Chapter Three

Sassi

Things have quieted down since the last Mayan attack when SAMCRO was in town a few months ago. Besides the name change, it has been business as usual. Which is club, garage, and pussy... Not always in that order.

I've been locked away in the garage for the last month taking care of a bike for one of our oldest and most important customers. It's a beautiful nineteen forty-one Harley Davidson Knucklehead. I've been in full on restoration mode and enjoying working on such a rare bike. The fact that Jury trusts me to do this job on my own makes me double down on wanting everything to be perfect. Right down to the paint color. Fire engine red.

I'm just about done with her and it makes me a bit sad. Just a couple more days for some fine-tuning and she'll be ready for pickup. Ready to ride out into the sunset a new bike.

Hearing my phone ring I sigh and wipe my hands on a rag. Grabbing the phone I flip the top up and answer. " Hello? "

Hey, Sassi, it's Jax.

" Hey! " I say cheerily thankful to hear his voice. " Good to hear from you. I was just thinking about you all in Charming the other day. "

That's why I'm calling. My kid is getting out of the toaster soon and I want you to come meet him.

Little Abel is getting out! " If that isn't a reason to celebrate I don't know what is. I'm there with bells on. "

Good. I'll call with the details soon. Just talk to Jury and get the time off, okay?

" You got it. " I promise.

As soon as I hang up the phone I hear one of the girls scream before a commotion explodes. Heading into the clubhouse I see a group of girls huddled.

" What happened? " I ask breaking through to find Roxie crying.

Bridgette smacks her lips in irritation. " That Fred asshole backhanded her. "

" He wanted more than he paid for. You said to never give more than what's paid for upfront. " She says taking her hand away to reveal her puffy cheek.

Jesus Christ. That's going to swell to high hell. " Where is he? "

" He ran into Nala's room. She's out so two girls are holding the door shut with him inside. " She tells me while nodding to room seven.

I huff in irritation. " Okay, good. Take her to her room. I'll be there in a minute. "

I watch as they head back to Roxie's room. Once they're out of sight I head over to the security booth. " Roe! " I yell up.

If it's not one thing it's another I swear! The guys that frequent this place know better than to beat on the girls. Unfortunately, every once in a while, there's a fuck-around-and-find-out type in the bunch. And that's Fred's tired ass.

" What's up, Sassi? " He says as he comes out.

Scowling up at him I say, " Fred hit Roxie. They have him locked in room seven. Deal with him accordingly. "

Roe shakes his head before going straight to room seven. The next thing I hear is, " Hey man, I paid "!

I hear a scuffle before Fred is thrown into view with Roe coming right behind him. " The only rule we have is this place is no hitting. You can't follow that, you're out. And don't come back. "

...

Going into the kitchen I get a zip-lock bag and fill it with ice before wrapping a kitchen towel around it. Fucking asshole better not have fucked up her face. I shouldn't talk since I've fucked up my own share of faces, but still.

I get to Roxie's room and knock twice before entering. She's sitting at her vanity staring at her face. Probably wondering when she's going to be able to earn again. Sitting next to her, I place the towel on her face.

" Leave this on for a while. " I tell her. " And take ibuprofen it'll help with the swelling. "

Trying her best to smile she says, " thanks, Sassi ".

" Chin up, babe. " I say smiling back. " You're going to be okay. "

Leaving her to rest I head back to work. I'll work on her for a few more hours before calling it quits until the morning. I haven't been to my apartment since starting work on the Knucklehead. Of course, I have my own bunk here at the clubhouse but I don't like staying in it. When I'm done for the night all I want is to eat and sleep but before I can I get the luxury of hearing bitches bitch like I'm the damned complaint department.

I guess I can't complain. They know I have Jury's ear and mostly the requests of the girls are fair and logical. He wasn't always as receptive to my rallying for them but after a security breach and one of the girls ending up six feet under, he came around.

He likes to tell people the story of the time I ruined his best girl's face as when he gave me the " reigns " so to speak. We don't really talk about what happened when Arlene was killed due to the club's negligence. It was also the incident that left a seven-year-old girl orphaned.

