Chapter 10

October 2004 – Tacoma, Washington

'Where u at?' Happy sent the text and flipped his burner shut. He'd just gotten back to Tacoma after visiting the mother charter and couldn't get a particular brunette bar maid out his head thankfully they'd swapped numbers after they went for coffee and breakfast the month before, when his phones buzzed in his hand he looked down at it to read the reply with a small smile curving his lips

'Coyote Club. Finish at 12'

Happy's smile quickly turned to a scowl. The Coyote Club was a saloon bar in town that had opened a few years ago, modelled off some shitty chick flick movie, it was known for having the staff dancing on the bar. Kicking his bike to life he headed on down; it would only be an hour before Stasiya would finish, then they could get out of the lame ass bar although by the time Hap actually arrived he only had another half an hour to kill, so he switched off his bike and sparked up a cigarette watching the long queue of people waiting to get into the club.

"Hey baby, got a spare?" He looked over at the trashy blonde trotting towards him and sighed, this girl would fit in perfectly with the crow eaters at the clubhouse.

"No I don't" he growled and threw his cigarette butt to the ground before climbing off the bike and leaving the pouting blonde behind him as he headed inside.

Stasiya was still dancing on the bar by the time he got inside, her dark hair hung in loose curls down her back, wearing the tiniest pair of denim shorts and a crop top, Happy couldn't help but lick his lips as he watched her hips and ass move to the beat of the music along with the other bar maids. She hasn't been joking when she'd told Happy she had more tattoos than the ones on display that first night. Her legs, arms and even chest was covered, the only blank space he could see was her belly, how he'd love to have those thighs wrapped around his waist. Focusing his attention to her face he realised she spotted him and was smirking so he gave her a small smile. As soon as the number was over the girls all jumped down from the bar, Stas grabbed her purse and jacket from behind the counter and gave one of the other bar maids a kiss in the cheek before bouncing over to Happy.

"Hey big man, ready to get outta here?" She grinned at him, her dark eyes sparkling

"Fucking right. Move your ass!" She laughed and dashed for the dad with him close on her heels.

Happy woke up and looked at the still sleeping girl nestled into his side, this wasn't the first time he'd woken up dreaming about how they'd met and he was sure it wouldn't be the last but it was nice to remember those moments he thought he'd forgotten.

Stas moaned in her sleep and rolled over, her dark eyes fluttering before she opened the, and looked up at Happy

"Hi," she smiled softly and he smirked down at her "you called me an inconsiderate bitch last night," Happy's smirk quickly turned to a scowl

"Girl, you started a fight with me and called me the fucking mentalist?" Stas shrugged

"And?" He rolled his eyes and pulled the pillow from under Stas' head and covered her face with the pillow to stop her from talking anymore. Anastasíya giggled from under the pillow before wriggling out from under neath

"You know you can't hide stuff from me though Hap, don't keep me in the dark! I hate it" she rolled onto her belly and propped herself up on her elbows "so is there anything else you need to tell me?" Happy watched as she lent over him to pull a cigarette out of the packet on the night stand and pinched his lighter. Hap took one and waited for Stas to spark up before taking the lighter back. Inhaling and exhaling before he answered her question.

"The first night we were in Bakersfield, Chucky found a dead bird in the back of your car-"

"A crow?" Stas was giving him an odd look, the light had completely disappeared from her eyes.

Happy nodded slowly

"How did you know?"

"It was something Ivanov used to do after I first left charming. Every time he caught up with me he'd leave a dead crow somewhere for me to find, then I'd move on." Happy had an ugly look on his face as he thought about the fact some sick fuck had spent over 15 years trying to catch up with Stas to finish a job he started when she was 15.

"He's definitely here then," Hap states flatly and turns his head to look at her

"Guess so, tell me big guy what are we gunna do?" Happy snarled, not because he was pissed at her question but because he was pissed he didn't have an answer

"You are not to leave my side Ana, do you understand me?" He caught her chin with his thumb and forefinger, his dark eyes scanning her face bathed in the morning sunlight.

