*Present Day*

He let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his forehead and left the room Paul’s dead body was in. He turned his gaze to his right side watching Shift as she leaned against the wall covering her mouth with her hand. As tough as she was he could tell she had been crying. She wiped away the remnants of her tears as soon as she caught sight of him.

“S-So it’s done?” She asked as she tried to clear her throat and stop her hands from shaking.

“Yeah…come here baby girl.” He told her as he held out his arms to her.

“No, I’m good,” She hissed as he dropped his arms and shoved his hands in his pant pockets.

He took in a sharp breath at the coldness in her tone before he heard her sigh, “It’s not you…just give me a couple of minutes,” he nodded his head in understanding and walked outside, lighting a cigarette as he waited for her.

He was hurt by her harsh demeanor and cold tone but he understood it. He understood where she was coming from and why she didn’t necessarily want him near her right now. He just took away the only father figure she had in her life. She was attached to Paul probably more than he was because she considered him her dad. He watched as she walked out of the building and towards him. He took a deep breath as she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I just had to say my goodbyes. I’m good now though,” She murmured as she dug her head into his chest as his arms wrapped around her pulling her closer to him, “I’m sorry baby…about earlier.”

He couldn’t say a word to that so he just nodded his head before kissing the top of her head. She could rip out his heart and stomp all over it and he would let her. He’d give her everything she wanted and more because he loved her. He’d put up with her pushing him away as long as she eventually pulled him back.

“I was thinking…we could go see my dad tomorrow.” He told her as she kissed his chest and threw him a small smile.

“If you want too. Should we take Kale too?” She asked as he watched her closely.

“Yeah, he’d like that. I’ll see you at the warehouse?” He asked as she headed in the direction of the woods.

“I’ll be there,” She said as she stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets, turning back around she caught him staring at her, “I love you. Don’t forget that,” she said with a smile as she turned back around and headed into the woods.

“I love you too.” He shouted to her backside as she turned around and blew him a kiss before disappearing into the woods.

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Jaime watched quietly, standing in the background, as Teak shaved all of Trace’s wild curls off. She had never felt jealousy so fast for someone. Maybe it was that feeling that Trace was rightfully hers. She had paid her dues, she had waited on drunk bikers while they smacked and grabbed her ass, she had slept with whoever Dirk told her too and had been passed around like some kind of cheap hooker. She had finally found that one member that she wanted to be with. That one member who she wanted to be their old lady.

He had even told her that he wanted her to be his old lady. Okay, granted he was a little trashed and all members say that when she’s sucking off their dick but she thought Trace really meant it. At least she thought so until they got to Tennessee then she just became a club mama again. Now she had to stand back while he proceeded to pursue a relationship with that Teak bitch.

She would make sure in the end that Trace was hers, either that or she was promised to another Pack member. She didn’t save Justin’s and Shift’s lives just to be strung along like this. She was certain that if she just talked to Justin or Shift they would make sure that this was taken care of.

“You’re fucking cutting your hair, pussy?” Justin belted as he ran his fingers through his own curly mass.

“Yeah, that shit was getting fucking annoying! Where’s Shift at?” Trace asked as Teak continued to shave off his wild curls.

“I don’t know, fucking playing with her toy. You know how that shit goes after she does a “hit”. Fucking sniper training! It’s done though,” Justin said with a huff as he plopped down in a chair across from Trace’s, “I grabbed this too. It’ll look fan-fucking-tastic on my cut,” he said with a chuckle as he held Paul’s President patch in between his fingers.

“Bout time you showed up bitch.” Teak shouted as Shift walked into the warehouse.

“Shut up Hoe! You’re the one on Trace’s fucking leash!” Shift joked as Teak flipped her off.

This is what pissed off Jaime. They all acted like Trace and Teak were the next golden couple aside from Shift and Justin. All the Pack members had heard her and Trace fucking when they stopped to rest on the way back to Tennessee. Now that Teak was around they all acted like she didn’t exist. She was getting damn tired of it.

“Shift? Justin? Can I talk to ya’ll real quick?” Jaime asked as she pulled them aside.

“You know, I need a haircut baby girl. Can you cut it in a few?” Justin asked as Shift ran her fingers though his medium curls.

“Yeah honey. You want a buzz cut like Trace?” Shift asked as Justin wrapped her up in his arms.

“Hi…can you focus on me? I did ask to talk to ya’ll…” Jaime snapped at them.

She gasped as Justin grabbed her wrist and gave it a tight squeeze, “Watch your tone and remember who you’re talking too,” he growled as she fearfully nodded her head.

She had expected Shift to say something about her tone because she saw Shift as the more aggressive one. She was realizing that Justin had a fierceness and a coldness of his own. His cold blue eyes could scare her into doing anything he wanted her too. Truth be told it kind of turned her on.

“If this is about Trace, all I have to say is suck it up. What happens on a run stays on a run. And sweet butt…you were just something that happened on a run.” Justin told her, the distain in his tone unmistakable.

“He told me I would be his old lady! And now he’s with that slut!” Jaime shouted, causing everyone to turn their attention to their small group in the corner.

Justin let go of Shift, grabbing Jaime by the chin and slamming her against the wall of the warehouse, “Listen sweet butt, you’re only here because Shift asked that we bring you or else you’d be in that pit with the rest of The Lion’s Pride. Trace can fuck whoever he wants! Next time you bring this up I’ll let all the members have a turn at you whether you like it or not!” Justin shouted as she began to cry.

