"I'm not really from around here," Kozik said with a sunny smile. He had been chatting with Katie, more so out of his usual friendliness than anything else, after finishing with Tig in the ring.
Katie nodded, offering him a cold water as he tossed his rag into the laundry bag. "I spent some time here as a kid but I'm not either."
"Where do you call home, sweetheart?" Tig asked, draping his arm around Katie's shoulders from behind.
Shrugging him off her, Katie raised an eyebrow as she turned to face him. "DC, actually."
"You work in politics, huh? Rubbing elbows with those dirty politicians?" He was undeterred by her brush off and continued to flirt just to have some new competition with Kozik.
Laughing, she nodded, "You could say that."
"And what do you do when you're not at work?" He asked, his upper lip curling a bit.
"Rub elbows with myself," she winked playfully. "Speaking of, don't you have work to do?"
"We're takin' a personal day," Kozik said. "We're gonna stick around, help Lumpy out and shit."
Katie smiled at that. "Well, guess that means I can go since that's usually my job."
"Then we don't wanna stay," Tig shrugged. "So, you better stay."
She huffed, feigning annoyance and disappointment, but Katie quickly went on with her list of duties while Kozik and Tig played around, providing quality laughs for the day. As the sky grew darker and Lumpy saw himself out, Katie prepared to close up for the evening. Kozik followed Lumpy, partially due to his frailty in general but also because of the tense situation.
"What are you doing after this?" Tig asked, leaning on the door frame, as she sat at the desk in the office.
She looked up from the cash box. "Going home," she smiled.
"Why don't you come hang out with us," he suggested with a devilish smirk.
"Oh, you know," she sighed, "I have to wash my hair."
"Looks clean to me," he crept around to the desk. "Smells clean too."
"You better back up," she said lightheartedly. "You'll have to pay if you move any closer and I don't think you can afford me."
Tig's brows furrowed for a second as he looked at her, thinking she was serious at first, but he eventually laughed. "Probably not," he joked.
"Are you ever going to tell me what the threat may be?" She looked up at him, shadows playing on her face from the tiny desk lamp. "Or am I supposed to think you're hanging out for fun?"
"Just a precaution," he shrugged. "I wasn't sure if you were dumb or just didn't care."
"Little bit of both," she stuck her tongue out. "I appreciate it. You guys are good to my pop."
"Lump's been around for a long time, he's a good guy."
The front door opened and Tig tensed as he moved from the desk toward the office door. It was probably the move that saved his life. Salazar opened fire and sprayed the gym with bullets, the steel file cabinets with years of paperwork blocking both Tig and Katie from any harm. Once the firing stopped, Tig slipped out stealthily and began firing back at him. Salazar zig zagged, spraying lighter fluid around the ring, before lighting the match and heading for the exit. He caught a bullet in the leg but still made it to the car where his girlfriend waited to drive them both to safety.
"Mother fucker," Katie shouted as she grabbed the cash box and ran toward Tig on her way out of the building. "Are you alright?" She asked as they rushed toward the street.
"Yeah," Tig coughed violently. "You?"
"Yeah," she gagged from the smoke. "Who was it?"
"That fucker Salazar," Tig growled as sirens grew louder down the street. "Don't worry, we'll get him."
--
"He's going to be heartbroken," Katie sighed, "And there isn't enough to rebuild, even with insurance."
Jax nodded, standing in front of her as she perched on the edge of the pool table. "I'm sorry," he said, heavy with emotion.
"Thank you," she forced a smile.
"You alright?" He asked, reading her expression intently. "Crazy night."
"I'm good," she shrugged. "I should get home so I can shower before I tell him." Covered in soot, sweat and dirt, and looking even worse than she felt, Katie couldn't wait to end her time in Charming.
"Your car is considered part of the crime scene, I think Tig shot it once or twice through the windows, one of my guys can take you home though."
"Of course," she rolled her eyes. "I'd appreciate it."
"You get your pick," Jax winked.
"I'm not in the mood to talk," she said as her eyes fell on Kozik, "And he's a talker. Bald quiet guy, what's his name?" She had enough in her mind to push Happy's name right out of her head.
"Happy," Jax chuckled. "Be nice, he's got a crush."
"I didn't think he had a heart," she scoffed. "Thank you for everything, Jax."
When she stood, slipping off the table, he hugged her before shouting over to Happy. "Can you give her a ride?"
"Yeah," he grumbled casually.
"Make sure it's clear before ya leave her," Jax said quietly. "I'm heading out to meet up with Tig and the others to find this piece of shit."
"I'll hit you up when I leave her," Happy said, still focused on his duty to the club. "We'll find him, don't move on him before I get."
"We'll find him and we'll wait for you," Jax said confidently before sending Happy and Katie on their way.
--
Katie was curled up on the couch, listening to music and sipping tea, as Happy cleared the rooms, after having checked the block and any potential hiding spots around the building. He dragged his feet back into the living room and looked at her with a shrug.
"You're all good."
She nodded, "Thanks."
"I'm gonna head out," he nodded to the door. "If you need anything, hit me up."
"Can you stay?" She suddenly asked, seeming antsy.
He hesitated but nodded, "Sure. You okay?"
"Just freaked out," she was embarrassed. "I think I was in shock or something but the idea of being alone is fuckin' scary."
"You wanna rub my back again?" He tried to joke but it came out cold and awkward.
She drew her head back but just chuckled and shook her head. "Nah, I'm good."
Sitting on the opposite end of the couch, he texted Jax for an update but they had no luck, so he would stay until they did. "Figured I'd ask," he shrugged.
"Feels too much like work," she said apologetically. "Unless you want to rub my feet," she winked. Slithering down she extended her legs to rest her feet on his lap, wriggling her toes at him. "I just got a pedicure the other day."
Happy didn't know how to rub feet and he didn't want to but he ran his nails up and down her calf slowly. He saw Katie smile, relaxing a bit more, and took that as a sign that she enjoyed it. "You're easy."
"You're not," she said plainly. "I can't read you easily and that's part of my job."
"Not being read is part of mine," he said with a shrug.
Katie liked that, she enjoyed his nonchalant attitude and the fact that he wasn't panting at her like the men she had to entertain for work. "You're good at your job."
"You suck at yours," he joked.
"I haven't worked in a while so I guess I'm rusty." Katie pulled her feet away and curled up in a ball. "I don't socialize much so it's refreshing." Not knowing what to say, Happy nodded and just sat quietly until she sat up, slipping down the couch toward him. "You in a relationship?"
"No," he laughed at the thought.
"Good, like I said, I don't socialize, so I want to enjoy this."
She threw her leg over him and pressed her lips to his. His strong arms snaked around her, his hands squeezing her thighs and ass as they kissed. Not long after, he stood, carrying her to the bedroom, and the two took their time and enjoyed the night together. As they 'socialized', his burner was still resting on the end table in the living room.