"Happy," she caught his hands in hers and kissed his knuckles "you can't babysit me forever you know, I still have a bar to run!" He scowled. That damn bar, why couldn't she have wanted something a bit quieter, that would of made it easier to keep an eye on her. Like knitting.

"Someone will be at the bar with you at all times," Stas thought about it for a second, deciding it was as good a compromise she was going to get she nodded

"I mean they basically do already, but you know I'd like to go home some time right, all my stuff is at the house!" Happy gave her a long look.

"Not right now. You can give me a list and I'll get stuff for you whilst you're at the bar. Do not push me on this little girl." Stas closed her mouth abruptly and just nodded

"Okay" She whispered causing him to look at her with concern

"Okay?" Hap repeated; since when was she ever this agreeable

"I'm not going to fight you on his Hap," Stasiya stubbed out the last of her cigarette and swung her tattooed leg over him so she was straddling him "I know running away and leaving you behind last time was the biggest mistake I've ever made, I've tried everything to lose Ivanov and nothing has worked so I figure it's time to try a new approach. I trust you with my life big man and I know you'll do everything to keep me safe." He stared at the beautiful brunette goddess in his lap for a moment before locking his hand into her hair and crushing his lips to hers.

SOASOASOASOA

"What the fuck is this?" Tig tried to read the scrawl on the letter addressed to the club. "Jax honestly, this isn't English brother," he turned the letter upside down trying to make sense of it just as Happy and Stas appeared in the common area of the club house, dressed and presentable.

"Oh you two have kissed and made up already then?" Trager smirked as Hap shot him daggers and Stas just grinned

"All is fair in love and war," she shrugged "are you children playing nicely?" She looked around at them all, Jax just smiled at the two of them and shrugged.

"Jax I think this might be Russian?" Tig looked over from the letter he was still studying. Anastasíya glanced over at it and then stopped dead in her tracks.

"That's not Russian, it's Bulgarian." She muttered and slipped past Jackson to get a better look.

"Fuck." The whisper was so quiet but immediately Happy was at her side

"What is it girl?" He watched as Ana kept reading, her face becoming paler and paler.

"Anastasíya what does it fucking say?" He snapped at her and it seemed to pull her out of her stunned silence

"Jackson," she started to read it aloud

"We haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet so let me formally introduce myself, my name is Grigor Ivanov and you have something that belongs to me, I would be obliged if you could return her,. I have spent a very long time looking for the missing piece to this puzzle and I think we can both agree it would be a fine shame if more people were to get hurt when it could have so easily been avoided; especially those beautiful little boys of yours.

Now I'm sure Mr Lowman will have some reservations on handing Anastasiya over to me so I'm going to make it all very simple for you.

I know where you're family lives, I know where each member of your club lives so if you want any of them to live, hand her over. When you're ready to do so you can reach me on…" Stas read out the number and then let out an odd strangled noise.

"And Anastasiya since I know you'll be translating this. If you need any more convincing; I have Gabrielle."

"What an absolute nut job," Tig was the first to break the stunned silence, Stas, seemingly frozen in a state of shock pulled herself together and whipped out her cell, dialling through to Gab she gave a small groan when it went straight to voicemail, dialling again she tried chris.

"Chris? Hey sorry I know it's early but have you heard from Gab at all this morning?" Stas chewed on her lip nervously

"Hey Lex, yeah she text this morning saying she was sick and wasn't going to be in today,

I thought she'd text you too?" Stas looked round the group of eyes on her

"No she didn't, thanks though, I'll see you later." The second she hung up the phone Happy exploded.

"The hell you will see him later, you're not going to the bar!"

"Stas I agree with Hap, until we know everyone is safe we can't take any chances—"

"I know." Stasiya answered simply, surprising them all.

