Yay! Welcome back to the Daryl/Amber universe everybody! Woohoo, let's party! In case we have new readers, this is the sequel to my story 'Country' and you want to read it first! Their is a spin off to this series 'Home Sweet Home' which is written by the awesome author SOA loving mom (AKA Queen Kaye). Now let the badassery begin!
I'll go to heaven or I'll go to hell,
Before I see you with someone else.
-"Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry
Five months after the Dixon's took their ink...
Daryl took a drag off his cigarette, picking at the few fries he had left on his plate as he sat at the bar at Jake's. He would much rather be at the clubhouse than here, but Amber wanted barbeque, this being one of the rare nights she didn't want to cook. Merle sat to his right, stuffing his face as usual, his eyes on Beth as she sang her second set. The restaurant had been crowded when they got there so they had to sit at the bar to eat.
Daryl cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. He wasn't as sore as he had been the first couple of weeks he worked on the house. He had quickly gotten back used to the hard labor of construction. The house was almost done now, they were moving in some time next week. The weather had cooperated and Daryl spent his time out there from daylight to dark, relishing the hard work. He even took his lunches out there, well, his lunches and some baby girl too. They christened every room of that house before the walls had even been framed in. Daryl would never be too tired and sore for that.
Amber did things with him, TO him that he didn't even know existed. She had graduated to using a cane and once she could bear weight on her right leg, that opened up a whole bunch of shit in the bedroom (and the living room, the construction site, the pond, the barn and the cab of his truck). He had found her a custom cane (with Kaye's help), it was black with a rattlesnake carved into it, curling around the shaft.
The only days that Daryl hadn't worked on the house were the mornings after he was out late on a run with the club. He and Merle had made four runs as Demon's so far. The first three were escorting gun shipments to as far south as Macon, another Demon chapter taking over for rest of the way to Florida. Those had been almost boring, just riding alongside the truck, missing her behind him, now that she could ride again.
The most recent run had been anything but boring. They were guarding a shipment of marijuana this time, along with some explosives that Daryl tried really hard not to think about as he rode alongside. But there were problems at the drop off site, guns being pulled. A rival club called the Cannibals, based out of Tampa, had ambushed them after killing the other Demons who were taking over the escort before Daryl, Barry, Norm, Ty, and Merle pulled up. It had been close, they had all only gotten out thanks to some fancy turn arounds on the bikes and shooting on their parts. A bullet had come close enough to Daryl's head to shatter the face shield on his helmet and Merle nearly laid the Bonneville down before they got clear. The younger Dixon made all the Demon's present promise not to tell Amber how close it had been. He told her he just dropped his helmet, breaking the face shield. All told he had almost six thousand dollars of money from club runs tucked away.
Daryl sensed someone slide into the seat to his left, instantly knowing it wasn't Amber returning from the bathroom. Instead of rain, this reeked of ass and stale cigarettes, peroxide blonde hair in the edge of his vision. He didn't even turn his head her way when he spoke.
"That seat's taken." he said menacingly. Merle snorted to his right, around a mouthful of pulled pork sandwich.
Skank twin #1 (or was it #2? It really didn't matter anyway) leaned into his vision, brushing her hand down Daryl's arm. His hand tightened into a fist as he reminded himself he wasn't going to hit a woman.
"Yeah, but she ain't here right now." she cooed sickeningly as she traced her blood red acrylic nails over the edge of Amber's half finished glass of Tennessee Honey. Daryl made the mental note to have Carol (who was picking up shifts tending bar at Jake's since Dogg's death) dump it and get her a fresh glass. He didn't want Amber drinking out of anything this bitch touched. Like he said before, the whore probably had something Ajax and water wouldn't take off.
"Ya done had ya face beat in one time over this shit." Daryl warned her. He saw Carol step forward, her hand over her knife on her belt but Merle cleared his throat, shaking his head at her. Skank Twin # what-the-fuck-ever leaned in, sliding her hand across the back of Daryl's stool, dangerously close to his ass.
"We both know that little cripple can't keep a man like you satisfied now." the blonde said, blowing beer and cheap cigs in his face. Daryl's whole body tensed at the word "cripple", seriously considering breaking one of his own rules and backhanding her nasty ass off that bar stool.
"Bro." Merle said low beside him, nudging Daryl's right shoulder. Daryl's eyes slid over in that direction, seeing a flash of pink moving through the crowd. He relaxed, trying to keep the smirk off his face. This situation was about to go from tense to fuckin funny. He waited a second and then turned to the skank, grinning as he stubbed out his cig and killed his beer. Then he leaned in as if he was actually thinking about considering her offer, hating to use the term but unable to resist.
"I hate ta tell ya skank, but that little 'cripple'..." he paused for dramatic effect, eyes flicking over her left shoulder to confirm.
"is about ta whip yore nasty ass." Daryl rocked his head back as soon as he saw Amber's cane come into view over the blonde's head, getting out of the way. Amber brought it down over her throat, hands on either side to pull her backwards off the barstool. She dumped her into the floor, planting her boot on her neck. Amber was definitely her father's daughter, that was a Barry move all the way.
