(L)Inked - a Happy Lowman Story

~52~

„Excuse me, what?!" Evelyn looked at Happy and Chibs, not believing what they have just told her. She waited for one of both to tell her that they were messing with her, but the room simply filled with silence. Eve let go of the kitchen towel she was holding and grabbed a nearby chair to sit down, processing what she'd been told. Halfsack was dead and Abel was kidnapped, her mind raced. How could something like that happen? Chibs walked to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it slightly. „You ok Evie girl?"  he asked bending down a little to look at her pale face. Eve just nodded, searching for Happy's dark eyes. The warmth in them when he looked at her, made her feel safe. „Yeah...but ...Jax?" she quietly said. Both men just shook their heads in pity. „a wreck. Tara's not getting through to him." the Scot said taking his hand off her shoulder. „You're going to find Abel, right?" Evelyn asked, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. If it wasn't such a complicated situation, Happy would've chuckled at her unconscious habit. He noticed that every time his old lady was nervous or anxious she started fidgeting with her clothes. „We do our best, sunshine." Chibs nodded before pausing a brief moment. „We need a favor, lass." With that he caught Eve's attention and she straightened herself in her chair, almost as of she wanted to say ‚i'm all ears'. „Gem's not here, but Sack needs a worthy farewell..." he started but Evelyn interrupted him. „I'll take care of that. You go and find Abel." she said firmly, her green eyes glistening as she looked at the Scot and Happy. Both nodded and Happy pulled her into a kiss. „Thank you, Babe."

Just like a few days before at the clubhouse Eve stood there leaning against the doorframe of the entrance of Dubrowski Funeral Home, watching people flood in. The past days, she had been busy planning and setting up the prospect's wake with the owner, Skeeter and now that the day has come, it started to really weigh on her. Seeing his loved ones and the members paying him tribute made her heart ache. Especially when her thoughts drifted off and her mind asked „what if it was Happy, who was laying in that casket?". Evelyn tried her best to shake those thoughts but Kipp's death was a painful reminder of the danger her old man was in.
„Hey Eve." a familiar voice pulled her from those thoughts and when she looked up, Deputy Chief Hale was standing in front of her, giving her a sad smile. Seeing it caused some tears to form in her eyes. Evelyn gave her best forced smile to prevent them from falling but it wasn't really successful. David Hale put an arm around her shoulder, trying to comfort her. „You did great. The prospect would love it." he tried to cheer her up a little and Eve just nodded. „I'm also sorry for ...this." he discreetly pointed at her still bruised face and body. The huge one on her cheek was already changing its color from purplish blue to blueish green, but no amount of her make up could conceal it properly. „Unser told me what happened. I'm sorry." he added. „Thank you David." she gave him a small smile, genuinely grateful for him still caring about her. „I...I'll be out there, keeping everything save for everyone." he awkwardly said and pulling away from the hug, as he saw Happy approaching. „Thank you, Deputy Chief." Eve winked at him. Happy eyed the cop up and down as he passed him on his way back to the street. „What was that about?" he asked, placing a kiss on her head. „He was expressing his condolences." Eve snaked her hand around his torso. „You did great Babe. Everyone's saying that." Happy placed another kiss on her head. „Thanks." holding him for a moment, all noise around her seemed to fade and the only thing she heard was his steady heartbeat while she smelled his unique scent. „Told Chibs im tired of being NOMAD. Hoping to patch in with SAMCRO." the tattooed biker told the blonde in his arms, making her head shoot up to look at him. „You want to stay here?" she smiled at him, hearing about his intentions with the club. „Yeah.With you." he rasped while grinning at her.

After the wake was over, everyone gathered outside in small groups. Lyla and Eve stood together waiting for their men to join them.The whole atmosphere was oppressive and deep in her gut, something didn't feel right but Evelyn couldn't put a finger on it. A cool breeze blew through the growd causing goosebumps to form on her exposed legs and arms, sending a weird shiver down her spine. Just as Opie wrapped his arms around Lyla, a series of gunshots pierced through the night. Instinctively Eve dropped to the floor, trying to reach her gun she had put in a leg holster on her thigh underneath her flowy knee length dress. But before she could reach it, she felt someone heavy on her. It was just a matter of seconds until the gunshots stopped and the squeaking of tires was heard, followed by a disgusting sound. Before Evelyn knew it the weight on her lifted and she was pulled to her feet. Just now she realized it was Happy. He must've sprinted over to get to her and protect her. „You whole?" he quickly looked her over. „Yeah." Eve breathed out, holding her ribs. Her injury wasn't fully healed yet and after all that sudden movement she felt the dull pain again. After a quick inspection of Happy, Evelyn found him uninjured too, that's when she started looking around. The whole situation was pure chaos, some were screaming in fear some in pain, the police was handling someone masked and then Eve's eyes stopped on Chief Unser. He and Hale's brother were standing in the middle of the street, both looking down at a lifeless body. „No..." Eve whispered and her feet began moving like they were having a life of their own. The closer she came the more she saw and it made her stomach churn. There he was laying, David, unmistakably dead. „David..." Eve whispered, her voice breaking and tears running down her cheeks. „No!"