"You do?" Even Happy looked incredulous, she took a deep breath

"Right hear me out here okay? I know I can't take any risks, there's too many other people at stake now, I'm not going to run again but this has got to end one way or another, so let me call him; I'll go to him—"

"No fucking way Ana" Happy growled, the fury evident in his eyes

"Hap listen to me, I won't go alone, I don't exactly wanna ask you guys to fight my battles for me but I might need someone just to watch my back"

Jax threw back his head and laughed

"Stas this guy is a psychopath who has just threatened all our families. This isn't just your battle anymore and anyway," he grinned "if you don't come back we actually have to start drinking here!"

She rolled her eyes and cracked a small smile

"So you go in and make him think you're alone, then we finish him off for good?" Tig asked with what could be perceived as a gleeful look in his eyes.

"We need to make a proper plan here boys, Stas?" Jax looked round to the brunette who was staring intently at the letter she had left on the table in front of them, looking up she met Happy's stoic gaze and before anyone could say a word they were both lunging for the paper.

"Fuck!" Stas was fast but Happy was faster.

"Silly girl." He growled

"Oh fuck off Happy, give me that! Didn't you hear me? He has Gaby!" She'd tried so hard to stay calm and cool to feed them some bullshit so she could set her own plan in motion.

Without a word Happy tossed her over his shoulder and marched down the hall to his dorm room, plonking her on the bed and then locking her in before she could get back to the door.

"You absolute fuck nugget! Let me out Happy or I swear to god!" She could be heard hammering on the door and screaming all sorts of obscenities from the bar.

"Did she really just call you a fuck—?" Chibbs started to speak with a Cheshire Cat smile but Happy's glare cut him off

"Shouldn't someone sit in with her in case the little lady gets out?" Tig looked round the group,

"You volunteering Tiggy?" Jax smirked

"Nah brother I'm just saying"

"Well then we better start planning this thing."

Anastasiya looked around the dorm room for inspiration. She was seething; how dare that great oaf lock her in there. This was not what she had planned. She looked round to the window and quickly climbed across the bed to wrench it open.

Fuck! Why had they put the metal bars on the outside?! Looking at the screws Stas frowned and looked around the room for inspiration. Happy was resourceful, surely there was something in this damn room she could use to get out. Yanking open one of the draws, her eyes scanned the contents, nope, just tattoo magazines and Harley manuals. Pulling open the next draw she had a quick rummage before she found what she wanted; the set of screw drivers he always kept handy. She said a silent prayer of thanks before jumping across the bed again and trying a couple of different ones until she found the screw driver to fit.

"Fuck," they were in tight it took all her effort as well as manoeuvring herself into some weird angles to be able to properly get to the screws bolting the bars down. "Should have been a damn contortionist" the brunette muttered to herself as she wriggled round to get to the second screw.

It took a lot of huffing and puffing and a fair few swear words, Stas knew would have her mother turning in her grave but eventually she managed to flick the last bolt across the parking lot and slowly lower the bars to the floor. She was free! Without a second thought she jumped out the window and slipped out the parking lot making sure to keep to the shadows so hopefully no one spotted her, having left her car keys on the bar there was no way she was going to risk going back and getting caught.

"So were all in agreement on this, we do the job tonight?" Jax looked around the table and was nodded in agreement at the resounding aye that went round his brothers. Happy was the first up and out the chapel though he paused in the door way looking back at the men behind him.

"Brother it's awfully quiet out here" Tig muttered echoing his thoughts, without answering he scrambled through to his dorm room and swore loudly upon seeing it empty with the window wide open and the box of screwdrivers on his bed.

"Stupid bitch is gone!" Jax looked at him as he returned to the bar and sighed

"Well her car keys are still here so she can't have gotten too far?" Something told Hap jax might be wrong about that. It had been over two hours since Stasiya has been locked in the room.

"Come on then Hap, lets go get your girl back."

"Again.." Tig smiled good naturedly at Happy's death glare.

"God help me before I strangle her myself" The Tacoma killer muttered as they all headed out to their bikes, he just prayed they could find her before Ivanov did.

A/N: I know, I know another filler chapter! I'm struggling a bit at the moment to get everything written down although I am enjoying writing more about Happy and Anastasiya's paat. What do you all think? Next chapter we'll be getting to more of the juicy stuff. Let me know what you all think?