Escaping Hell

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I've been working at Teller Morrow for a month now and I love my job and the people that I work with. "Morning baby." Gemma says as she walks into the office. "Morning Gemma." I say. "How's Gracie this morning?" she asks. "She's good. Brooke has her in the clubhouse watching her." I tell her. "Well, I'm going to go see that little love." she tells me and I can't help but smile. She walks out of the office and heads to the clubhouse to see my little girl. She's only three months old and already has more love than I ever did. I start working on invoices when Opie walks in. "Morning Georgie." he says. "Morning Opie. Hey, can you and Juice grab the repos please?" I ask. "Sure thing." he says before grabbing them off the fax machine and heading out to get Juice. I sit there a minute and just watch him go. I shake my head and look back at the invoices when someone walks in the door. "Hey Darlin." Jax says. "Hey Jax." I say. He looks at me and then at Opie and says "You into Ope?" I look at him and he says "You should tell him." I look at him shocked and he says again "You should tell him." I nod and go back to what I was doing.

That evening, Jax and Opie are sitting at the bar, enjoying a beer, while I am sitting over to the side with Gemma and Tara while they gush over Gracie. They are turned watching us and Jax sees Opie watching me. "You need to tell her man." Jax says. "Nah. She wouldn't go for me." Opie says as he turns and faces the bar. Jax just shakes his head and pats Opie on the back before walking over to Tara and they head out the door.

I've been staying in one of the dorms since Gemma found out we were living in my car. I thought Gemma was going to beat my ass because I didn't tell her we needed a place to go. But living here has been amazing. The guys all take care of me and Gracie. She loves all of the guys and we get to see a softer side of them. Gracie dozes off in Gemma's arms and I take her and head to bed for the night. That's how most nights are around here.

It's Friday night and there is yet another party going. Gracie is spending the night at Tara's with the sitter, Neeta, so that I can have a night to just relax. I don't let Gracie go far from me but I know that she is safe there. I am currently playing a game of pool. Me and Opie against Jax and Tara and we are winning. "Where'd you learn to play?" Jax ask as I sink yet another hard shot. "Growing up, my dad ran a pool hall and with mom being gone, I was there a lot. Some of the regulars would teach me tricks when it was slow." I tell him and he just shakes his head. We win the game and Jax and Tara head to their dorm for the night.

A little later, the party is winding down some and I head outside to get some air. Sitting on top of one of the picnic tables, I take a swig of my beer when someone sits down next to me. "You okay?" Opie asks. Laughing I say "Yeah. Just, this is the first night I've not had Gracie." I tell him. "She's a cool little chick." he says and I start laughing. "Yeah she is." I say. We had been drinking all night and I am really feeling it. "We're really glad you're here." he tells me. "Me too. I don't have any family so her being around you guys, she at least gets some semblance of that." I tell him. "You know you're family right? Gemma says Gracie is the only granddaughter she's got. I'm surprised she doesn't have a room set up at Grandma Gemma's." He says laughing. "Oh, she does. Has since we first moved here." I say and he starts laughing. "That doesn't surprise me." he says and sees I'm not laughing anymore. "You okay?" he asks. "Yeah. Just...Gemma treats me more like I'm her kid than my own mom did." I tell him. "I know the feeling. My mom tried to take me away from Pop and didn't keep me six months before she was dropping me off and going back to her life. She didn't know how to be a mom." he tells me. I look at him and say "I'm sorry." He shakes his head and says "Not your fault." I look down at my beer and say "That's one thing I am so fucking scared of. Not being a good mom. Not being able to keep her safe." I say softly. "Safe from what?" he asks, concerned. "If I tell you something, can you keep it between us? I mean, Gemma knows but no one else does." I tell him and he nods. "The reason that I was living in my car when I first started working here was so that I could get out fast if I needed to. Gracie's dad was beating the shit out of me and we took off while he was at work. If he finds us..." I say and a tear falls. He wipes the tears and says "He won't. We got you. He'd have to go through an entire clubhouse of uncles to get to her...or you." he tells me. I lay my head on his shoulder and say "Thanks Ope."

We sit out there a little longer before I start yawning. "I better head to bed. Gemma will be here in the morning will Gracie." I say. I get off the table and so does he and I head to my dorm. He walks down the hallway with me and heads to his own dorm. "Night Opie." I say. "Night Georgie." he says before watching me walk into my dorm. I lay down and fall asleep thinking about Opie and James...Gracie's dad. If he finds me, he's going to kill me...and her.

The next morning I head to the main room and see Gemma in the kitchen holding Gracie. "Morning Gemma." I say, kissing her cheek. "Morning baby." she says. "Was she good for Neeta?" I ask. "She was. Neeta said she's never had a baby sleep as good as Gracie." she says. "Good. I was worried. Last night was the first night since she was born that I wasn't with her." I tell Gemma. "Well, honey, you have to take time for yourself. You're not doing this alone anymore." she tells me. "Thanks Gemma. Seriously. You guys have been so good to us. I can never repay you." I tell her. "You gave me a granddaughter. That's thanks enough baby." she tells me. I take Gracie from her and spend time with her before heading to the office to work.

Once in the office, we are getting the invoices entered and filed and looking over the repo paperwork when I head in to get a bottled water. Walking into the clubhouse where Brooke is watching Gracie, she's whimpering and Opie is holding her close to his chest. "I got you baby girl. It's okay. I got you." he coos to her. I walk over and ask "What happened?" and he sees the concern in my eyes. "I think she's teething." He says and I sigh. Opie rubs her back more and she falls asleep. "She loves you Ope." I say as I start rubbing her back for a second and say "Let me take her and lay her down." I go to take her and he says "Nah, do what you gotta do. I'll lay her down." he says. "Thanks Ope." I say before kissing his cheek.