Daryl leaned back on his elbows on the bar, ready to enjoy the show as Merle laughed loudly next to him. Amber was hot as hell when she was pissed, this would guarantee Daryl would get his brains fucked out when they got home (or maybe the clubhouse). Carol jumped the bar, pulling her knife and waiving off any in the crowd that had gathered that might want to come to the skank's rescue.
"I THOUGHT my mama had done had this conversation with you WHORE!" Amber yelled, grinding the heel of her boot down. She had regained nearly full strength in her right leg. She released her and jumped on her, turning her over before straddling her. She pulled the cane back and the wrought iron handle, made to look like the striking head of the rattlesnake, came down on the blonde's nose, breaking it with a satisfying crunch.
"Wooo, Lil' Sugar!" Merle hooted in Amber's direction, giving Beth a thumbs up as she continued singing, letting her know everything was fine as frog hair, just keep on.
But then Amber reached in her boot and Daryl sighed, going to get up. Damn Phillips women and their fuckin blades, he had already stopped her mama from cutting up this same slut five months ago. Amber might fight dirty like her daddy but she handled a switchblade like her mother. It had taken a couple prospects a week to get the blood out of the wood flooring of the clubhouse after she gutted that Le Mechant fucker the night of the kidnapping. The knife she carried now wasn't the one he killed Leon with, Daryl bought her another. This one was pink too, but was engraved with his Demon name, a tiny diamond set into the L. Some men buy their women flowers and chocolates, Daryl bought his deadly weapons. It was only fitting.
Merle put his hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Sit down, bro. Lil' Sugar ain't stupid. Just gonna fuck with'er a little."
Daryl sat back, knowing Amber certainly wasn't stupid, but she was pissed. And she got batshit crazy when she was pissed, just like Debra and Kaye.
Amber's eyes went cold and she grinned as she brought the switchblade up, popping the blade out with a click. The skank's eyes went wide over where she was holding her gushing nose and she began to buck under her, trying to get away. Amber just tapped the tip of the blade on her chin, looking up as if pondering a great point. Then she pointed the knife in the other woman's face.
"Honey," she said, voice scary sweet. "Seems like you need a little review. I'll go slow, so you can catch on this time." She pointed the knife over her shoulder at Daryl. "You see that man at the bar, with the Demon colors and the damn fine arms?"
Daryl looked down at his arms, they had gained a little more definition since he started the house.
"Mine are bigger." Merle pouted quietly under his breath.
The skank nodded franticly, her eyes not leaving the blade that waved in front of her eyes.
Amber continued. "I'm not a whore or a club hang around like you. I'm his old lady." Daryl nearly laughed, knowing how Amber hated that term. She went on, "I wear his wings. So the NEXT TIME" she dropped her voice to a menacing register , another familial trait "I see you even breathing the same air as him," she leaned in " Honey, let's say it this way. They won't ever even find enough of you to bury."
Amber jerked her up by her bleached blonde ponytail, using the switchblade to cut it off at the base. She let her head pop back against the floor, throwing the length of hair back in her face.
"I just did you a favor, this shit is hideous."
Amber put out her hand without looking up and Daryl scrambled out of his seat to help her up. She stood, ignoring the woman on the floor at her feet, walking over to the bar with her cane after stowing the switchblade back in her boot. She reached for her glass but Daryl pushed it out of her reach.
"Uhuh, girl, she touched it."
He reached behind the bar, grabbing the bottle of Amber's preferred liquor and a shot glass, pouring it for her. She slammed back the shot as Merle chuckled and finished his plate.
"Come on, Demon." she said, looking up at him with fire and ice still flashing in her eyes. His cock jerked, already half hard. "You have a meeting at the clubhouse at nine. That gives us a half hour to get there and find seats." She turned to Merle and he answered before she could ask.
"Angel's got ten more minutes and then we're on our way, Lil Sugar."
She nodded and Daryl pulled out his wallet, throwing enough cash on the bar to cover their food, drinks, and a decent tip for Carol. Amber was already making her way toward the door so he slid in behind her, his hand in the small of her back, still worried about her falling even though it had been six months since the surgeries.
They stood next to the coat rack at the door, Daryl slipping on the leather jacket she bought him when the weather turned off cold. He pulled the fingerless leather gloves out of the inside pocket before zipping it up and pulled them on. Amber already had her jacket on when he looked up, seeing a familiar face on the other side of the room.
Shane leaned against the wall, a beer in his hand. It was clear he was ogling Amber and Daryl felt his body flash hot. Without thinking he grabbed her by the back of the neck and bent over to crush his mouth to hers, his other gloved hand sliding down over her ass and squeezing. Amber froze in surprise for a second but then responded, pressing her body against his. When he pulled back and straightened up she looked up with an eyebrow raised.
"Okaaaaay, maybe I need to fight more often."
Daryl just grabbed her free hand and tugged her toward the door.
"We gotta get ta the clubhouse, we got that meetin." he muttered, giving Shane a glare over his shoulder. The way he had been looking at Amber made Daryl want to carry out the threat he made the last time he saw him at Jake's.
