Smoke'n'Booze

XII.

3rd person POV

A few weeks later everything settled down. Erin was still living with Chibs, but she started to work on her bar. Ryan, Luke, Lucy and on occasion the other guys from the club helped her.
Today all of them were with her, removing everything burned.
"Boss, I am sorry to tell you, but either this is going on like that forever or it is a lost cause.", Lucy said and pointed at the staircase.
Erin sighed and slumped down on a empty barrel. Tig nodded. "Sorry doll, but she's right. The damage is huge and it will cost tons to rebuild the bar and your apartment." Luke stumbled down the stairs, his face sporting some black streaks of burnt wood. "Mama, everything is ruined. The walls are good, but in some spots the floor is barely walkable. I am sorry."
Suddenly a laughter came from the door.
"Oh look what we have here. It looks just like a family field trip." Chibs who was near the entrance, was the first who got into the way of that ominous man, all dressed in a black suit. "Who are ya and what do ya want?"
The man looked at Chibs, chuckling. "Oh you guys have guard dogs now? How interesting. I am Christopher Valentine. Luke and I met on occasion. He used to be my business partner until he decided to go hiding."    Everyone looked at Luke, who obviously doesn't want to be here. Erin got up and walked next to Chibs. "What do you want?", she said with an angry attitude. Valentine smiled at her. "Ah, finally. I suppose you are Missus Vaughn." "Miss." "My apologies. Miss Vaughn. I have to say, i was dearly sorry, when I heard about the wreckage of your establishment. It is a well known adress in town and I know you worked very hard after you took over after your uncle's death." Chibs growled lowly at Valentine's words, but Erin put a hand onto his arm, trying to soothe him. "Cut the bullshit, Mr Valentine. Why are you here?" Valentine nodded. "Straight to the topic then. I have to make you an offer. I bought a lot of houses in this area and well, your bar is kind of in the middle in it. I want to buy your property." Erin looked at him and then around the bar. "How much?" "Well. I have to see the actual worth it is now and I would say... 37k." He said smiling widely. "And that is a great offer." Erin's grip around Chibs arm tightened. Chibs looked at her, knowing she was fuming on the inside. "Listen here. You know the actual worth is way up the offer you gave me. Even without any building on top of it, the mere ground would easily be sold for 50k." "Well then. My offer is on the table. It looks like if you want to keep this, uhm, what did you call it... bar... then good luck with customers. It's closed now for almost a month... justbaround the corner a bar opened up a while ago and it is well... more modern and the customers are happy there. So...  before you decline my generous offer, think about it and let me know your decision." He nodded at Erin. "Gentlemen, it was uhm... yeah." And with that he turned around and left the bar.
Erin started yelling and screaming profanities, really pissed off at this guy. Chibs tried to calm her, but without any luck. "Hank, could ya please run the computer. See into it, what ya find out about this Valentine. The name rings a bell, but I ha ta be sure about it." He ordered to the youngest member.

A few hours later, all of them including Luke and Lucy gathered at Redwoody. Erin still was angry. She sat alone at a table, sipping on a whiskey. She refused to talk to anyone, even to Chibs.
"Dang, that hit her hard... poor doll. First the news that everything she owns is damaged and it won't be cheap to replace any of it and then this guy showing up...", Tig said and looked to Erin, brooding over her whiskey. Quinn and the others nodded their head in agreement. "It ain't easy for her. She loved that bar. It was all she had for a long time. Look. The only blood related family she has left is me, and this bar was her uncle's.", Luke said sad. "Hey, uhm. You know that guy. He said you were business partner?" Luke scoffed. "Business partner my ass. He threatened me to cut of my hand if I won't sell drugs for him. He is the big boss to be honest. He is dangerous. I don't know if it will be the wisest decision to decline his offer..." Chibs looked at Erin's son. "He won't harm her..." "Not so sure about that. He gets his way. One way or another."

Erin sighed. She knew everyone was talking about her and the bar and all these messed up circumstances. Her mind was racing and she couldn't stop  thinking about that stupid offer. She knew deep down in her gut, that this guy called Valentine had something to do with the demolition of her bar and her apartment. Before he showed up she thought it had been those guys who threatened Luke, because he still owed them money. Now she knew it must have happened because she was in the way of Valentine's imperium. Angry tears formed in her eyes. She was so stupid that she thought she was allowed to be happy for once. Downing the last drops if her drink, she got up and left to go upstairs. Erin had to see the stars. The stars were the only thing that could calm her down.

Erin walked through the apartment section above of the studio to a staircase leading to the roof. When she opened the door, a chill breeze made her shiver. She smiled the minute she was able to see the stars. Walking slowly to the brim of the roof, she saw some chairs standing there, facing the water of the docks. With a sigh she seated herself in one of them and pulled out her cigarettes. When she couldn't find her lighter, she groaned annoyed by herself.
Unexpectedly a lighter was held into her eyesight. Erin turned around and recognized Chibs standing behind her and handing her his lighter. Gratefully she took it,lit her cigarette and handed it back. In the meantime Chibs sat himself in the chair next to her. He lit himself a cigarette and wordlessly took her hand in his. Both of them stayed silent and the night embraced them. Erin laid her head on his shoulder, sighing deeply. With the Scot at her side, she instantly felt better.
"How did you know, where I would go to?", Erin asked him quietly. "Love, we're together quite a time now... I saw the expression on yar face and I knew where ya go. Ya know, I always come up here, when I need answers. I look into the sky and the stars and I ha a little chat. Afterwards I tend ta see everything a little bit clearer." Chibs patted her leg. "Ya know, we will find a solution for all yar problems. Yar family now. Ma family. I am here for ya, love. Ain't going to pull some stop and run shite. I love ya, Erin." He kissed her temple. "Yar mine forever."
Erin smiled slightly and a few tears run down her face. "Fate meant it good with me at least one time... fate gave me you." Chibs chuckled. "No love, fate just managed for us ta be in the same street. Fate thought it would be funny seeing ya having no lighter and ma handing ya one. Everything else happened because of us. Had nuthin ta do with good ole fate... it was just me watching ya and having the urge ta put ya out of yar misery." "My knight in shining armour...", Erin laughed lightly. "Filip?" "Hmh?" "Did I ever tell you, why I was craving that cigarette so hard that day?" "Nope." Erin looked up to him, the reflection of the stars glistening in his eyes. "I already was ready to go back to my bar, when I heard your motorcycles. I stood there watching you guys from behind my Pickup. The roaring sound of your Harleys, the kutte on your backs... it kind of intrigued me... and then you strolled over, helping me out... honestly after I said goodbye to you and drove away, I drove into the next street and parked. I needed to cool down and calm my feelings... god... how is it even possible, that you are this hot?! You still make me feel like a teenager girl meeting her first crush. Day in and out, the feeling won't go away..." Chibs laughed a little.  "Good lass. I am glad I ha tha effect on ya, because the feeling is mutual... with ya by my side I feel 40 years younger..." Erin got up from her chair and held a hand out to Chibs. "Well then let's go. Let's behave like teenagers, take a shower together and have some fun." Chibs took her hand and got up too. "Yar one of a kind, woman. Let's get cleaned up, love." Hand in hand they left the rooftop.

This night the stars were shining brightly. Maybe and just maybe fate had bigger plans in motion.