Once Upon a Reaper

Without a Sound

Opie frowned as he watched the new hire get out of her car and head toward the office. Her hair shone in the light, the black swinging and flashing a brick red underneath. It was the most prominent part about her:  although she was stunning, that hair called out to be touched.

She hadn't partaken, however. Despite being at the shop for nearly six months, she'd kept to herself. If not for the fact that she issued the tow orders through the radio, Ope would have thought she were mute. Knowing that she was capable of speaking to the various drivers, he could only assume that she just didn't want to socialize.

It shouldn't bother him that she wasn't much of a talker. She shouldn't even have been making an impact on his consciousness. Nevertheless, she'd gotten under his skin. As it turned out, his brain didn't seem to give a fuck about what it should or shouldn't be thinking about.

Letting his mind wander into vagueness, he leaned against the garage and smoked. His eyes would stray every once in a while toward the office, his mind not far from it. He hadn't been this caught up in a woman since Donna, and he hadn't even spoken to Ariel.

Shaking his head as he stomped out the butt, he stood away from the building. There were others - plenty of them. All the fish in the sea, so to speak.

So what the hell was he doing, focusing on her?

Walking toward his bike to go let off some steam, he saw the office door open. Out of it tumbled Ariel, her movements quick and appearing panicked. Picking up his pace without consciously choosing to, he moved to intercept her.

"You okay?" he asked, his baritone causing her to stop short. She startled for a second, her body freezing, before she answered.

"I quit," she said, flooring him.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I quit," she reiterated. "Please tell Gemma I'm sorry," she concluded before she ran to her car.

Opie watched as she slid into the driver's seat and tore away from the parking lot. No one was following her, but the way she took off, you'd have thought she'd just robbed a bank. There was no doubt about it:  shit had hit the fan for her somehow. The question was, did he intend to do anything about it?

Puzzling for only a second, he turned on his heel and sprinted for his bike. She might be new and it might not be his business, but there was something about her. He had to try to help, even if it were pointless.

It took him a few blocks to find her car, but when he did, it was in a parking lot. Confused, he cut the engine and crept to a standstill off to the side of the road. He didn't have long to wait. Before his eyes and just as he put his feet down for balance, four black sedans converged on Ariel's car.

When a blonde head emerged from one of the sedans, Opie's blood began to boil. Stahl was confident - and apparently pissed - as she strode over to Ariel's car and ripped the driver's side door open. Opie couldn't see much from his angle, but he'd put money on Stahl pulling Ariel out of the car to face her.

What came next was frustrating and unsettling. Gemma had Juice run Ariel's information before she'd started with the Sons. He'd come up empty. The woman had no debts to speak of, no connection to the police, and no real reason for the Sons to be concerned about having her around. That was not what it looked like, though, as Stahl began to berate Ariel, who was pushed up against her vehicle.

For a good five minutes, Stahl laid into Ariel, who remained motionless. Although the blonde was clearly trying to intimidate her, Ariel didn't respond in words. She just stood there and took it, her eyes gazing off into the distance. It was only near the end that Ariel's head moved and, when it did, it meant that her eyes caught Opie's.

Her face didn't give away who she saw. She didn't say anything to Stahl. Instead, she gave the smallest incline of her head, as if to confirm to Opie that this was the reason she'd run out of the shop.

Licking his lips, Opie nodded back. He glanced around for a second and then brought his gaze back to Ariel. Seeing she was still looking at him, he tapped his wrist and then put up the fingers of one hand. Hopefully, she'd know that meant to come to him at 5. A single nod suggested she did, and so he walked his bike toward the end of the street and then started the engine.

He needed to talk to Juice.

--

"Nothing, man," Juice said. "There's nothing that Stahl should have on her," he continued. "No loans, no connection to crime, nothing," he reiterated. "Hell, her only family is an uncle in Lodi."

Opie's eyes narrowed as he thought. It was just shy of five. Ariel should be back soon.

"The uncle," he said slowly. "Anything on him?"

Juice shrugged and tapped away at the keys, his eyes flickering as he read. A few minutes in, he sat back from the hunch he'd taken over the board. Nodding, he gestured to the screen.

"Could be," he said.

Opie read over Juice's shoulder, noting that Ariel's uncle used to be a big shot businessman in Lodi. The way the news article read, he was all but a king in the town. He'd backed away as his health deteriorated, but his name was still recognizable. It didn't scream illegal activity, but any Son knew that there were ways business could turn, if the need arose.

"Thanks," Ope said. He left Juice in the bar as he walked out, intending to wait for Ariel in the lot. He never made it that far, though. 

"I can't be here," her voice said, carrying just slightly over the light breeze.

Opie turned to see that Ariel was near the edge of the building, her eyes darting toward the lot's entrance. He pretended not to hear her, his hands going for a cigarette as he leisurely walked her way. Once around the corner, he dropped the cigarette.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I quit," she said. "That's all that you need to know," she stated, her eyes pleading. He shook his head, his feet moving him closer.

"No," he said. "I think you're quitting to protect us," he noted. He didn't need her response. Without a sound, she'd confirmed it:  it was in her eyes.

"What's Stahl got on him?" Opie asked, taking a chance on his and Juice's guess.

Ariel swallowed and closed her eyes, a deep breath lifting her chest. She didn't answer, though. She just opened her eyes and shook her head. She wouldn't speak.

"I can't help you, if you don't let me," Ope warned, only for her to laugh softly.

"It's me helping you," she corrected.

"The Sons-" Ope started, but Ariel shook her head again.

"No, Opie," Ariel denied. "Not the Sons," she explained. "You."

"What?" he asked, confused. Ariel glanced away and then lifted a shoulder, a sad smile tilting her lips up.

"It's the only way to save you," she said softly.

Opie stepped closer, reaching out to take her arm, but was cut off by a commotion near the front of the club. Sirens peeled and Ariel deflated in front of him. Before he could figure out what to say, Stahl and half a dozen men came around the side of the building.

"Ariel Nerites," Stahl said with infuriating smugness. "You're under arrest," she continued.

Opie watched in silence, his voice caught in his throat, as Ariel was handcuffed and escorted away. They shouldn't have anything on her. There was nothing that Stahl should have been able to locate, nothing that would justify Ariel being picked up.

Ariel's eyes met his, though, as she was pulled away. She never uttered a sound. She just smiled at him sadly as they walked her to the nearest cruiser.