Chapter Four

TM

Sassi

Bri and I pull up to SAMCRO HQ just before noon. The little thing is wide-eyed as her curious gaze falls over everything in sight. " Ready? " I ask as I put the car in park.

" They're family, right? " She asks cautiously.

I don't blame her for being like that though. to with everything she has been through.

" Yes. They're family. Everyone is going to love you, don't worry so much. Come on. " I say before opening the door and getting out.

Getting our bags out of the trunk I hand Bri her backpack and we head to the entrance.

" Sassi! " I hear just before we get to the door.

Turning around I see one of my oldest friends.

" Jaycee! " I exclaim as we embrace tightly.

I love this girl right here. Don't let the girl next door looks fool you. She's such a fucking badass that gets to get her hands dirty with my dad. He has always had glowing reviews of her " techniques ". Whatever that means. I surely don't want to know.

" It has been way too long! " I tell her as well pull away. " I was hoping to see you when Indian Hills patched over. "

She nods and rolls her eyes in irritation. " I was handling something more boring for the club. You know they like to keep me away when they head out to uncle Jury's. "

True that. While she'd never come home and tell the old ladies what she saw... I can see why the guys leave her behind. Especially since uncle Clay fucked Cherry when they were in town last time. And then the dumb bitch came here after the prospect and got her nose broken by an angry old lady.

I told her coming here would open a can of worms she wasn't prepared for when she said she was heading to Charming with Jucie. I love the woman, but Gemma can be pretty ruthless when it comes to what's hers. We're the same in that way.

Not Jaycee though. She knows the deal and plays her role.

" Yeah, it sucks... " I say kicking up some dirt on the ground. " But I'm glad we have some time to hang out. "

Bri sneezes making herself known to the first lady of SAMCRO. " Hi, what's your name? " Jaycee asks as she leans down to her level.

" This is Jaycee. " I tell Bri before turning my attention back. " This is my goddaughter Bri. "

Jaycee smiles at the young girl. " Hello. Is that Bri as in Briana? "

" Brielle. " She says timidly.

Not missing a beat Jaycee says, " oh, that's a pretty name ".

" Thank you. " She says cutely.

Chuckling she says, " you're welcome little one. Why don't we head in and get you guys settled? There isn't a lot of room at the moment so we're going to be sharing my bunk as usual. "

" Well come on, babe, let's get settled. " I say leading her into the clubhouse.

...

" Baby! "

" Daddy! " I say jumping into his arms.

He swings me around and it's almost like I'm Bri's age again. " Welcome home. " He says before putting me down.

I turn to Bri who's looking very uncomfortable. " Bri here thinks you're pretty scary, dad. "

" Does she now? " He asks eyeing the young girl. " Don't you worry little darlin', I'm only mean to the big scary men. "

She gives him a wide-eyed look. " Promise? "

" I'll lay down my life for you. That's a promise. " He says crossing an X over her heart.

It's then that I see the look that must have been in my eyes the first time he told me that. There was no questioning if he meant it because his eyes never lie. Don't get me wrong, he can be very scary... They didn't make him sergeant at arms just because the position was available. He's ruthless when it comes to club business. But to kids? Never. He's too much of a teddy bear to the little puddin' people.

" Reese? Baby, is that you? "

Turning around I laugh at who's calling me by my government.

" Gem, look at you! " I say not believing how good she still looks at her age.

Smiling she gives me a once-over. " No look at you. You've certainly grown up, baby. "

" Yes, I have. This is my goddaughter Bri. " I say introducing the mother of SAMCRO to the little girl. " Bri this is aunt Gemma. "

The little girl shrinks back a bit. " Hi. "

" Well, you're a cute one. " The older woman says to her with a warm, motherly smile. " Welcome, baby. "

Bri smiles widely at the compliment. " Thank you. I like your hair. "

" Aren't you a sweetie pie? Just like your god mama. " She says pushing Bri's hair out of her face.

I roll my eyes. " Come on, Gem, you know you're hot. Hey, unc. " I say when Clay enters the room.

