A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 8

She sighed again before glancing over to where the man was just watching her. Angelika began telling him more of the abuse she suffered growing up. Talking about how she never realized her household wasn't normal until she hit middle school and came to the realization her friends weren't coming to school with bruises like she was. She told how she felt so alone and like an outcast because she wasn't like her friends or their families. Feeling different wasn't a good thing for her and she began to withdraw into herself. He just nodded for her to go on.

She was a freshman in high school when her father killed her mother and she ran away. With no one to turn to and no where to go, she began staying at homeless camps. She explained to the Killah how some of the homeless, mostly military veterans, began teaching her how to fight so she could defend herself. A few even taught her some close-quarter combat fighting in case she ever found herself with a weapon and needed to fight with it. 'So that's how she was so good with that knife with Tig!' he thought as he listened to her. Thinking over these memories made her want to cry.

Seeing her tearing up tore at his black little heart. He urged her to go on. She explained how she wanted to head out to California where the temperatures were pretty even all year long making him chuckle. "We have seasons here too." he told her earning a head nod in response. She told him of a homeless camp she stayed in for a while as she was panhandling for more funds and how she'd been befriended by another homeless woman. Confiding in her some of what she'd told him already had been used against her. He growled at the knowledge of someone taking advantage of her.

She told him about being hit on all the time at the homeless camps because she was young and female and how she'd had to learn she only had herself to depend on because most of the other homeless people wouldn't get in the middle of a fight. He shook his head hearing her talk about some of the fights she'd gotten into over the last four years and how she'd had to stab a couple people because they just weren't leaving her alone. Hearing what she was telling him angered him and made his protective instincts even stronger over her.

Angelika told him she basically walked her way from her hometown to Cali with the exception of when she'd hitched a ride. He growled hating that she'd done that knowing the kinds of people that were out there. She panhandled for money to feed herself and get the occasional motel room. She intentionally kept her possessions small so it was easier to take with her when she was walking around. He hated hearing sometimes she pick-pocketed for money when panhandling wasn't working too well. 'The girl could've gotten caught and done some time for that!' Happy huffed as she ran a hand over her face again.

She sighed as she explained about the time she'd been assaulted at a homeless camp making him growl again. He hated knowing some dirty, sleezy scumbag had touched this perfect, broken angel. No one should be touching her except him! Angelika told him she'd gone to a free women's clinic in that town for the morning after pill and to make sure she was ok before she headed out of town. That's when she started squatting more and sleeping at homeless camps less. She chuckled and said she didn't mind being locked up for the night in county jails. She got a free cot and a hot meal out of it and was out of the elements. He just smiled at her.

"Little girl, you don't have to run anymore. You don't have to panhandle to take care of yourself. You can trust me and my brothers. Just get to know us." Happy urged.

"Aren't you going to tell me about yourself?" She inquired as she looked into his eyes.

"What do you want to know?" He asked taking her off guard.

"You promised you'd open up to me if I disclosed everything." She countered.

"Ok. You may not like what you find out about me." He warned.

"I'm a big girl. I can take it." She stated as he took in a deep breath.

He started with his childhood and how his mother and aunt had raised him. She was shocked to discover his father had abandoned his mother when she was pregnant. He described the hell he raised as a teenager and how he'd gotten his first Harley at seventeen. She listened intently, enjoying the sound of his voice as he spoke, and watched him carefully to see if she could tell if he were lying to her or not. He seemed to be telling her the truth so far. He explained how he'd come to learn about the Sons of Anarchy while he was living in Tacoma, Washington and how he'd decided to prospect.

She just nodded silently. He told her some of the crazy things he'd had to do while prospecting making her giggle. He explained how he'd gotten the nickname "The Tacoma Killah" making her eyes widen. She'd never pegged him for being a killer. He watched her face as he explained what he was in the club and hoped he wasn't scaring her away. After witnessing her father kill her mother, she ran. He hoped she wouldn't do that now. He told her that when his mother got sick, he transferred the Nomads and was Nomad for a few years before transferring to SAMCRO.

He told her how he felt about what he was to the club, the toll it took on him sometimes. The reputation he had that he'd spent years building. As she listened, she realized he was truly opening up to her things he'd probably never confessed to anyone before. Despite being a killer, she found herself feeling for him. There was still a human behind the monster sitting before her. He explained how he drank and took the crow eaters to get his aggression and anger out. She almost felt bad for him. He showed her his smiley faces and explained there was one face for each kill for the club he'd done making her eyes widen. There had to be at least fifteen on his stomach!

He dropped his shirt and watched her face. He'd given her a lot of information to think about. They stared at one another in silence for a few moments before she finally broke eye contact. Could she really trust this killer? It was his job in the club! What did these people do that they needed an assassin? He could see all manner of thoughts flashing across her face. Horror. Confusion. Concern. He was afraid she was going to run from them like she'd run from her father. That was the last thing he wanted. He needed to keep her safe. To keep her there with him so he could make sure nothing else happened to her.

"I'm a killer, little girl. It's what I do for the club." He started out, "Can you handle that information?"

"Why do mechanics need an assassin?" She blurted out.

"We're an outlaw MC. Sometimes things get...sometimes my services are needed." He tried to explain.

"And this is supposed to make me trust you?" She asked.

"You wanted to know."

She sighed knowing he was right. She had wanted to know. Finding out he was a killer, and was proud of it, was not something she thought she'd be hearing from him.

"Angelika, what you told me stays between us." He felt the need to tell her.

"I don't know..." She trailed.

"I promise you, your secrets are safe with me." He stated, "Just give me a little trust here."

Not trusting her voice, she merely nodded. He let out a breath before standing up. She watched as he moved to stand in front of her. Looking up at him, they just stared at one another in silence. She wondered what he was thinking about as they stared. He told her where his room was if she needed anything and that he'd be there the rest of the night. She smiled shyly up at him before he turned and left her room. With a deep breath, she got up to lock it back before sitting back down on her bed. Maybe she could trust him after all. If she found she couldn't, they she could always pack up and leave. It's not like there was anything keep her there anyways.

A/N: Please review and vote below!