Since I've Been Lovin' You | Happy Lowman/OC (Book 2)

three | Russians

When Jackson Teller got shivved barely a month after the guys were put in prison, Victoria's entire perspective on life changed. Cameron was entirely forgotten in the background of chaos happening around her, and the only thing she could think of was how real this was. How dangerous it was for the Sons to be locked up with their enemies. It was something she hadn't considered before, but was all she could think about now.

"Who did it?" Victoria asked Chucky, her heart racing as she fumbled to find the keys to Gemma's SUV. "Who would want him dead?"

Chucky was a mess, his eyes wide, mouth hanging open without any words coming out. He was speechless. "Uhh, um, the R-Russian's, perhaps."

Victoria stopped her frantic searching to look up. "Why would the Russians want Jax dead?"

"Something about a deal gone wrong. I-I'm not sure. I'm not privy to the details."

"Are the rest of them in danger?" Chucky shook his head, mumbling quietly to himself. Victoria hadn't even considered that the rest of them might be on a list, that this was payback for something the club was responsible for, and now she felt new fear. Fear for Happy. "Chucky, are the rest of them in danger?"

"I really don't know," he said, voice quivering. "A hit on the club's VP sends a message. Maybe that was all they wanted to do. I don't know."

Finally, she found the car keys, but before she could get to the car, her phone started vibrating in her pocket. It was Lyla.

"Are you on your way? Tara's losing her mind," Lyla said, voice hushed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I couldn't find the car keys, but I'm coming."

Victoria pushed past Chucky and raced outside where the Cadillac was parked. She kept Lyla on the line as she drove the somewhat familiar streets of Charming to Jax and Tara's house. Victoria's mind was a whirlwind, so many thoughts flying through it that she felt dizzy, like she might throw up. She was worried for her friend, for Jax, for all of them.

Tara was waiting by the front door when Victoria came in. She had her purse over her shoulder and coat on, and she was biting at her nails.

"There's a few bottles in the fridge," she said, not looking Victoria directly in the eyes. Her face was red and tear streaked, so Victoria knew she'd been crying. "Lyla just put him down for a nap, but he'll be hungry in an hour."

Victoria took Tara's hand and squeezed. "He's going to be okay," she said, and Tara looked up at her. Her eyes filled with fresh tears, and before she could hide them, they started pouring down her face. She covered her mouth with her hand.

Victoria pulled Tara into a tight hug, feeling helpless to make her feel better. All they knew was that Jax had been attacked while waiting for the phones and stabbed several times in the torso. The nurse who called couldn't say whether he was conscious or in surgery, and they certainly didn't say what odds he had of surviving, just that he was being transferred to the hospital.

"Gemma's freaking out. She's trying to get a temporary release so she can go to the hospital, but of course they're blocking her at every turn," Lyla said, coming down the hallway.

Victoria's heart sank. "Should I take Abel over there? Sit with her so she's not alone?"

"Let him sleep for a little while, but yeah, after," Tara said, gathering herself as best she could, moving toward the door. "I'll call you."

Lyla followed after her and the two women left. Victoria had nothing to do but wait. She'd tried to call Happy to make sure he was okay on the drive over, but all of the Sons were on lockdown. No one could make or receive phone calls. She made her way into the silent living room and sat down on the couch. She ran her fingers through her hair and over her face, and then sat quietly with nothing to do but wait.