Angela was moving a little slower the next morning as she drove to St. Thomas for a pick up. Her body was sore and achy in the best way. She and Juice had conducted their "research" late into the night, doing positions she still couldn't figure out how they got into. Flipping down the visor of the van, she checked on the marks she'd had to cover up on her neck. Thankfully, they were still well hidden. She buttoned an extra button on her blouse, fussing with the collar to make sure it covered the mark just in case. Her head was pounding with a hangover headache, and she was praying her ibuprofen kicked in sooner rather than later to ease the headache and the soreness. She'd just opened the door when she heard the roar of Harley engines. She couldn't help but smile at the idea of seeing Juice if only for a brief moment. She shook her head at herself; she'd just seen Juice a few hours before when she'd left for work. How ridiculous was it for her to be excited to see him again?
She got out of the van, walking around to the back to pull out the gurney as the Sons all pulled in with the big black van behind them. Sitting on the bumper of her own van, she watched them all park neatly beside each other. Juice spotted her almost instantly, the biggest smile spreading across his face making her heart leap in her chest. He ran towards her in his usual clumsy jog, his knife and his wallet chain bouncing against his thighs. "Hey you," she greeted, grinning up at him as he approached.
"Hi baby," he said, capturing her lips in a quick kiss. He nodded towards the gurneys behind her. "Hey, you got a spare one a those? Bobby's not functioning well."
Angela laughed in disbelief at the request, nodding and pulling out the larger of the two gurneys. "Got the bariatric one. Should work just fine. Is he the reason you guys are all here?"
Juice grabbed the gurney out of the van with a grunt. He took the second one out for her too; he'd helped her transport bodies before and knew how it worked. "Nah, Gemma got in a car accident. We're checkin' in on her."
"What?" she asked, slightly in shock. Juice didn't look that concerned, which had to mean it wasn't that big a deal. "Is she okay?"
"Fine, I think," he answered on a shrug as they walked towards the entrance of the hospital together, both with their respective gurneys. "You can come with if you want. Check on her?"
Angela shook her head, glancing at the group of Sons surrounding the back of their black van. It seemed like Gemma was going to have quite the troupe of visitors, and she didn't want to overwhelm her. Plus, she really did have work to do. "I gotta pick up this body. You go. Let me know how she is."
Juice looked a little disappointed, but he nodded. "Sounds good. I'll drop this off later," he said, gesturing to the gurney. He leaned down capturing her lips in a rough kiss with a cute little growl as his hands sought her hips. The Sons started hooting in hollering in response, so he deepened the kiss, burying his hands in her hair, putting on a show, no doubt. Angela didn't mind, she leaned into it, grabbing onto the front of his cut as his tongue moved into her mouth. Someone honked the van's horn, and she pulled away, a little breathless. "Fuckers," Juice murmured, frowning slightly.
Reaching up, she wiped some lipgloss from around his mouth. "Go. Do your little biker buddy things with your little biker buddies. I'll see you later."
Juice rolled his eyes at her before pecking her lips one more time and heading over to his brothers who roared with applause. She waved at them on her way by as she walked to the back entrance since it was closer to the morgue, chuckling to herself as she went. She really did love his little biker buddies.
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Juice was surprised when he pulled up in front of his house that night to find Lino's big SUV parked in the driveway; Angela hadn't mentioned having people over. As he approached the door, he could hear some loud music mixed with some joyful shouts and laughter. He couldn't help but smile to himself; it wasn't a bad thing to come home to. Sure, he'd been hoping for a minute of relaxation and maybe a massage from Angela after beating the shit out of Georgie's men, but he kind of liked this option too. Angela's friends were always fun, and now that Lino wasn't a Mayan, it made it easier for all of them to get together.