" Sorry about all this, baby. " He says pulling me in for a hug. " We were planning on something different for both yours and Abel's homecoming. "

Smiling I shake my head. " It's okay, I know how it is. At least I'm here and can help out. "

" Good girl. " He says before picking up his gun and making sure everything is working properly.

The doorbell buzzes and my eyes are on the camera right above the back door. An older-looking cop is on the screen.

" Unser at the back door. " Gemma tells uncle Clay.

He sighs. " Let him in. " Looking at my dad he says, " Shut those doors. "

" Keep him quiet. " Dad tells them and I hear Juice say, " okay ", just as the door closes.

Gemma lets the cop in and uncle Clay continues to hold his gun. " What can I do for ya, chief? "

The old man looks quite uncomfortable. " I need to bring you down to the station house... Ask a few questions. "

" Why? What happened? " Gemma asks in place of her old man.

Unser looks uncomfortable discussing it in front of me and Gemma but decides to anyway. " Someone went after Darby last night. Killed one of his guys. Two women. At his house, in Charming. "

" You think it was us? " Gemma asks.

He sighs. " I also found two Mayans in a ditch off 18. Half mile out of town. Last time I looked at the scoreboard, Nords and Mayans were the away team. "

" Glad you're rooting for the home team, chief. " Uncle Clay says with a smile.

Unser doesn't take too kindly to that. " Can I see you for a minute? "

They leave off into another room and my dad is instantly at Gemma's side. " It's okay, Gem. It's all good. Hey, baby? " He asks looking to me. " Will you go put a pot of coffee on? "

" You got it. " I say before heading into the kitchen.

Getting the water in the percolator I add the coffee ground and plug it in. I love these older coffee machines. They make a much better-tasting cup of coffee.

Heading back out I see my dad up in arms. " Hey, you do not go alone. "

" Hey, I think I could keep him safe. " Unser says clearly having got his own way.

Uncle Clay pats my dad's back. " I'll be alright. You hold it together here. "

" I'll meet you down there. " Aunt Gemma says with her arms crossed.

That doesn't sit well with him.

" No. " He says going up to her with his finger up. " You stay put. " He repeats before kissing her. He then looks at me. " That goes for you too, Sass. "

He points at my dad and he nods. " Yeah I'll watch over them, you already know that brother. "

He then leaves with Unser and dad pats Gemma on the back.

...

Finding Bri in Jaycee's bunk I knock on the side panel getting her attention away from her video game. " Hungry? "

" Yeah, I was gonna come out and get something but there was too much yelling. " She says not bothering to look up from her game.

Fair enough. " Sorry about that, babe. I didn't know so much would be happening here when I decided to come. "

" It's okay. Jaycee is really cool. She said when the lockdown is over we can have a sleepover with a girl named Ellie. "

" Where is, Jaycee? " I ask not having seen her in a while.

She shrugs. " I saw her go up a ladder. "

Ahh. She and Jax's " secret " hang out.

Heading out into the hallway I let down the rope ladder and head up. Taking the joint I rolled earlier I head over to where she's sitting with her back to me. " Hey. "

" Share the wealth. " She says not even looking at me.

Jaycee shifts down the bench-like seat to make room for me. Sitting I pass her the joint and enjoy the California sun. " So how are you really? "

" What do you mean? " She asks in a poor attempt to sound " just fine ".

I give her an " I know you better than that " look.

She tenses a bit knowing she can't hide shit from me. Besides Jax and possibly Juice at this point, I'm the one that knows her best.

" I don't know, I guess I just have a lot on my mind. " She says with a shrug.

Smiling big I ask, " it wouldn't be that beautiful Puerto Rican that just patched in, on your mind, would it "?

" No! " She protests quickly. " You know the rule: no messing around with men in kuttes. "

This is what I meant when I said that she plays by the rules. Personally, I wouldn't have given a fuck about what uncle Clay had to say when it comes to me getting my jollies. A man in a kutte is better than a nine-to-five man that is scared every time you leave the house.

" Rules are made to be broken, babe. " I tell her seriously. Besides, who you fuck is no one's business. "

Smiling wryly she shakes her head but offers nothing else.