Flashback

Three Years Earlier

Coming out of the garage I have every intention of getting some lunch and heading right back in. That is until Cherry corners me in the kitchen with a weird look.

Irritated I ask, " what "?

" Didn't you hear? " She asks in surprise. " They found Arlene's body in a dumpster close to Vegas. They think it was the Mayans. "

My blood runs cold. Arlene has been missing for three days. Normally when a girl goes missing there wouldn't be anything abnormal. We'd reason that she met some guy and ran off... The fact that she left her daughter, Bri behind was very strange. The seven-year-old was hanging out with me in the garage as she usually did when her mom had a client when we realized she was missing. Apparently, she walked her John out to his car and never came back. No one saw anything and Bri has been terrified ever since. Now I have to tell her that her mom isn't coming back. Jesus Christ.

Arlene may have been a working girl, but she loved her daughter more than anything. She came up in the system so when she got pregnant by accident she knew she only had two options. She knew that if she couldn't go through with the abortion, she'd never do what her mother did. She would never give her baby away. In the three years, I knew her she never told me what she did for a living before finding herself in the clubhouse. All she ever said was the MC was the safest place for both of them to be. That is until the Mayans got their bullshit started.

Of course, no one wanted to listen when I suggested putting better security around the girls. They stupidly think their presence alone is enough to secure thirty women from a pissed-off rival MC.

End Flashback

Uncle Jury and I had it out after that. The security booth was put in and there are always ten armed men in the clubhouse specifically for the girls. Once that happened we started getting girls from all over wanting to apply. Protection is important in sex work and we are one of the safest legal brothels in Nevada.

With more girls, we of course got more business. After that uncle Jury knew better than to question me too much. I only have his business' best interests at heart after all.

...

Laying in my bunk a few nights later I hum in contentment. The Knucklehead was picked up today and the client gave glowing reviews. He's happy, Jury's happy, I got paid very well and I'm happy. Perfect ending.

It was bittersweet to see her go, but I know the love, time, and energy I put into her wasn't in vain. Suddenly, my phone vibrates next to me. A text message. Opening it I smile.

From: Jax

9:42 PM

Abel's getting out of the toaster.

Come to Charming tmw?

Feeling my smile widen I type him a reply.

To: Jax

9:50 PM

I'm there.

I then get out of bed and head into the bar where I find the man I'm looking for playing poker with the brothers. " Hey Jury? "

" Yeah, Sass? " He says as he looks up from his cards.

Leaning against the bar I say, " Jax's son is getting out of the NICU. I need to head to Charming for a few days. "

" Take a week. " He says with a shrug. " Visit with your family over there for a while. After the work you put in the last month, you deserve some time off. "

Well, that was easier than I thought. " You're the best, unc. "

" Don't you go forgetting that fact. " He calls after me.

...

" Why are we going? " Bri asks as I help her pack for the trip to Charming.

I sit perched on her bed watching the young girl I've been looking over for the last three years. " Our family in Charming is welcoming a baby home from the hospital. You remember my dad right? "

" The weird guy with the crazy eyes? " She asks with some fear.

Laughing uncontrollably I nod. " That's him. Trust me he's a puppy dog when it comes to kids. And Opie has a daughter and son around your age that you can hang out with. "

" Okay. I'm ready. " She says before stuffing her PSP in her backpack.

We head out into the main clubhouse and I'm immediately barraged.

" Don't leave me. " Bridgette begs as she wraps her arms around me.

I laugh at the young girl and peel her off of me. She's only nineteen and I've been like a mother hen to her for the last six months.

" I'm only going to be gone for a week. The guys all know to stick to the script. You'll be fine. "

" Finnnee. " She says but doesn't miss the chance to send me a pouty look.

" Be good. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. " I tell her seriously. " That goes for all of you. " I call out to the others.

Picking my bag up I look at Bri. " Did you say goodbye to uncle Jury? "

She runs into the garage and I shake my head and head out to my Cadillac. Popping the trunk I set my bag in just as Bri comes running out. She puts her bag with mine and we get in. After the seat belt check I slip my sunglasses on and start the car. Time to go home.

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