CHAPTER 7
Welcome to the jungle

It seemed like her life was now climbing on and off Damon's bike, putting on and off that second helmet of his, well, it wasn't, of course, but it still felt that way. So she climbed off the bike and gave him back his helmet. She had followed his advice and was wearing a leather jacket, it was nothing close to his but it was still better that the coats she had. Jeans, a plain tee, hell, she was wearing flat boots too, she didn't know if she was MC compatible, she wasn't trying to be, they'd have to like, hate or being indifferent to her the way she was. This was awfully scary and even with her brave face on it was obvious to Damon she was on edge.

-«You see that long row of bikes, they're all here to celebrate the kind of miracle you accomplished today. I don't know if it's a relief to you but they'll be glad to meet you and I'll stand right next to you.» He made her turn to face the building, it was a garage with an extension on the side which had to be the bar he talked about before, the MC HQ. He pulled her back to his chest and spoke close to his ear.«Today, you're a queen, bank on it, make friends, 'girlfriend'». She almost shivered and couldn't tell if it was fear or those almost whispered words that made her body react that way and she moved away from him.

-«Let's get the party started, 'boyfriend'.»

This time she was the one grabbing Damon's hand as they walked the short distance to the door of the bar. He hadn't sold the MC as a nice place to be - though sometimes it was - no wonder she was on edge. He pushed the door open and got in first entering an ocean of noise, smell of beer, leather, sweat and testosterone. Elena followed shielding herself for pretty much anything but when the men inside noticed her they called her name and raised their beers. Fine, she was already famous, noted. Damon gave quick hugs using his free arm, shook hands, first bumped some guys and all of them gave her smiles and nods. No one touched her. Right, she was famous and Damon's property, double noted. A huge guy with an eye patch offered her a beer bottle and she took it thanking him, she noticed it was unopened. Famous, Damon's property and definitely protected, no open drink, no glass that had been poured by someone she didn't know, the list was going to be long by the end of the day but so far she only got positive messages - except the part that she had to 'belong to someone' to be treated that way, and not only someone, the VP and son of the president, after all, she'd been warned - she wasn't going to drink much and let her guard down though.

The phone call arrived as they were on the road, they'd stopped the bike and been told Aaron would be home around 5pm, which was now in around six hours, they had to say that to Giuseppe and when they saw the man from a distance Damon aimed his way. The man had, for once, a less scary look, probably because he was smiling but one thing was clear, she couldn't really trust people around here, especially Giuseppe Salvatore. Both his sons and members of his club hated him, for good reasons, some, like Troy who was near his president again followed him blindly, probably for bad reasons. She'd have more pieces of information with time.

The patriarch looked at his son and Damon let go of Elena's hand - when had they entwined their fingers like that, she couldn't remember - and Giuseppe offered his big paw to shake to the doe eyed lawyer, she did shake his hand expecting her fingers to be crushed but the man's grip wasn't that hard.

-«Aaron will be home by five, we got the call on the road. I think the prison administrator got a call from the judge. In a way it's a good thing, on the other, if you could all keep away from jail for a while and let them all forget my name it'd be a good thing.» She told him when he let go of her hand.

-«I can't promise anything but I'll tell the guys to behave.»

-« If you want to move the party to Aaron's better wait until the cops left. As his lawyer I'll be allowed there, Damon can wait outside but if there are to be more people it won't be before 6pm. No offense but better not have a row of Ravens in front of the house when the cops are still there.»

-«None taken, we'll wait until 6. Now open this bottle and have a drink with me.» At his father's words Damon motioned to the guy behind the bar and he poured him a bourbon, he opened Elena's beer and they raised their drinks. Giuseppe downed his beer in one long gulp. Having a toast with the president, added to the list. «Go mingle, you're the new one and the guest of honor today, take the good whilst it lasts.» What did he mean by that she couldn't tell, neither could Damon, it was either just a matter of speech or something gloomy, better not try to read more into it than needed right now. It was their cue, they didn't have to stay a minute longer with Giuseppe and really, it was, again, a win. Elena smiled at he president and looked at Damon, which one of those guys she should get introduced to first, not Troy for he had been near his boss and hadn't said a word which meant he didn't want to.

-«Come on.» Damon took her hand again. He hadn't finished his drink and she had only took a sip of her beer which probably meant that they were both going easy on the booze, great because she hadn't had food in her system since yesterday and he was driving, she thought of her bag that was still strapped on the bike and wondered where he was going to make her sleep. She was in the middle of wondering if he'd take her to a motel when Damon stopped to talk to a man who roughly looked like the same age as Giuseppe but was shorter and had a nice smile. «This, is Michael one of the originals, which means he's old» He winked at Michael who kept smiling «Here's the star of the day and my girl Elena.» Original meant founder and Elena offered her hand to the man to shake and he did it with a firm hand, good, he wasn't scared of breaking her and wasn't going walk on eggshells - a handshake said a lot about people.

