It had been three days since the club went on lockdown. Tensions inside were high with the Queen and Princess not speaking to eachother. Nobody knew what the fight was about and neither would talk but even the SONS had noticed.
Kozik pulled Harley aside into his dorm room. Sitting on the bed with his head in his hands he sighed. “This is all my fault Harls. I should have had someone follow her. I should have gone after her.”
Harley sat next to him putting a hand on his back. “Yes you should have had someone go after her. No this is not your fault. We all underestimated Zobelle. You couldn’t have known.”
He closed his eyes, turning his head to look at her. “ Have you spoken to Belle?”
She nodded as a small smile came to her lips. “She’s doing alright, apparently they’re have a blast at the cabin. She said she misses us though.”
“Yeah, I never knew how much I’d miss her. You holdin’ up okay darlin’?” His hand sliding over her knee.
“Yeah. I guess I feel just as responsible for Nora. I should have gone after her.” She spoke softly, leaving out the fact that Gemma was the reason she’d even left to begin with.
“No Harls. If you’d gone with her, you might be there next to her too.” he said as he turned her face to look at him.
Harley sighed, taking his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. “Please be safe tonight. Belle needs you here.” she paused for a moment. “I do too. It’s been a huge difference having you here. Belle seems all around happier.”
Kozik looked up at her biting his bottom lip. “It means a lot to hear you say that babe.” She smiled and looked down. She patted his knee and stood up but before she made it to the door, he turned her around pressing her against it as he pressed his lips against hers.
Harley hesitated, placing her hands flat against his chest. At first to pull away, but after a moment deepened the kiss, pulling him in closer. Kozik placed his hands on the door, on either side of her head, boxing her in as he pressed his body against hers. Harley brushed her tongue against his bottom lip, moaning lightly into his mouth as he pressed against her, feeling his hardness against her hip.
“Kozik, church!” Juice pounded on the door, startling both of them. Kozik growled under his breath as Harley adjusted herself. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. “Bring her back babe.” she nodded before stepping back out into the main room, Kozik on her heels.
The boys were in church for what seemed like hours. Gemma had noticed the two walking out of the room and decided enough was enough. Harley had ignored every attempt Gemma had made of trying to talk to her and the Queen was none to happy. As Harley walked past the older woman, Gemma grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the kitchen.
“Now you listen to me.” She started pointing a finger in Harley’s face. “ You know what I did was for the good of you and this club. You should understand that better than anyone. I’m sorry I scared your “friend” away but you and I both know she wasn’t meant for this. She wasn’t meant for YOUR old man.”
Harley shook her head. “Just like you knew Tara wasn’t meant for this either? You never gave her a shot. It wasn’t about her being my friend. It was about taking in someone Kozik cared about. She made him happy Gemma. She loved him. She took care of him. That’s why I wanted her to succeed so badly. As much as him and I are progressing, I don’t think I could ever forgive him for what he did. She had never seen that side of him and even when he told her what he was, he said she was looking past that. “
Gemma sighed. “Baby, I didn’t give her a chance because the longer she stuck around the longer it would take you to pull your head outta your ass and realize how very much in love you both are. I’m sure Nora was a nice girl. But Kozik is meant to be with you and his daughter. You’re his family. You took care of him when it mattered most. You love him. You make him happy. I’ve never seen that man more driven than I have since he’s been apart of his daughters life. Maybe you still can’t get over what happened, but you shouldn’t stop yourself from trying. You’re not the first woman scorned baby, especially in this club. But I’ll tell you one thing: No one here, men included, has the balls to fuck you over after the way you handled that situation. It showed everyone you’re one to be respected, you’re not just going to roll over and take a beating like an average old lady. And that’s exactly what Koz needs. Someone to keep him in line. Being a Sergeant at Arms is this deadly, overly macho act, but it’s the strength of the old lady that makes the man behind the cut. And that sweetheart, is a position Nora could never fill no matter how much you tried to teach her.”
Harley looked down and sighed. “I just want what makes him happy, Gemma”
The older woman shook her head placing her hands on the young girl shoulders. “You make him happy Harley, so stop trying to avoid what’s really going on and let him show you how much he’s changed for the better.”
The guys had managed to find Nora in an abandoned trailer by Darby’s house and in the process take out Weston and his men. On their way back Kozik held a traumatized Nora close to him. He could feel her trembling in his arms. The guilt he felt was indescribable. This was all his fault for pulling her into this. He never should have brought her to Charming. She was so scared even his touch made her flinch.
