Family Matters

Chapter 4

Opie didn't last long. Finishing his beer he left the clubhouse a little before Jax and Kozik got back. Ellie was at the bar, her and Tig goofing off obnoxiously, when Jax joined them.

"You drove Ope outta here that quick?" He asked as he noticed his best friend's absence. "Damn, El, that's a record."

"He's boring as fuck," she laughed. "I wanted him gone."

Bobby rolled his eyes, annoyed but trying not to give her the satisfaction of knowing, as he sat at the end of the bar.  "I think you're in love with him," Bobby chimed in. "You always pick on Ope."

"He starts with me," she said defensively. "Always."

"If anyone is gonna get this woman it's me," Tig announced.

"No one else wants her," Kozik groaned. "She's the kinda bitch that'll kill you in your sleep."

"Then she'd fuck ya after just so you can't enjoy it," Jax laughed.

"Like I said, my dream woman," Tog groaned as he blew her a kiss across the bar.

"I'm right here," she snapped.

"Yeah, we know," Kozik laughed.

"Alright," Clay interrupted. "Everyone shut up."

Juice just listened, watching as they all reacted to her and her personality in different ways. "Why you gotta start with them?" He asked quietly.

"I can't help myself," she shrugged. "Bobby and Kozik and them are cool, it's Ope and Clay I butt heads with, Jax too depending on the situation."

"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "You guys keep trying to one up each other."

"Mm hmm," she sipped her beer. "I mean I'm a lot like Hap but it's also how I keep you dicks at a distance."

Juice smiled, she was trying hard not to give him much but little bits of truth worked their way out. He examined her face as she talked; there was some of her brother in her, easily noticeable, but there was many features that were purely her own and they were drawing him in.

"Kinda surprised we haven't met before," Juice remarked.

Ellie shrugged. "I'm not around much. I should come more, visit Hap's mom and shit, but my life is kind of insane."

"Hap's mom?" Juice's forehead scrunched. "Oh you're half-siblings?"

"Oh," she laughed. "Yeah. My mom is in Stockton women's prison, she's been there since I was a kid."

"Shit," Juice looked surprised. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, she sucks," Ellie said darkly. "Her and my dad got in a fight and she like freaked out, got hammered, and killed three people drunk driving. I hate her."

"Holy shit," Juice was completely shocked.

"Yeah, I lived with Hap, his mom and our dad till Hap killed him." She spoke so casually Juice almost didn't know if she was serious. "Wait, did you know that?"

"No, I didn't."

She closed her eyes. "You've got such a sweet face I just blurted it out," she sounded disappointed in herself. "Cuties like you are my weakness," she pinched his cheek. "Don't tell Hap, k?"

"I won't," Juice said staunchly. "But uhh, why'd he kill him?"

"Our dad was a bastard, he beat on Hap's mom real bad, and one day Hap decided he was old enough and strong enough to end it. He killed our dad so he'd stop hurting her and never start touching me."