-«Nice to meet you Michael.» It was formal but wasn't going to speak like someone she wasn't.

-«Nice to meet you too darling, so you're the unicorn, I can get why.» Elena raised a brow at that word and Michael laughed again «You're the one that bone headed kid put a claim on, didn't think he'd do it ever, but here you are and you're one hell of a sight for sore eyes. Santos!» he called and Elena almost jumped out of her shoes but Damon ran a thumb on the back of her hand he was still holding to calm her down. It worked. «Come here, the unicorn's here.»

-«Yeah I saw her, hard to miss when she's the only woman in there asshole. Hello unicorn.» Santos was taller than Michael, had broader shoulders a mustache that was turning gray, just like the longhair he kept in a low ponytail.

-«Hello grey fox, it's established I'm real so call me Elena.» She said a smile on her lips - she was playing her role well - and offered him her hand to shake, his grip was firmer than Michael's.

They eventually got to finish heir drinks and had a refill. Elena got introduced to Chad, Tony, a shady guy called Andy and a lot of others she forgot the names of. She was a bit buzzed, she needed food and when she told Damon he suggested they sneaked out, the MC wasn't going anywhere though the members would show up at Aaron's later. When she got out she filled her lungs with fresh air.

-«That much testosterone mixed with the smell of cigarets and booze almost made me pass out.» She said as she walked to the bike. Damon lifted their linked hands.

-«Why do you think I kept my hand in yours all along, I've seen you blanched a few times, other than that you did well. Better than I thought you would. You made quite an impression.»

-«Because I got Aaron out of jail and because I'm a unicorn it seems.»

-«I thought it was clear I wouldn't lie to you, told you I never claimed someone, they're all curious, and now they know who they have to protect. You passed the test, the originals validated you and not just because you're gorgeous and did wonder in court. You impressed them, you didn't look out of place as you thought you would, you're classy but not bitchy, the guys there aren't used to be looked at the way you looked at them. People like you despise them or are terrified of them. The big conversation in there now must be how I managed to get myself a girl like you.»

-«Wow, calm down, that's way too much praise in one go, wouldn't I be sure you're not drunk I'd put all this on the bourbon.» He shrugged and let go of her hand to give her her helmet.

-«You'll understand better when we'll be at Aaron's this evening. It was all business now but tonight it's going to be a party, you'll see the kind of girls who shows up at that kind of event.»

-«Look who's judgmental now…»

-«Let's have you fed.» He cut that topic short and gave her 'her' helmet.

A few minutes later he parked his bike in front of the only place that served food at all time of the day in town, the famous Mystic Grill. The only grill in town. When they reached the door he paused for a second.

-« That butte I'm wearing is something people avoid so, expect side looks if we go in there.»

-«Well I'm really starving so push that door open Damon.» She didn't care having people looking at her as if she had lost her mind, in Mystic Falls or in Atlanta. Sure at work it was a problem, would be for a while, would be for ever if their plan didn't work, but it would right? So she had to commit to it.

-«You're so bossy when hungry.» He opened the door and let her get in first. It was a thing to play the game for the MC, something else to get in a public place with a MC member in a small town where even thinking about something in your own head could make people gossip for ages. A waitress turned her head when she heard the door open - even with the background music she heard it - and here it came, the look, the one he had expected, but the girl gave them a forced smile and led them to an empty booth, in the far corner, of course. They ordered their drinks - water thank you very much - and left them so they could read the menu.

-«Burger and fries, nothing's better than a good old classic.» She didn't even read the menu, what grill didn't have those, plus, she was indeed a small town girl, Mystic Falls, she knew the menu by heart. «Now tell me Damon, I left town in my high school sophomore year, when my parent's died but I indeed never heard about the MC before, never heard your name, how could have I not heard of you at school or anywhere?»

-«Because our house was in Madison back then, we relocated here six years ago, you were gone by then. Hasn't Stefan told you this?» He didn't want to talk about Stefan but she had been his girlfriend - for some reason he didn't like this idea - and close friend - not this one either and it was stupid of him to think that way, after all it was the reason she got on his radar.

-«No, he hasn't.» The waitress came back with their water and took their order, they both went for burger and fries. «You're going to think I'm lying and I'm not but you talk more than your brother. Given it's because you need me and promised you wouldn't lie. He told me things though and as her friend and confident you can't expect me to tell you what words he used or every details. Yet to answer you question, he didn't tell me the name of the town. It's strange, I read your file and it didn't mention Madison either.»

-«We know how to make some things disappear.» They gave enough money to the sheriff to have some stuff removed from the reports.

-«Things ?» Her eyes and the expression on her face let him know she was asking if people were 'things' too.

-«Things.» He repeated meaning 'yes'. No lies meant no lies, it didn't mean he'd get into specifics.

