Chapter Three

It felt like Tatum was on autopilot since Cal's phone call. She was just going through the motions with a smile on her face as she tried to process the death of her father. Tatum had been trying to get answers from Cal about their father's death but it was proving to be pointless. Cal only told her that Ty's death would be dealt with by SAMCRO, which could only mean it was going to be a blood bath.

A sigh left Tatum's lips as she ran a hand through her dark hair, she sat down on her bed as her eyes took in her half packed suitcase. Tatum had made it a point not to go back to Charming often since Cal and Ima's wedding, she went back to the small toxic town once every couple of months just to visit Cal, Ima, and her niece - Callie. She preferred to have Ima and Callie visit Santo Padre instead. Tatum felt it was safer for them to be there than Charming, a lot had changed in Charming in three years and a lot had changed with SAMCRO, and it wasn't all for the better either.

Tatum could feel the knots forming in her stomach as she thought about spending time in Charming. She honestly just wanted to have the funeral for her father and then leave right after it was over with, she didn't want to see anyone and she definitely didn't want to deal with her father's estate. Tatum hopes he left it all to Cal so she didn't have to worry about it or have anymore ties to Charming.

The thought of seeing Jax was rolling around in her mind as well, their relationship was completely different from three years ago. It was like they didn't even have a relationship anymore, the one best friends barely communicated. She knew Jax had a lot of shit on his shoulders from what Gemma had told her, and maybe it was for the best they weren't close anymore, from what she heard Jax Teller now wasn't the same Jax Teller she had once been best friends with.

"You sure you wanna go?" Angel's voice broke through her thoughts as he walked into their bedroom with a towel around his waist.

He knew it was a stupid fucking question to ask. Angel knew Tatum was going to go to her father's funeral, the two weren't close but their relationship had grown a bit over the years and Angel knew Tatum would never forgive herself if she didn't go. The Mayan hated Charming, and he hated his wife going there even more. That fucking town was toxic.

"I have to go." Tatum said as her eyes looked over Angel's heavily tattooed body. "I'd be a shitty daughter if I didn't go to my father's funeral." She stated matter of fact as she removed herself from the bed and resumed packing.

"You sure you're okay with being by yourself for a few days?" Angel asked as he wrapped his arms around Tatum's waist and placed a kiss on her neck. He wanted to make the drive down to Charming with Tatum, but the club had to do a quick run first and even though Bishop wanted to let Angel go with Tatum, he was needed on the run.

"Yeah." Tatum nodded, a small smile forming on her face as she felt Angel's lips on her neck. "I'll be fine." She reassured Angel.

——

Tatum tossed her suitcase into the truck of her beloved Mustang and turned around to face Angel with a small smile on her face. The sun was just begging to rise over Santo Padre, and while she wished to still be in bed with Angel's tattooed arms wrapped tightly around her, she had to made the long drive to Charming.

"I'll be there in a few days." Angel reminded her as he wrapped his arms around her, running his hand through her dark hair.

"I know." Tatum nodded as she rested her head on his chest. Tatum took in his smell of leather, cologne, and cigarettes. It had become her favorite smell over the years, and it always made her feel safe. "I'll be fine." She reassured Angel once again. Tatum hopes if she said the words enough she'd actually start to believe them.

"I love you." Angel said as he grabbed Tatum's hand, placing a kiss to her fingertips.

He was worried about Tatum going back to Charming, he'd be a fucking idiot not to be worried. Angel knew Tatum kept telling him she would be fine, but he could hear the way her voice wavered whenever she said it. Angel could tell she was trying to assure herself as much as she was trying to assure him.

"I love you too." Tatum said while reluctantly removing herself from Angel's warm embrace. "I've gotta get going." She said with a sigh.

Angel nodded before placing his lips against Tatum's. "I'll see you in a few days." He promised as he reluctantly removed his lips from Tatum's.

A sense of dread filled Tatum's body as she entered her car and waved goodbye to Angel. It was as though a voice in the back of her head was screaming at her not to go to Charming, but she had to. Tatum would never forgive herself if she didn't go, she couldn't not go because she had a bad feeling. She quickly shook her head and the bad feeling from it as she made the long drive to Charming.

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A/N: thank you for the votes and views! I'm so happy these first three chapters are done because I finally got back into the grove of writing Tatum again in the next two chapters.