A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 17

He had the prospect grab a bottle of water for her and a beer for him before joining her on the couch. She thanked him for the water as Tara watched the pair closely. Happy was acting his usual, distant self or so she thought. Chibs smiled at Angelika and asked if she wanted to play the winner. Happy told him she'd be delighted to earning a glare from her making Chibs laugh. He was forcing her to socialize and she hated it. To Angelika's surprise, Tig won the game. Chibs handed her his pool stick before taking her seat. She didn't want to play against Tig, remembering the encounter she had with him a few days prior.

Jax was curious how the pool game was going to go since she clearly had threatened Tig when he violated her by smacking her ass. The looks she was shooting Happy said it wasn't her idea to play against Tig. The SAA walked carefully around her as he was looking to take his shots so to not set her off. Happy kept a careful watch over her as she played against Tig. Any male that walked up saw the glares Happy shot them and quickly backed off. To her surprise, she came close to winning that game. Tig told her how good of a game it was and handed his stick off to Chibs while she racked the balls.

"So. She's yours, huh?" Tig questioned earning a grunt in response, "What's going on with you, Hap? You're not the kind to get attached to someone like this."

"It's complicated."

"Everything with you is complicated, man." Tig responded, "What's really going on."

"She trusts me. The girl's had a hard life. Someone needs to look out for her." Happy explained.

"So you keep saying. What makes you say she's had a hard life?" Tig questioned.

"That's for her to tell you." Happy stated.

"Come on, Hap. What's going on with her?" Tig urged.

"Drop it." Happy growled.

"Ok. Ok." Tig turned his attention back to the pool game.

"So, lass, think you'll stick around Charming?" Chibs asked her.

"Don't think Happy is giving me a choice." She retorted.

"Is that so?" Chibs chuckled as he glanced over to where Happy and Tig were sitting chatting quietly.

"Mmmhmm." She replied as she took her shot.

"It's not really a bad place. Especially if you'll get t' know us some." Chibs stated.

She raised an eyebrow at him making him smile at her. To start off the conversation, he began telling her about himself including the fact he'd spent time as a British medic. She was shocked to learn his wife and daughter had been stolen from him and he hadn't been allowed to see his daughter since she was very little. He told her about his time with the True IRA, how he'd joined SAMBEL, how he'd been attacked and scarred, and then how he'd been kicked out of Ireland and made his way to the US where he joined up with SAMCRO. He was an interesting person, she had to concede, but that didn't mean he was trustworthy. She'd been fooled by niceties and interest before and didn't want to fall into that trap again.

"So. You've been stabbed in the back by this Jimmy O guy and yet you still deal with him?" She suddenly questioned.

"Aye."

"Why?" She inquired.

"I keep the faith that 'e'll get what's coming t' 'im. Clay trusts 'im despite what 'e did t' me. It's ancient history, love." Chibs leaned on his pool stick and watched her face carefully.

"I just...I can't trust that easily." She confessed.

"Trusting is 'ard. Not having anyone t' depend on is 'arder. If it weren't for my brothers, I don't know what I'd 'ave done." Chibs told her, "Believe me, not all bikers are bad."