-«Would have I been a 'thing' the night you came to my room to make your offer and said no?» It was easier speaking in that stupid code than asking 'would you have killed me if I had said no to the plan'. Damon looked at her for a long moment and she held his gaze.

-«You didn't have to talk to me about the highway footages or work that hard on Aaron's case but you did, something told me you wouldn't say no. Would you have, I probably would have asked a second and a third time. But you said yes so we'll never know.»

-«And now could I be a 'thing', to you or the others?» It was a heavy topic but since they got there she had to ask.

-«To me you're not a 'thing', for some of the others, you could be, if things go wrong but you have my word that they'll have to go through me first, I don't want to have to deal with 'things' ever again but I'll get there if I must.»

Alright so he more than certainly had killed before, hadn't planned on killing her and was ready to get between her and a bullet if things went wrong with the MC. She didn't know which part was the most disturbing in all this, that he was a murderer of that she felt safe knowing he'd try and keep her alive, she was definitely losing the basic notions of right and wrong.

-«I should be sick to my stomach or scared or something but all I want is this burger and I'm questioning my priorities right now.»

-«I lost myself in this MC I won't let you do the same. It's a lot to take, I know, give it a day, give it today and go through with that party, you'll come back to reality tomorrow. You're not that easily corruptible Elena, just overwhelmed, anyone would be. I want out, never said I deserved to be forgiven, you won't have to, no one has. If you're hungry, eat, I'm the tainted one no need to starve because I'm a bad guy.»

-«Hmmm maybe, I'll decide what you are if one day you tell me what your father had those he pays put under the rug for you and why. I'm your lawyer, so far, even if I can tell you're not a model citizen, I can see you're not the devil. But I'll follow your advice I'm giving myself today maybe I'll see you with other eyes tomorrow.»

The waitress came back with their plates and the gloomy conversation stopped there.

She was half way through her burger when she looked at Damon and asked «So we're going to crash at Aaron's, in his backyard and what? Drink? What am I to expect exactly?»

-«Booze, MC members, women, maybe a barbecue, family members and booze.»

-«And how many women are going to try to stab me in the back?»

-«Probably more than MC members but so far they like you so it doesn't say much.»

-« It says a lot already.»

Damon rolled his yes and smiled his sexy crooked smile - hey it was sexy, he knew it, he used it on purpose, she could qualify that smile for what it was - and looked back at her.

-«There's no one you should be scared of, no woman I left at the altar, no hidden kid, no girlfriend. If they give you side looks they'll be reminded that I claimed you and put back in their place. You're an 'old lady' now you are to be respected.»

-«I'm a what?» She frowned deeply.

-« An official. You're my girl, I claimed you, as such you're basically having your own claim on me, If I have to add to the pile of things you disapprove of about our way of life, let's say you're on top of the food chain. Some have old ladies at home and quick meals on the side, some don't.»

-«Geez, by all means, don't let me get in the way of your all you can eat buffet.» He was right, she hated their way of life, especially that very sexist way of seing women. That claim was a fake one, she had no real reason to ask him not to act the way he wanted to if he really wanted it, she was nothing to him, he was nothing for her. He kept his eyes on her and his face grew very serious.

-«I have an active sex life with consenting partners, I'm a grown up, I bet, scratch that, I know you have your own personal life with no strings attached I even know who with.» His own brother from time to time in between working conversations and brunches on Sundays «So no need to be judgy or disgusted, it'd be ridiculous of you or me. Now for the sake of what we agreed to do together I won't jeopardize your cover and fuck whatever sexy thing that wants to sit on my lap especially now that I've officially introduced you to my Club. And not that it's your business but it's not the way I usually act. Now cut me some slack, take the idea you have of me, shove it in your pocket, open your eyes and watch before putting people in categories you think you know and understand, you don't.» She really had to learn the difference between the MC and Damon Salvatore himself, he was fed up with the false idea she had of him and the way she talked to him sometimes. She made him feel even more dirty than he really was, it was unfair and for some reason the fact she was so biased when it came to him was borderline infuriating. Damned Stefan and the picture he made of him.

-«Wow, harsh. I probably deserve part of this but hold your horse, you don't know everything about me and you're not in my head.» Yes she had her own ideas about the MC, was indeed probably biased but she was no prude either. «Ok fine, let's call a truce and just agree that when one of us is on the verge of crossing a line we just ask the other to stop. As you said you're a grown up and so am I and we're working together no need to get to the breaking point and fuck this up because we don't see life the same way.»

-«Careful you almost sound like a lawyer.» He paused and took a few seconds to think. «Ok, fine. Do we need a safe word or something?» She was making sense, he was still a bit upset but she was right, they had to find a path in the middle of their two worlds.

-«No or stop are words that are speaking for themselves don't you think?»

-«I guess they are. Your food is getting cold.»

After that they finished eating fueling their bodies and minds for the party to come.

TBC