The van pulled into the Teller-Morrow lot. The guys got out one by one, Kozik got out last, helping Nora out to the lot leading her inside the clubhouse. The clubhouse went quiet as Harley and Gemma turned their attention to the men walking inside. Harley’s eyes widening as she saw a battered Nora being carried in by Kozik. Moving everyone out of the way they led Nora to the chapel for Tara to examine her. Harley was in the room next to her. Holding her hand rubbing her hair as the poor girl stared blankly at the floor. The only thing she did was confirm that she hadn’t been raped.
Harley helped her back to the dorm. She helped her get showered and changed into some clean clothes. As she was about to leave the room, Nora finally spoke. It was barely above a whisper, but Harley heard her. “Harley..” Harley turned around to look at her frail figure sitting on the edge of the bed. “ Can I stay with you? I.. I can’t stay here.”
Harley kneeled down looking the other woman in the eye. “Nora.. if this has to do with what Gemma said. Ignore her. You’re more than welcome here sweetheart.”
Nora shook her head as her eyes began to water. “No.. no I don’t feel safe here. With them. With this club. I need to be leave. I’ll call my sister in the morning.”
Harley sighed as she wiped a tear from Noras cheek. She looked down at the ground and nodded before looking back at her. “Yeah sweetie. You can stay with me. Pack whatever you need.”
Leaving Nora to pack up her things, Harley went back out to the main room where everyone was gathered. “She wants to leave tomorrow. She’s spending the night at my house tonight. She doesn’t want anything to do with the club. She said she’s calling her sister in the morning.” She shrugged walking next to Chibs who threw an arm over her shoulder as Kozik stared at the ground in guilt.
“What if she talks? About the club? About what happened? Someone should talk to her?” Gemma spoke up.
“I think you’ve done enough Gemma.” Harley said harshly. “I don’t think she’ll talk but I’ll make sure of it later.” She said looking up at Clay who nodded in agreement.
“Harley, I’ll stay with you guys. I’ll crash on the couch.” Kozik said, stepping forward towards her.
“I don’t think thats a good idea babe.”
Clay responded for him. “No. It is. Him, Sack, and Tig will stay there. Just in case there’s someone we missed tonight.”
Harley sighed and nodded. “Alright. Jax. Will you let Neeta know when they can head back down? Sack and I will help get Nora’s bags.”
Everyone nodded as they separated again. Kozik followed Harley, placing a hand on her waist while Sack entered the room Nora was in. “You’ve been so great with her. Thank you. I never expected that from you but you’ve proved me wrong on so many occasions.”
Harley looked up at him and smiled softly. “You have too sweetheart. You have too. I think you need to make up with Nora before she leaves. I’m not saying get back together or anything, because she doesn’t seem up for that but don’t leave things in bad blood.”
Kozik looked down and nodded. “Yeah I guess I should.”
Harley nodded and made her way to Nora’s room. “Hey, ready?” She asked looking around the room seeing Sack picking up a few bags.
“Yeah, one more bag in here” Nora spoke up from the bathroom as Harley walked over picking it up. They made their way to the main room. Nora avoided eye contact with everyone as she hopped into Harley’s truck. Sack threw her bags in the bed and got on his bike along with Kozik.
Harley walked over to Gemma and Clay who were watching from the clubhouse doors. “Clay. Gemma. Listen. I will make sure Nora keeps her mouth shut. If I find out she rats in any way, I will take care of her myself. The club comes first and you guys know I wouldn’t let anyone jeopardize that. Please let me handle this.”
Clay put his hand on her shoulder and Gemma nodded. “Alright sweetheart. This is on you.”
Harley smiled and hugged the both of them before walking back to the truck.
Nora changed into some clothes to sleep in. Her whole body felt like she was hit by truck. Harley set her up in the guest room and brought her some tea to hopefully calm her nerves. Nora couldn’t be more grateful. As angry as she was at the club. At Kozik. At Gemma. Harley had been the one person she had taken everything out on and yet still, she was the most helpful. Nora crawled under the covers trying to stop the tears from coming. The last 4 days had been hell. Gemma’s threats. Being kidnapped and beat daily until the SONS found her. Those men touching her. Even coming closer to violating her on multiple occasions. She just wanted to forget it all. Gemma may have gotten over getting gang raped, Harley may have also been through worse, but she never imagined her life taking this turn. Gemma was right. She was not meant for this. All she wanted to do was call her sister and leave in the morning. Leave this nightmare behind.
Kozik stood outside the guest room door. He didn’t know the first thing to say to her. Harley walked up the stairs crossing her arms over her chest, giving him a small smile. “Where do i even begin Harls?”
She walked up to him, looking at the door then back at him. “Well.. you can apologize for being a shitty boyfriend. Then work your way up to telling her you understand her decision” She shrugged, placing her hand on his forearm giving it a light squeeze before walking away to her bedroom.
