Spark in the Dark

Chapter 180

"Of course. I'll be there as soon as possible."

Shawn went back inside after they hung up and let Lyla know she had to leave. She grabbed her purse and keys before heading out to the car. Juice texted her Wendy's address and Shawn used the GPS on her phone to get there.

As she pulled up to the address, she saw Juice kneeling near his bike which was laying on it's side. When Shawn stopped the car, Juice stood and got in.

"Rat's on his way with the truck," Juice told her.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. Let's go."

"Juice," she said and reached over to turn his head so he was looking at her.

When he saw how worried she was, his rage diminished. He touched her hand gently. "I'm okay. I promise."

He leaned in and kissed her. It eased Shawn's nerves and she pulled away from Juice's busted Dyna.

"You know I'm going to hit her, right?" Shawn asked.

"Don't do that."

"Why not?"

"Honestly," Juice started, "I have no good reason, but you probably shouldn't."

They got to St. Thomas and Juice asked her to go with him to the daycare, just in case Tara told the staff there to be on the lookout for club members. Shawn stepped into the play area and saw Abel playing with other kids while Thomas napped in a playpen close by.

"They're still here," Shawn told Juice when she went back out. "Where do you think she went after that?"

"I have no idea," he said.

Then they both noticed as Tara came around the corner and stopped when she saw them both standing there. Her face looked shocked, but then changed to anger. Tara approached them quickly. They turned their bodies towards her and Shawn noticed Juice angled himself so he was slightly in front of Shawn. She assumed it was his way of keeping her from hitting Tara.

"What are you doing here?" Tara asked Juice.

Juice shrugged. "I always come to a hospital when someone runs me over."

"Tell Jax I don't need a watchdog."

"I'm just making sure Abel and Thomas don't go anywhere they're not supposed to."

Tara looked at Shawn, but she only glared back. Any sympathy Shawn may have shown Tara disappeared the second she tried to run over Juice. Tara looked back at Juice.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Just tell me where he is, asshole."

Shawn tried to take a step towards Tara, but Juice subtly touched her hand to stop her. She looked up at him and saw he almost looked amused.

"Diosa. Stockton. Meeting with his partner Collette," he told her. "Here. Let me get you the address."

Juice pulled out his phone and sent the address to Tara. He snapped his phone shut and put it back in his pocket. He didn't say anything else, but looked at her expectantly. Tara looked at the address on her phone and, with one more glance, for each of them, turned on her heel and walked away.

Once she was gone, Shawn looked at Juice again. "I thought Collette's permit was denied."

"We got it all sorted out."

"Is that why Jax is there?"

"Actually, Jax has been," Juice thought of how he wanted to word it, "sort of tapping that for awhile now."