Loyalty Makes You Family : The Bonus Chapters

Good Enough

"What the fuck was that back there? You could've got us all killed." Jax yelled at Opie as they got off their bikes, just after having a run in with the Aryan brotherhood assholes. "Nothing" Opie grunted. "Bullshit it was nothing." Jax snapped back, he was getting fed up with his oldest friends attitude lately and he had no clue how to help him. Opie took a big breath and finally decides to give Jax an answer. "It's Echo... she's not talking to me, well not like she was before... she seems lost... what happened between her and Chris fucked her up." Opie told Jax. Jax was about to say his piece when Opie continued. "All we do is fight.. about everything and I don't know what to do. She's hasn't been home or at the shop in two days it's starting to piss me off." Opie grumbled. Jax sighed not really knowing what to tell him to sort it out.

"Get your head out your ass you almost got us killed 'cause of that bitch." Happy snapped "You really need to stop calling her that." Opie warned as he took a step towards the bald man "Both of you knock it off" Kozik snapped "Echo and Chris have been through some shit together and this is the first time they have ever physically fought." he paused to let that sink in. "They are both too stubborn, too bullheaded and too prideful to admit they were wrong, they are both hurt and they don't need you assholes feeding that negative energy." Kozik finished pointing at both the men.

After Kozik had said his piece it seemed that it settled everyone and they all went to their designated dorms. Jax pulled out his phone and he called CJ. "Hey you" she said and her voice was exactly what he needed to hear, he could already feel himself relaxing. "Hey Mila you home?" he asked. "Yeah, and I'm alone.. come by" she answered and he could hear the smile and need in her voice. "You don't have to tell me twice darlin' I'm already there." Jax said before hanging up the phone and heading straight back out to his bike, unaware of any of the conversations around him.

After a few rounds the couple lay in bed and Jax decided he needed to talk everything out. "I don't know what to do about him Mila.. Opie's never been this careless, it's starting to affect club business." he told her. "I'll talk to the kid and see what's going on... she's been in her own head to long. I'm expecting her back tomorrow." CJ said with a sigh having read between the lines and knowing that people could get hurt.

"Where did she go?" Jax asked curious. "Stockton, she said she had to get this project car and when I see it I'll know why. As long as she's happy and not out causing trouble we're good." CJ told him with a smile. "How's Chris?" he asked next. "I don't know.. the thing about Chris is you'll never know anything is wrong unless she says something but she usually keeps to herself." CJ admitted with another sigh.

Next morning at clubhouse

Opie was going to ask Echo what was going on with them tonight at the dinner he had planned for them. He had tried calling her several times, and all he got was the same damn answer.

Yo it's Echo you know what to do ....beep

"Hey, just wanted to call see if you're ready, we have dinner plans at that new Italian restaurant. Call me back bye" Opie grimaced, he hated leaving messages but if that was the only way he could get hold of her then he would just have to suck it up and handle it. While he was busy thinking about the message he had just left, trying to decide if it was lame or not his phone pinged with a notification.

Little woman: I'm busy maybe next time

BIG Guy: yea sure

Opie scoffed when he saw what she had messaged and had returned a sarcastic response and then realizes what he had done and screamed "FUCK!!!!!!." That's when he knew he had to actually go to her and make her talk.

At farmhouse

"You should really talk to him." Juice said "Mind your business and make sure you turn the butter or you'll burn it." Echo snapped and issued demands. "Ok so after the butter melts add the weed but don't let it burn." she finished with the instructions and had made a conscious effort not to snap more, she knew he was only trying to help but she was too pissed off, the cooking was supposed to be a distraction.

Thirty minutes later they were both so focused on the cooking and had a little contact high that they never heard a bike pull up. All Opie could see as he got off of his bike was Juice and Echo, alone and laughing in her kitchen and he growled knowing that he did not like it.

He stood and watched and listened to what she was saying."Ok now that your bud butter is cold and solid all you have to do is add it to the cookie mix and then all you do is bake like normal, for small cookies 15 minutes at 275, bigger cookies 10 minutes at 325. That's enough butter for 24 cookies right there." she told him.

They both jumped when Opie opened his mouth. "So this is what you're doing.. you ditch me for Juice?" he said through gritted teeth. "Hey brother it ain't even like that... I'm just here for the cookies... but I'll be on my way now... thanks Echo I appreciate it." he said as he made his way to the door. "No problem short bus just remember...." Echo said trailing off. "I know, I know, one at a time I get it.. never going to let me live it down." Juice mumbled. "Nope now go on, this might get ugly." she said with a wink. "Are you going to be OK Echo?" Juice asked concerned. "Yeah Juice I'll be fine." she replied with a sigh.

She then turned to face the bigger man. "Hey Opie what's up?" she asked. "I don't know Echo, what's going on with you?" Opie hissed "Nothing is going on Opie." she said with a sigh. "Bullshit Echo, we don't talk, don't touch and we don't fuck but I guess you got what you needed out of my brother." Opie said bitterly. "Brother? What are you talking about? Wait are you taking about Juice? I taught him how to make bud cookies.. he's owns a godamn weed shop... we have a deal, he's going to be my new supplier for a better price. I just had to show him how to make butter and cookies." she ranted. "Is that all I am to you Ope? A walking blow up doll?" she asked sadly. "I'd probably get more with a doll" Opie snapped before he could stop himself. "Oh I'm sorry, let me just put my hair up and suck your dick as I'm cooking, anything else Master? want me to do a handstand and juggle your balls at same time?" Echo snapped sarcastically. "We had dinner plans!" he yelled. "Do you think I want to go anyway where looking like this Opie? I have two black eyes a fat lip.. I don't feel pretty and all you've done is complain about me not touching you. I don't feel fucking pretty enough for you OK!" Echo screamed as tears rolled down her face. "Fuck this and fuck you.. I'm out of here." Opie said and stomped out of the house slamming the door behind him.

Echo slid down kitchen counter and hugged her knees as the tears were falling quicker than ever. She was beginning to really feel the loneliness that she had since her uncle died. Everything with Chris was weighing her down too and now this with Opie. "Why can't I be good enough." she whispered to herself.