Kozik knocked on the door, he hoped she’d be sleeping and he could avoid the conversation all together but he knew it would have to happen. Nora slowly opened the door just a crack to see who it was before letting him walk inside. “Nora..” he started, awkwardly standing by the dresser. Nora just made her way back over to the bed, sitting down underneath her covers. “Nora, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m so sorry I let this happen. I’m so so sorry you got dragged into this because of me. I should never have let you come down here. I should never have gotten you involved in the club.” He blurted out in one short breath.
Nora looked down. She couldn’t begin to forgive but his apology seemed to make it a little better. “Kozik. I tried. I tried to fit in. I tried to be like the others. I just couldn’t. This wasn’t for me. I’ve never had to do anything like this in my life. MOST normal people don’t. I need to leave. I need to go start my life over. I was so sure about where my life was headed. With you. With us. Now.. I have no idea. I just need to go. I’m sorry I couldn’t be Harley for you.” she sighed as she started to cry putting her hands in her face.
Kozik wrapped his arms around her tightly rubbing her back digging his face into her shoulder. “No. I’m sorry, baby. This is all my fault. It was unfair for me not to tell you about Harley. About how it all happened. About how much I still cared for her. It was unfair for me to drag you out here knowing I wouldn’t be able to control myself from getting close to her again. I do Love you Nora. I do, and I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
Nora let out a sad chuckle, placing a hand on his cheek. “The only thing I regret is being selfish enough to try to keep you away from Harley and Isabelle. I see the chemistry you two still have. The spark in your eyes when you’re talking or looking or even hearing about either one of them. As much as you love me baby, you’ve never looked at me that way. As much as it hurts, knowing you have something great here puts me at ease. I hate that you couldn’t protect me, but I hate that I was stupid enough to think I could handle any of this even more.”
Kozik sighed after they finished up their talk and walked out of the room. He heard talking coming from Harley’s door and knocked lightly to make sure it was okay. Harley opened the door holding the phone up to her ear, he could make out her talking to Neeta before her voice softened which he assumed was to talk to Isabelle. “Alright, Baby Belle, I’m glad you had fun. Tomorrow you’ll be back with Mommy and daddy okay? Sweet dreams, baby, I love you very much. Here, say goodnight to daddy.”
She handed him the phone and he mouthed a silent thank you before putting the phone to his ear. “Hey babygirl” he spoke over the phone listening to her tell him she was getting ready for bed and that she missed him. “I miss you too Baby Belle. What do you say we go to the zoo tomorrow huh? Me, You, and Mommy?” he could hear her excited tone as she said yes. “Alright baby. I love you. Goodnight.” He hung up the phone and handed it back to Harley. “How does a family trip to the zoo sound tomorrow?”
She laughed and sat on the bed, criss crossing her legs. “Yeah it sounds great.” Her smile dropped as she looked up at him. “How is she?”
He sighed and sat down on the bed next to her. “She’s doing okay. She’s pretty set on leaving but she seemed more upset about getting in the way of me and my family than the actual kidnapping part.”
Harley sighed and shook her head. Again, not mentioning Gemma threatening the poor girl. “I’m sorry this happened Koz. You two were really good together.”
“No, Harley, we weren’t. Maybe at one point when I didn’t tell her anything about the club or what I did and she had this image of me as an honest man who earned an honest living, but everybody but you seems to realize that the only person I belong with is you. You and Belle.” He insisted placing a hand on her knee trying to lock eyes with her but she looked away.
“Kozik.. I’m scared. Alright? I’m scared. We can’t be as explosive as we are when we’re together because we have a baby. We have a very smart young girl who can put two and two together very quickly and I don’t want her growing up thinking it’s okay to be in a relationship like that.”
“Harley look at me dammit! You’re so stuck on our fights you aren’t even acknowledging the rest of our relationship! All those times we were happy. Even when we fought you could feel the love between us. And I know we both felt it in that kiss!” he said as his voice got a little louder.
Harley looked up at him and sighed. “Koz.. I don’t know.” She shook her head. He cupped her face pulling her close as he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply feeling a tear from her eye between their cheeks. She hesitantly responded, placing a hand on his cheek, the other on the bed next to him to get closer to him. Her lips parted slightly as he slid his tongue between them, moving it around hers as his hand slid down to her hip pulling her on his lap as she straddled him. She pressed harder against him, their tongues dancing together as she ran her fingers through his hair, her other hand sliding under his cut. Kozik groaned as she moved her hips against him before pulling away from the kiss. Both struggling to catch their breath from the kiss, Harley cleared her throat as she got off of him.
“I put pillows and a blanket on the couch. You have a goodnight Kozik.” she smirked as she wiped her lips with her fingertips.