A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 12

"Thank you." Rory said as she climbed off the back of his bike. "So what happens now?" The question felt bold but Happy was nonplussed.

"Come by the clubhouse when you're ready."

"They won't try to kill me?"

"Nah, you're good." Hooking his finger in the edge of her skirt he gave her a tug toward him. "Those assholes give you any shit about leaving, you call me. Got it?"

Rory smiled and nodded, pressing a fleeting kiss on his cheek. "Got it. I'll see you later."

Waiting for him to pull out first, Rory pounded her fists on the wheel and squealed excitedly as soon as Happy was gone. He amazed her, he had a darkness she understood but she could feel his concern for her, a light that shone through.

By the time she arrived back at Jeffrey's it was almost noon. Eric was waiting on the porch, a stormy look on his face. Swallowing hard, Rory forced herself out of her car and dragged her feet toward the house. This was not going to be fun.

"Hey." She moved slowly up the steps. "I didn't get your text till this morning. Sorry."

"That's a lie." He said briskly. "I saw you with that baldheaded piece of shit, the one who held a goddamn gun to your head."

Rory kept a cool head and her expression didn't betray her. She wasn't surprised that he did follow her just that she didn't catch him. "We had a drink; those near-death experiences really bond people."

"Enough that you'd just go home with him, let him treat you like some whore?'

"I am not a whore." She shouted, outraged he'd make that type of comment. "I guess if I'm not sleeping with you though, that makes me one?"

"I didn't call you a whore but it sounds like someone's feeling defensive." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Eric chuckled darkly. "Did you know him before? Was this all some fucking game? We were scared, Ror, I thought he was going to kill you."

"I didn't know him before." She lied. "He said they weren't going to kill me. I'm not a psycho; he was a nice guy that's why I met up with him. They just wanted their friend back." Pursing her lips, Rory crossed her arms over her chest. She knew he doubted her but it didn't matter anymore. "I'm out. The job, I'm done with it, all of it and you. I was in this for my brother and he's gone I got nothing holding me here."

"You got me." Eric was pleading with her now, dropping his anger. "John and Jeffrey too," he added.

Rory would have preferred him to stay angry; this heartfelt confession was breaking her will. "I don't want this."

"I was eleven when I told Emmett I wanted to marry you and I still do. We've known each other almost our whole lives."

"Eric, this isn't about love and marriage. This is about what I want to do. Bounties and driving up and down the coast, through the Midwest, it's exhausting. I just want something else."

"You have no education, no skills other than this. What are you going to do?"

"I'll get by."

Stepping aside, he pointed toward the front door to test how badly she wanted it. He would be shocked when he realized this was not a game or a tantrum. "Then go but don't forget when you get in some shit, and you will, I'll be waiting."

--

Happy arrived at the clubhouse late, interested eyes on him as he strolled in leisurely. "What?" He didn't like all the attention.

"Where's your plaything?" Jax chuckled, juggling his cigarette and coffee in one hand. "Guess she didn't want out or she just didn't want to work with us?" They all knew she had connections and skills that could have been worth something but Rory was hardly something they'd fight for, SAMCRO didn't need her.