He unlocked the door and walked in, greeted by the smell of something absolutely mouthwatering and the sight of Angela, Lino, Rosa, and Vanessa crowded in the living room. All of them but Vanessa had N64 controllers and were locked in a heated Mario Kart race. Lino was in the lead and both girls were not being nice about it. There were some open cans of beer and a big pitcher of something dark red with fruit floating in it on a placemat on the table.
"Hey! No cuts! Neutral zone!" Rosa shouted without sparing him a second glance.
" 's my house you know," he reminded her on a smirk. He shrugged out of his cut, hanging it up by the door then taking off his boots. He set them neatly next to the messy pile of sneakers beside the door. He couldn't help but notice how strong Angela and her friends' sneaker game was. All Adidas. All pristinely clean.
Angela's warm laughter made him smile. She handed the controller to Vanessa with a smirk. "Don't lose," she told her friend before crossing the room to him. "Hey you."
Her cheeks were slightly pink, eyes just a bit glassy. She was drunk and happily so. He loved seeing how happy she was. This kind of drunk Angela was different from that of the night before. In the clubhouse, she'd had her guard up for the most part. Sure, she talked to his brothers and enjoyed being with him, but she wasn't this giggling, silly drunk like she was with her best friends. She was comfortable dressed in a pair of his baggy sweat pants and a Warriors tank top underneath one of his hoodies. The other girls were dressed similarly. Even Lino was in sweatpants and a hoodie. "Hey baby," he replied, giving her what he thought was going to be a quick kiss. She moved her arms around his neck though, deepening the kiss, her tongue sliding into his mouth. He met it with his own, enjoying the taste of sangria.
Rosa and Vanessa started cat calling while Lino began applauding and whistling loudly. Juice felt the corners of Angela's lips turn up in a small smile as she pulled away. "Hungry? Nessa brought tamales," she asked, grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the kitchen. "How was your day?"
He followed along, his stomach grumbling. After spending the day going after Georgie and his goons at the porn studio, he was more than happy to come home to good food and some entertainment. He stepped behind Angela as she fixed him a plate, sliding his arms around her waist and setting his chin on her shoulder. "Good. Saw you. Had to do some damage control at a porn studio."
"A porn studio?" she repeated on a laugh. "Seriously?"
"Mm-hmm," he murmured, nuzzling his nose into her neck. Her perfume lingered on her skin, the smell of it intoxicating. It was a warm floral smell today, one he associated with some of their best memories in New York. "A member's old lady owns it. Competing studio was threatenin' her actresses. Tryin' to get them to jump ship. We roughed 'em up a bit, and now, we're gonna invest in the studio."
Angela finished loading up his plate and leaned back into him. "Sounds like quite a day," she said, her hand grabbing his wrist and pulling it away from her waist so she could get a good look at his reddened knuckles. "Did you use your fists to get your point across?"
He stepped away, grabbing the fork and taking a bite of the tamale. "Maybe," he answered around a mouthful of food. The look of concern on her face made his heart flutter; he couldn't get enough of the way she cared about him.
"How are your hands? Need some ice?"
He swallowed, leaning forward to catch her lips in a sweet kiss. "Nah, I'm good, baby. Thanks." He shoveled another forkful of the amazing tamale into his mouth. The crew in the living room shouted in a mixture of happiness and defeat as Lino very obviously lost the race. "This is fuckin' good. There a reason your crew is here?"
Angela shrugged. "Ness had left over tamales from her brother's birthday 'n' Rosa thought it'd be fun to do a girl's night. Lee just came 'cause he had nothin' better to do. I made some sangria, and we've been drunk drivin'."
Drunk driving was what Angela had named getting drunk while playing Mario Kart. They'd done it plenty of times on his couch in New York. Her sangria was legendary too. He didn't know what she put in it, but it always tasted amazing, and he loved eating the alcohol soaked apples inside of it. "Got any of that famous sangria left?"
" 'course, goofy," she told him with a big smile. She opened the fridge, grabbing another pitcher from inside. She served him a glass with plenty of apples stained purple from the liquid. "You think I'd make my sangria and not save any for you? Tons of apples and everything."
