom.

"Thank you," She whispered as he set her down on her bathroom sink.

"Don't thank me yet. You owe me a shower."

"I do?" Looking him up and down, she noticed that he did have traces of blood around his neck and arms.

"You do."

Hopping onto the floor, she turned the shower on before turning back, "I hope you like it hot then."

Stripping again, she stepped into the cold water and shivered as he watched her through the glass door. The water warmed quickly, and when she moaned at the heat, he began to strip. His hands connected with her almost instantly. He rubbed the dried blood away until it was gone. He replaced his hands with her soapy luffa and began to feel her everywhere.

Up her arms, around her neck, and over both her breasts until she was putty in his hands. Returning the favor, she began with his chest and washed him until her hands wrapped around the base of his thick cock. When she was about to drop to her knees, he pushed her against the wall and placed her legs around his waist.

"I'm not going to come in your mouth, not tonight."

Without letting her protest, he thrust into her pussy and claimed her lips with his. The kiss dominated and sent heat through her body, setting her body on fire with desire and need.

Her back his the wall of the shower as his lips moves down her neck and latched onto her nipples sucking and lapping at them until she was whimpering and begging him to fuck her harder and harder. His fingers dug into her hips and she clung to him fiercely as he used her body.

The water went cold over their bodies, but they kept each other warm as they moved against each other.

He hit a spot deep inside, and she screamed, "Opie!"

"I love it when you say my name, baby." His fingers gripped her tight and gave her the right nip of pain to make her tremble.

"More. Please!"

Opie took her throat in his hand and squeezed, "You don't make demands," but he did what she asked and fucked her harder.

He slid a hand between them and rubbed her clit as he dominated her mouth. Seconds later, she was screaming through her orgasm as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hips pumping into her slowly as he groaned, releasing his hot come into her fluttering pussy.

When his cock slipped free, she whimpered softly.

Opie kissed her lips gently, "Don't worry, baby, I'm not finished with you yet."