He let go of her and stalked away while she slumped to the floor, sobbing. Shift took a look at her before making her way over to where Justin sat. She took the clippers from Teak before straddling Justin’s lap. She then proceeded to give him the haircut he desperately needed since being released from prison.

Part of her felt bad for Jaime but she wouldn’t admit that. She stood by her man, right or wrong. She was proud of him and his new role in the club. Jaime was just his second example and Paul had been his first but everyone was quickly learning that you don’t fuck with Justin “Timberwolf” Timberlake and she belonged at his side.

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*At the clubhouse/shop/The Next Day*

She watched with curious eyes as the group of girls chatted in the diner across the street, pointing at the shop and clubhouse every now and then. Maybe she was curious because she noticed a group of seven guys enter the diner before the group of seven girls. Not to mention the fact that this was Millington, where everyone knew everyone, yet she didn’t know who the fuck these guys or girls were.

“Hey Evan, can you work on this clutch for me?” Shift asked as she tapped a wrench against her hand, still eyeing the girls and guys in the diner.

“Yeah sure. You keepin’ the wrench?” He asked as his follow the direction of her gaze.

“Looks that way…” Shift muttered as she wiped off the oil grease on her hands and clothes the best she could.

She watched the inside of the diner, noticing Old Man Johnson reaching under the counter. That couldn’t be good, the only thing he kept under the counter was a shotgun. Out of towners weren’t exactly welcomed for the fact that they thought they could do as they pleased in a small town. This especially rang true when it came to young or college age kids driving through.

Her motorcycle boots hit the hard rock of the unpaved street and she stalked across the street towards the diner. The familiar dinging of the bell ringing as she swung open the door to the diner and stepped inside. She headed to the counter all the while keeping an eye on the group who dared to cause any trouble in Millington. She leaned against the counter as Old Man Johnson slid a nice cold glass of sweet tea. She took a sip before tipping her head in thanks as she surveyed the diner.

“How’s it going Mr. Johnson?” She asked as the group before her stared at her, watching her every move.

“It was good until these punks came in. They won’t leave Shift.” He told her as she nodded her head and bit her lip.

“That’s a shame.” She said as she headed towards a dark haired boy.

He looked about 25-27 years old and apparently was the ring leader since no one made a move but all looked to him. He leaned back in his chair as Shift walked up to him. He spread his legs wider as she stepped in between them and lifted her leg placing her boot on the edge of his chair and pushed it down to the ground.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as his dark brown eyes looked her body up and down.

“Hanging out. Is that a crime?” He asked as she cocked her head to the side.

She chuckled before throwing him a smirk, “Of course it’s not….until someone asks you to leave and you stay. Then it becomes my problem.”

“And why is it your problem? Do you own this diner?” He asked as he threw her a cocky smile and his buddies and the girls with them laughed.

“No but I own this town and your kind’s not welcomed here. So this is your warning, I’m goin’ walk out of this diner and in five minutes if you haven’t paid your check and left you’ll have to deal with me…and I’ll make sure you leave.” She told him as she lowered her leg and turned around, “That goes for your little group too,” she said as she walked out of the diner and stood on the sidewalk, lighting a cigarette as she waited for their move.

She didn’t expect them to leave the diner. It was an option they should have taken but no one does what they should. They could have just paid Old Man Johnson what they owed, hopped in their little SUVs and headed out of town and she could have gone back to her work at the shop but God didn’t want to grant her that one luxury today. So when she checked the clock tower in the middle of the town square and realized their five minutes was up she took a deep breath and pulled the wrench in her back pocket out.

She noticed the boys watching from across the street. As she stomped out her cigarette she could hear the stomping of their boots as they crossed the street ready to join her in protecting Millington and it’s citizens. Before she even walked into the diner Justin was by her side because no matter what they do they decided they would do it together.

She swung open the diner door and she chuckled at the shock that registered on the guy’s face as she walked in with her club behind her. She wasted no time walking up to the guy and swinging her wrench until it connected with his kneecap.

“Oh shit! I really hope you aren’t driving.” Shift said through her laughter as her club joined in on her laughter.

“What the hell! Fucking shit…you busted my kneecap! I’m fucking calling the cops!” The guy shouted as his buddies rose from their tables.

The club quickly surrounded them with guns drawn and even Old Man Johnson pulled out his shotgun ready to shoot anyone who disobeyed the club’s orders.

“Go ahead, call the cops! And while you’re at it, can you ask Sheriff Teller if he’s going to be able to donate to the hospital this year? It’d save me a call.” Shift told him as she pulled back her wrench and hit the guy in the shoulder this time, “Can you tell him I tried to be nice, that I tried to give you time to get your shit done and leave but you didn’t listen? Because that should be said.”

The club forced the group out of the diner, emptying all their pockets until they had all their money. They tossed their wallets back to them and their keys as they shoved them against their SUVs. Shift and Justin picked up the guy she wailed on with her wrench, tossing him onto the sidewalk for his friends to pick him up.

“Hope you liked Millington enough to stay out of it.” Justin told them as they all hurriedly got into their SUVs and sped off.

Shift gathered up the money and headed back inside the diner to pay off Old Man Johnson as her club headed back to the shop.

“Thanks Shift. You and the club will get free lunches for the next month.” Mr. Johnson told her as she paid him the money he was owed.

“No problem Mr. Johnson. You have a good day now.” She said as she headed back across the street, ready to work.