He grinned, taking a long sip and crunching on an apple. He groaned at the delicious taste, knowing he was about to drink half that pitcher and probably get tipsy like the rest of 'em in a minute. "It's amazing, as usual," he told her, taking delight in the bright smile his compliment earned him. He heard her friends shouting in the background and smirked. "Who's winning anyway?"
"Me, obviously," she replied on a little shrug as they entered the living room.
"Lies," Lino stated on a scowl. "I won the last like two."
Rosa rolled her eyes. "That's a lie! I did!"
Vanessa was sitting on the couch with Lino sitting on the floor beneath her. He tilted his head back to search her out, and she gave him a warm smile. "Lee did win the last one," she pointed out.
"That's because you let him," Rosa put in on a scowl. "Juicy-fruit, I hope you don't pull that couple-y shit 'n' let Ang win 'cause it's real sad."
"Hey! She's my wife!" Lino cried out indignantly.
"Don't worry, Ro. Never let Ang win before, not about to start now," Juice assured her, dropping down on the floor beside Lino. Angela took the seat on the couch behind him while Lino hooked up a fourth controller.
"More lies! I beat you all the time!" Angela shouted, nudging him with her knee.
Lino smirked. "Beats him off, I'm sure," he muttered under his breath making Rosa cackle.
Angela leaned over to smack him at the same time Vanessa cried, "Paulino!"
"What? Juice, am I wrong?"
Juice imitated zipping his lips shut, no way was he answering that with the way Angela was glaring at her friend. "He ain't wrong, though," Rosa answered for him. "Plus, Ang says Juicy's got a b—"
"Rosa! Cállate o te mato!" Angela hissed in quick Spanish covering Rosa's mouth with her hand. (Shut up or I'll kill you)
Juice couldn't help but join in on the laughter, especially when he saw how red Angela's cheeks had gotten. "I got what now?" he asked, playing dumb on purposes.
"A big heart was what I was going to say before I got so rudely interrupted," Rosa finished with a mischievous look in her eyes. "What did you think I was gonna say, Angelita?"
"Not that, Rosita," Angela shot back, sticking her tongue out at her.
"Enough!" Lino shouted, despite the fact he started it. "Can we please just play the game already? I'm ready to win!"
They played a few rounds, and Juice was surprised at the way Angela and Rosa routinely ganged up on him and Lino to help each other win. They took turns winning too, both of them cheering as if they themselves had won when the other did. At first it was annoying as hell, until he and Lino started doing the same thing. Vanessa laughing and cheering everyone on.
They didn't stop until they all had purple stained teeth from the sangria, and the pitcher was empty. "We're on empty!" Rosa shouted, throwing down the controller and getting to her feet. "Ladies! Time to make some more."
"Maybe with less tequila this time," Vanessa suggested softly.
Juice stared at his empty glass. The sangria had a lot of different flavors in it, but he hadn't picked out any tequila. "There's tequila in this?"
"Yeah. That's the big secret. Tequila with some lime. Ang's been perfecting that recipe for years," Lino told him in a loud whisper. "Hey, you got any weed? Nessa's drivin', and I haven't smoked in like...months."
Juice grinned, nodding as he mentally went through what he had on hand. He remembered a pre-roll he had stashed in his cut and knew Lino would appreciate it. " 'course I do. C'mon," he said, getting up to grab the joint from his cut. He nodded towards the backdoor. While they didn't have a strict rule about not smoking inside, he and Angela tried to avoid it if possible so as not to stink up the house. The girls were still giggling in the kitchen as they slipped outside. Juice closed the screen door behind him as Lino sat down heavily in one of the Adirondack chairs with a sigh.
" 's a nice place you got here," Lino commented, looking around the small backyard.
Juice sat down in the chair next to him. "Thanks. 's a rental," he said, around the blunt in his mouth as he lit it. "Owner's a friend of the club."
