A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 5

Once she'd eaten, she was about to throw money down for her meal but he stopped her. She stared at him for a moment before huffing and walking away. If he wanted to pay for her meals then so be it. That just leaves more money in her pocket. She was starting to walk back to the clubhouse when Happy walked up to her and grabbed her arm. She quickly spun around swinging making him duck the attack.

"Why did you swing at me?" He growled.

"I didn't know who was grabbing me, you jackass." She huffed, "What do you want?"

"I was going to take you back to the clubhouse." He stated.

"I'm fine walking." She turned to start walking away but he reached out and grabbed her again.

"That wasn't a request." He said.

"You can't force me onto your bike. So it was a request. Which I'm declining." She turned and began walking back to the clubhouse.

He growled before moving to hop on his bike. She was so stubborn and it infuriated him. At the same time he couldn't deny his attraction to her. Tig wanted her, everyone knew that, but he felt he was the only one who should have her. He parked his bike and had a seat in the clubhouse waiting for her to arrive. He was sipping on a beer when she finally arrived. Chibs and Juice were playing a game of pool. Jax had already gone home to his family. Gemma had left for the day. Bobby had gone home stating he wanted to do some baking. Tig was sitting near the pool table watching the game. Angelika didn't speak to anyone as she made her way through the clubhouse to her room. She unlocked the door, slipped inside, then locked it back.

Once Chibs' and Juice's game was over, Happy called for the IO. He asked him to look into Angelika and told him she was from Texas. "Find everything you can about her." Juice was instructed. He already knew some stuff but now knowing she was from Texas he thought he might be able to find new information. Tig took up Juice's spot playing Chibs while Happy just nursed his beer brooding about the blond-haired beauty who'd swept into their lives. Everything, as little as it was, that she told him made him want to know more. She was hiding something and she was very distrusting of people it seemed. He couldn't help but wonder why.

To his surprise, she emerged from the dorms and looked around the room. She seemed to huff when her eyes landed on him. He just watched as she looked about the room and cautiously walked over to where the pool game was being played. Happy wondered if she was going to speak to Tig or not. She simply sat down and watched. With interest or boredom he wasn't entirely sure. Chibs finally won then looked over to where she sat. He gave her a smile earning a small smile in return. At least she wasn't as frosty to the Scotsman as she was everyone else. He asked if she'd like to play making her shake her head and tell him she didn't know how.

"I'll teach ya, lass. Tigger, give her your pool stick." Chibs stated making her sigh and stand up.

She cautiously took the stick from Tig who made sure to walk around her as she stood at the foot of the table. He sat down where he'd been before to watch the game. Happy moved to sit next to Tig wondering how this was going to go. Chibs explained the concept, basic strategies, and other things to her as he set the table. He broke to get the game going. As she figured, she was horrible but none said a word about it. Chibs always encouraged her which she found odd. She found she did like his accent, though. As she was readying to take her next shot, Chibs began asking her questions.

"Where ya from?" He inquired.

"Texas."

"How'd ya end up all the way in Cali?" He innocently asked.

"Travel." She curtly replied.

"Where's your destination?" He questioned.

She shrugged and said she'd know it when she got there earning a head nod in response.

"Got any family?" Chibs probed.

"Got no one." She simply stated making Tig and Happy look at one another.

"I see. Must be lonely." Chibs stated.

She shrugged again, "I'm used to being on my own so it's no big deal. I don't get attached easily."

"Mind if I ask ya how old ya are?" Chibs nonchalantly inquired.

"It's impolite to ask a woman her age." Angelika stated.

"I mean no harm, lass. Just curious if you were drinking age or not. Was gonna offer a shot of Whiskey for when ya kick my arse at this game." Chibs tried to joke.

"No. I'm not yet of legal drinking age." She finally relented, "Not that I'd accept a drink."

"I see. Water it is then." Chibs stated.

Tig got up to give Juice a little more information on their guest like the fact she wasn't legal drinking age yet and she was on her own. The IO was doing all he could to dig and find information on her but all that was coming up was her few minor arrests. Finally, there came a newspaper article in the Dallas Morning News about her mother being stabbed to death in their home. It was later discovered her father had been the culprit and their daughter had gone missing. She was presumed dead. He looked over at her and his heart broke. The newspaper was from four years ago and it mentioned Angelika only being fourteen at the time of her mother's death.

Juice got up and nodded towards the chapel when he caught Happy's eye. The assassin quickly followed then shut the door. He furrowed his brows when he saw how distressed the IO seemed to be. He told Juice to just spit it out. Was she a murderer? On the run from the law? Running from an abusive ex? Happy wanted to know everything. Juice finally took a few deep breaths to try and explain everything he knew.

"Ok, this girl has pretty much been on her own since she was fourteen. I found a newspaper article. Basically, her father stabbed her mother to death. She hasn't been seen since then and the police presume she's dead. The newspaper article was only four years old and it mentioned her being fourteen at the time of her mother's death.

Now, she's got a few minor arrests for squatting and panhandling throughout the southwestern US. Kind of on a trail to Cali it seems. No other arrests." Juice explained.

"I see." Happy retorted before leaving the chapel.

Tig raised his eyebrow but Happy refused to talk. The Killah looked over this young girl and something clicked in him. Her feisty attitude, how defiant she was. It was all a front to keep herself from getting hurt. Physically and emotionally. If she ran away the night her mother was killed, did she ever finish school? Does she have a driver's license? Hell, does she have any sort of photo ID? Happy drank in her appearance and smiled inwardly. She wanted to keep people at arms' length. He understood that. He usually did too. There was something about her that made his over-protective instincts kick in and want to protect her from the world. She would fight him on it tooth and nail, of course.

Suddenly it dawned on him. How she'd reacted toTig smacking her ass. Had she been sexually assaulted on her journey to Cali? Was it because of other bikers that she seemed to despise him and his brothers so much? He watched her intently. She was still on guard and keeping people at bay. Chibs won the pool game but he quickly asked her to play another. "You'll never get better if you don't practice." Chibs exclaimed earning a head nod in reply. Happy needed to talk to her. To find out what happened the night her mother died. To find out why she was on the run.

A/N: Think Happy can get her to open up?

Please review and vote below!