Ya touch her again...I'll go ta jail a happy man...
TWDAUTWDAUTWDAUTWDAUTWDAUTWDAUTWDAUTWDAU
They pulled up to the clubhouse twenty minutes later. Daryl held his hand up over his shoulder as soon as he killed the engine. Amber took it and swung off the seat, reaching down to slide her cane out of the loops on the saddlebags they had customed at the bike shop. She slipped off her helmet with one hand and handed it to him. He stowed them both and they made their way into the clubhouse.
Two prospects were watching the door since it was a meeting night, Ty inside with the other officers. Carol would be joining her husband as soon as she got the bar shut down at Jake's. Both young men gave Daryl a respectful nod as he ushered Amber in the door. The music was booming, the sound system having been replaced since Norm shot it the previous summer. Another prospect took their coats when they got in the door, going to put them in one of the side rooms. Several younger men had asked to prospect for the club in the last months and Barry was working them as hard as he could. The Dixon's had set the bar high for new recruits. Amber spotted Kaye and Norm on one of the couches, her mother sitting opposite. They waved her over, scooting over to make some room. Daryl headed over to the bar, getting him a beer and Amber her drink before coming over to sit on the arm of the couch. He set his bottle on the end table, reaching into his vest to pull out his smokes and lighter to throw them in her lap. She lit him one, Norm speaking up as Daryl leaned over her to lip it from her fingers.
"When ya gonna grow up, boy, and stop having your bitch light your smokes?"
Daryl shrugged, taking a drag. "When ya quit fuckin ya old lady behind the bar I reckon."
The women laughed, Norm just flipping Daryl off as he smirked at him over their heads. Merle and Beth came through the crowd, standing next to Daryl. Kaye pushed at Norm until he stood, rolling his eyes and muttering about 'respecting elders'. The women scooted down, giving Beth a seat. As soon as she got settled, Barry stood behind the bar, yelling to get every one's attention as Ty killed the music.
"HEY! EVER BODY SHUT THE FUCK UP!" he yelled over the crowd. It slowly quieted down as he walked around the front of the bar. He stood thoughtfully stroking his mustache where it hung below his chin. Amber was reminded of his 'impressed' line and the first time he met Daryl. Finally he deemed it quiet enough to speak.
"This meeting is open, because what I got to say deals with everybody. We all know that last week's job didn't end well."
Amber looked up at Daryl but he just kept his eyes on her father as he smoked. She lay her head on his thigh and he began to nervously twist a strand of her hair as they listened.
Barry paced the length of the bar. "The Cannibals are becoming an increasing problem. Ever since Le Mechant was shut down" he purposely avoided looking at Amber and Kaye, "the Cannibals have been trying to push their territory north. Which fucks with us and ours." A murmur traveled through the crowd and he waited until it quieted down. "Our sources are saying this chapter is the next target." Daryl's leg tensed under Amber's head, his hand falling protectively over her shoulder. Norm leaned over Kaye, his jaw flexing. Barry put his hand up, quieting the club, it having grown loud again at the news.
"Now listen, there have been no kidnapping threats, or word of the women being a target. They're using money as well as bullets. The Cannibals are paying their way into our state. So I want EVERYBODY riding clean." Barry gave several of the rougher members of the club the hairy eyeball before he continued on. "I want your bikes with NO DOPE! I know we're all keeping our guns, I'm not stupid. But keep it down for a little while. That means I want those of you on probation pissing clean at every check in, if you don't have an old lady make sure your fucks are legal, and no GOD DAMN BAR FIGHTS WOMEN INCLUDED!" He glared at Amber and she set her jaw and glared back. She would have to have a little talk with her 'aunt' Carol when she came in later.
Barry finished up. "Me, Ty, and Norm are gonna be extra careful about what jobs we pick up for a while." A groan went across the clubhouse. Everyone knew this meant less money coming in for almost every household, right here before the holidays. Barry raised his voice. "Yeah, you all are FUCKIN WELCOME for the thanks we get for keeping your asses out of lock up! Can't make ANY cash from there! Just remember what I said! You get caught with shit, you will deal with ME! Meeting MOTHER FUCKIN DISMISSED!"
Amber chuckled as the clubhouse resumed it's usual noise level, halfway between dull roar and brain splitting. She looked at at Daryl.
"Well, daddy's just a damn ray of sunshine, ain't he?"
Daryl stubbed out his smoke in the ashtray on the end table as he shrugged. "He's just worried, girl. I don't blame'im." He looked over her shoulder, and nodded his head before standing. She went to ask him where he was going but then he pulled the Desert Eagle from the small of his back to check the clip.
"Firing range?" she sighed disappointedly.
"Yeah, sorry. He wants ever body practiced up, since...those fuckers from Florida are kickin up shit. We got another job next week." He turned toward Merle, jerking his head toward the back door where Barry, Norm, Ty and some other members had already slipped out. The brothers made their way to the firing range, both heads cocked at the exact same angle as they checked their guns.
Amber sat back on the couch with a frown, so much for that clubhouse fuck she had planned on.