"Lot better than my tiny two bedroom apartment. Mayans own the whole complex."
Juice chuckled, taking a long toke and handing him the blunt. He knew the apartment building he was talking about. Had been to it a couple of times to drop Angela off to be with Esai. The last time he was there, she'd taken a crowbar to Esai's bike. Crazy as it was, he kind of liked that memory. He'd loved seeing Angela finally standing up for herself. "Not so long ago, I woulda preferred the smaller," he stated, remembering when Gemma had gotten him this little house. It'd felt too big, too empty. He'd barely had enough money to cover the rent, let alone furnish it. "Was a lotta house for just me. Thankfully, Angel decided to move in. Even before we got together, she made it feel like home."
Lino took that in for a moment, a small smile on his face. "Not surprised," he said on a laugh. "Thanks for letting us hang out here. Know the whole Mayan connection puts you in a tough spot."
"You heard Rosa, it's a neutral zone," he stated on a smirk. Lino rolled his eyes; they both knew Rosa's words hadn't really meant shit. Plus, Angela hadn't actually asked him if she could have her friends over. Not that she really needed to; it was her house too. It did put him in a tricky spot though. At least Lino wasn't a club member. Not to mention, Juice would much rather have Angela having fun within the safety of Charming than he would out in Mayan territory. Juice sighed, scratching at his eyebrow for a moment as he shifted in his seat. "First off, you're not a Mayan, so that's not an issue. Second, listen to them laughin'. You guys make her happy. Much rather she be happy 'n' havin' fun here at home than risk her goin' to Oakland 'specially since I definitely can't go there with her."
"Yeah," Lino said, sighing himself. Some Spanish music started playing from the kitchen, and he groaned. "Shit. Here comes the dancing."
He raised his eyebrows in response. The girls were all in their sweats, no makeup. Where were they going to go dancing? "Dancing?"
"Yeah, those girls love to dance," he replied on a chuckle. "This your first girl's night?"
Juice nodded. "Last time they did it I was on a run."
"They're gonna drink a little more, dance, and then go to bed. Ro and Ang aren't really that drunk. Both of 'em have been sneaking water. We got these nights down to a science. Been doin' them since we were like fifteen and could get our hands on alcohol."
It was crazy to him how long the three had known each other. How they'd all grown up with each other and remained friends seemingly with no problems. "You guys ever like...fight?"
"Me and Rosa? All the time. Me and Ang? Once in awhile when we were in high school. I never liked Esai. She didn't like that I was hanging out with Soli and Vanessa instead of bringing Vanessa to hang out with them. Ang and Rosa? Once. First time Esai smacked Angela, Rosa told her to leave him. That she deserved better. They didn't talk for a month. It was hard on all of us."
That wasn't at all surprising to him. Angela's loyalty went deep, and he could only imagine how strongly she'd defended Esai even in the face of her best friend. "Shit. How'd that get fixed?"
"Esai and Ro's brother, Raffa. Raf's an idiot, but he really cares about the two of 'em. He's pissed at Ang right now 'cause a what happened with E, but he loves her like a sister. He hated seeing Rosa sad, so he and E managed to get them in the same place at the same time, and they made up. Probably the nicest thing E ever did for either of them."
Juice snorted at that. If that was the nicest thing he'd ever done for Angela, then he was a terrible boyfriend. He still couldn't believe Angela stayed with him for as long as she had. "Was he ever good to her?"
Lino frowned, taking another long toke and holding the smoke for moment. He exhaled it out slowly as he shrugged a shoulder. "Sure he was. Before he got that cut, he was great. That's the E she held onto for so long," he explained before shaking his head. "But he's dead now. Ain't gonna bother her ever again. Past is the past. She's with you now, and you're a hell of a lot better than that asshole. You're good for her. Like seein' the two of you together. She's happier than she's been in a long time."
Juice didn't know why he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew Angela was happy, but it was a relief to hear Lino, who was practically her brother, point out how happy she was. "Yeah. Hope to keep it that way."
