Roots Run Deep

Chapter 7

When the four of them arrived, Kris reluctantly sticking around, it all looked so much different than the other night. The sunlight usually did that but the intention of the visit also changed the feel of the home and neighborhood.

"Wait," Jax said coolly. "We're not the first ones here."

"Who?" Opie asked, suddenly on edge as he looked around.

"Piney," Jax sighed. "What is that old man doing up here?"

Opie furiously charged up the block to where Piney was sitting idle. "Pop," he called out. "What are you doing?"

"Clay is on the warpath," he announced.

"How did you find us?"

"Not my place to tell," he said with a look that told Opie not to push the subject. "She's in there," Piney said casually as if it wasn't as big of a piece of news as it was.

Opie's eyes bulged. "How do you know?" 

"They brought her out," he pointed to the yard. "Looked like they took some pictures, she screamed, they shoved her back inside."

"Pop," Opie growled. "How long did you know?"

"They took her back in a few minutes before you got here, I knew you were coming, now get in there and rescue that girl."

Opie jogged back to the others, clearly annoyed, and gestured to the yard. "Piney saw her, said she was out for a few minutes and they took pics before she screamed."

"Let's go," Kris said quickly.

"Wait," Jax grabbed him. "We don't know what we're walking into."

"Lemme go," Jake offered. "I got a feeling this is on my dad."

Jax looked at him as if he were crazy. "Why?"

"It ain't us," he shrugged, "And it ain't her."

"Play dumb and see what they want," Jax said with a huff.

Jake nodded and with fear tightening his chest he headed up to the front door to knock. Jax and Opie watched carefully from a few houses down.

"They think you were in on this shit," Opie said quietly. "Pop said Clay and Katie's old man are looking for you, they're pissed."

"That's why I gotta find her before someone cuts my head off."

There was commotion, loud enough for Jax, Opie and Kris to hear, before two shots were fired. They didn't hesitate or even share a look before pulling their guns and heading toward the house.

"Stay back with Piney," Jax snapped at Kris.

"Jake got hit," Opie announced, seeing his bloody cut on the porch. "Where is he?"

"They probably pulled him in," Jax said, pointing to the bullet hole in the door. "He didn't have a goddamn chance."

"You here for him or her?" A voice spoke out of the hole in the door.

"Both," Jax growled.

"Only get one," the man said firmly. "I'd suggest the one with the bullet wound."

Opie and Jax looked at each other and shook their heads. They knew what they should do but they both felt awful over the decision.

"Lemme see her," Jax ordered the man. "I gotta know she's okay before we take him outta here."

"Guns down," the man said.

"You're fucking crazy," Opie scoffed.

"I'll drop mine, my guy keeps his."