"You will. She don't need much," he told him on another shrug. "Just make time for her. She'll tell you her love language is touch, and it might be a bit, but its also time. Growin' up, it was rare her family made time for her. Not 'cause they didn't want to but 'cause they had to work to make sure she was good. Times they did spend together were like sacred. Shit, know Ang was excited anytime Hap took her anywhere. He could take her to a fuckin' doctor's appointment, and she'd be stoked. 's why things were never gonna work with Raj. Even if he hadn't died; they woulda broken up sooner or later. He didn't make time for her. Hell, it's why she and E got back together. He made time for her. You were busy prospectin', he was there. Time."
He'd never thought about it like that before. He knew when she'd moved back to California, he'd been a lot busier and hadn't been there for her like he should've been. Now, he had more time but just barely. What if he couldn't give her that time she needed? Would she leave him? His heart ached with the thought of it. "Barely got time now."
"You make it though. I hear her. Visitin' her at work, bringing home dinner. Even this...putting up with her crazy friends and just hangin' out. ' s all time," he said, gesturing around him. A different song came on and Lino grinned. "Oh damn. Enough of this deep shit. We gotta go dance. Now."
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Angela couldn't help but laugh as Lino busted back into the house after the first few notes of Elvis Crespo's "Suavemente" played through their little portable speaker. It was a song that was a staple of their drunken party nights be it family parties, Mayan parties, or even just girl's nights; without fail, someone was going to put the damn song on, and when that song came on, it was illegal to stay seated.
Rosa was already on the coffee table singing into a wooden spoon while Lino practically attacked Vanessa, and they began the world's clumsiest salsa dance.
She spotted Juice walking in from the backyard, taking in the crazy scene for a moment. She had to admit, she'd been a little nervous when inviting Rosa over for a few hours turned into somewhat of a drunken night with Lino and Nessa tagging along. She hadn't meant for it to be such a loud ordeal. Rosa was supposed to have left before Juice even got home. Apparently, she'd run into Lino and Nessa on her way out, and it was all downhill from there.
She loved having her friends over though. Loved that Juice took it in stride, joining on their fun and teasing without even questioning it. Hell, it looked like he was having fun too. She held her breath, waiting for his reaction to everything. Then he smiled that big grin of his, lighting up his pretty light eyes making butterflies stampede through her stomach.
Juice maneuvered around Lino and Vanessa, making his way towards her, a hungry look in his eyes. She made sure to sway her hips just a little more as she crooked a finger to beckon him closer. He took her hand in his once she was close enough, twirling her around before spinning her back towards him and pulling her close. To her surprise, he seemed to remember the steps she'd taught him in the crematorium what felt like years before. "Nice moves, Ortiz," she told him, following his lead. "Actually leading this time and everything, huh?"
He beamed with pride as he shrugged a shoulder. "Learned from the best," he told her with a shrug. His eyes went to where Lino had expertly dipped Vanessa before continuing their little dance. She knew what was coming before it happened and braced herself as he attempted to dip her, going a little too low. Her socked feet slipped, and her ass ended up on the phone, bringing him down on top of her. He immediately pushed himself up. His eyes wide as he looked her over. "Holy shit! Are you okay, Angel?"
She could only answer him with a nod since she was laughing too hard as were her best friends. Reaching up, she framed Juice's face with her hands, pulling him in to smack a kiss on lips. He grinned in response, peppering her face with little kiss before burying his face into her neck and blowing an obnoxiously loud raspberry into her neck. She couldn't help but laugh, running her hand over the back of his head. God, she loved him, loved this moment surrounded by all of her best friends. She wished she could bottle the feeling up and hold onto it forever.
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Bit of a filler, but I missed writing Lino and Rosa so...here ya go 😅
Let me know what you guys think!! I have big plans for this season/season3 so hopefully y'all will stick with me!!
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