Chapter 2- The Calm before the Storm

We pulled into the parking lot of the Auto repair shop; which was also where the club house is. Jax backed his bike in and I did the same. My stomach was fluttering as we walked into the club house. The last time I saw all the guys was my mom's funeral. When they saw me I was welcomed with hugs and many greetings. Clay was even happy to see me from what I could read on his face. Piney smiled brightly and hugged me. My mom said he knew I was his when I was thirteen. She told him just before we moved away. She said he hated that he wouldn't see me anymore but knew I deserved better then what SAMCRO could give me.

"So what brings you back here?" Opie asked with a huge smile.

"Just had to get out of Florida, too much has happened there." I admitted without thinking.

"Yeah, I know" Opie hugged me again. "I'm so sorry about Brett and Alison. If there's anything we can do please let us know."

"Thanks Op." I took a drink of my beer.

We sat around for a few hours talking and reminiscing. I had a lot of fun being with the guys who helped raise me. Gemma even stopped in, but she didn't seem all that happy to see me. I wasn't sure why but I'm sure she knows why I came back.

I looked at the time and saw it was two in the morning. "Oh I better get back to the hotel."

"Why are you staying in a hotel?" Opie laughed.

"That's what you do when you go somewhere you don't live, Opie." I looked at him a little confused; everyone else laughed.

"No" Opie chuckled. "You can stay here or with one of us. We have the room right Clay."

"Yeah, Chloe, your family and we don't let family stay in cheesy hotels." Clay smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. He looked up at Jax. "Why don't you take her to your place, you have the room."

Jax looked a little worried but then nodded. "Yeah, you can stay at my place."

I follow Jax outside to the bikes then stopped him. "Jax you don't have"

"Chloe it's ok. Just follow me." He kick started his bike.

I followed down a dark road not knowing exactly where I was going. As we went down Hwy 18 a small group of four bikers passed us. When I looked I noticed their Kutts said Mayan. My heart raced then I heard them turn around and head our way. I was angrier with the Mayan's then scared.

Jax pulled down a dirt road and into a group of trees. He shut his bike off and prepared for a battle. I moved behind him drawing my gun too. He looked at me and shook his head.

"For protection?" He whispered.

"Something like that" I moved closer to the tree line.

"Chloe what's up with you?" He looked at me worried.

"Don't worry about me." I saw the headlights of the four bikes coming toward us.

"Chloe you're my…" He paused looking for the right words to say. "Your family"

"I'll explain later, I promise." I looked into Jax's eyes and saw his worry. I pressed my lips softly to his. I felt my heart flutter rapidly as we touched.

I pulled away and looked over the group of bikers who were now walking toward us. I moved to get a better shot. Jax followed behind me quietly. As we stayed hidden from their view I could hear one of the guys talking. He said something about getting out of here before the rest of the son's come. Then they hopped on their bikes and left. Jax's and I waited till we couldn't hear the sound of their bikes before heading out too. He seemed really upset about the Mayan's being near his town.

Jax's house was just a basic three bedroom house. He led me into the kitchen and handed me a bottle of water. "Sorry, I don't stay here much so there's not a lot here."

"No it's ok." I looked away. "I heard about your son. I'm sorry Jax."

"He's doing well now. He should be coming home in a week or so." Jax wouldn't meet my eyes. "You can use my room it's at the end of the hall."

"I can just stay on the couch; it's not a big deal." I watch Jax for moment. He looked so worried and confused. "Is everything ok with you Jax?"

"Yeah" He shook off whatever it was for the moment and looked at me. "I'm gonna go shower." As he walked past me he kissed the top of my head. "It's good to have you back Chloe."

I went to my bike and grabbed my bag off and the rest of my stuff. I went to Jax's room to change. I put on my shorts and a tank top. When I turned around Jax was standing in the door way without a shirt on. He slowly moved toward me, placing on hand on my hip as he leaned and kissed me. The second his lips touched mine an adrenaline rush went through my body. I welcomed every second of it.

When the kiss ended he took my hand and pulled me on to the edge of the bed. "Tell me why you're really here Chlo."

"I promise I will once I know all the details." I couldn't meet his eyes because I knew I would spill the entire truth.

"Things here aren't the best right now. Everything is being turned upside down." He admitted.

"I know Jax. The turf war in Florida is getting bad too." I told him honestly. "Mark and Johnny don't know what to do. The pipe lines are dry. They can't protect anything anymore."

"Why didn't they reach out?" Jax got up and looked worried.

"They knew ATF was here looking into you so they were going to let this calm down before calling." I admitted everything I knew about my charter.

"How many guys have they lost?" He looked at me with his cell in his hand.

"Six are dead and three went nomad." I hated giving up info but my family in Florida needed help too.

Jax called Clay and asked him to stop over. About twenty minutes past before Clay was standing in the living room. I filled him in on what has been happening since Brett's and mom's funeral.

Clay looked worried. "When Macy called to let us know about Chloe she said the guys are on their way here. They aren't happy about someone taking off."

I was a little panicked about having the whole crew here because I left home. "This is bull shit! I am a fucking adult!"

"You're still a little girl in all of our eyes Chloe. When your mom and Brett got together they made the whole club promise to keep an eye on you if anything ever happened. I can't go back on that promise just because you're over eighteen." Clay sat next to me. "Chloe, your mom was a great woman. She helped the club a lot of the time. She was family and so are you."

I truly believed he cared about me. It made me wonder if the secret of whom my father was; was a good idea to keep hidden. "Thanks Clay."

"We will meet with everyone when they get here." Clay hugged me one last time before leaving.

I sat thinking about everything my mom said in the letter. She told me to always follow my heart because she didn't and that's how come I hadn't had a father. I wasn't sure what to do next. I wanted Jax, Opie, and Piney to know the truth but I wasn't sure it was good for all of us. Opie would most likely be excited but become over protective. Piney was hard to read. Jax would most likely never look at me the same.

Jax sat next to me on the couch and took my hand in his. "You did the right thing by telling us. I know Mark and Johnny like to keep shit contained but turf war without protection isn't good for anyone. "

"I hope they don't get mad at me." I looked into Jax's gorgeous blue eyes. I wanted to tell him everything but I just couldn't force the words out.

Jax's hand cradled the side of my face as he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. The rush flowed through me again. I wanted Jax more than anything ever before. Slowly I moved to straddle his lap. Our clothes soon laid crumpled on the floor; as Jax made love to me.

It lasted for almost two hours before we fell asleep in each other's arms in his bed. When I woke up Jax was gone. I looked at the time and it was almost seven in the morning. I got up and tossed on Jax's t-shirt and my jeans.

I walked down the hall and could smell coffee. When I reached the kitchen I saw Gemma sitting at the kitchen table. She looked at me with an intimidating look but I wasn't going to let her scare me away.

"Nice look" She pointed at the shirt I was wearing. "I see you and Jax have reconnected."

"First that's none of you business. Second, you don't scare me Gemma." I grabbed a cup and poured some coffee, then sat down across from Gemma.

"I know I don't scare you because I am just an older version of you." She smiled which made me grit my teeth. "I'm not here to tell you to leave my son alone. I just want to make sure you are ok."

I looked into Gemma's eyes; she looked serious. "What's up with you? You have hated me since you found out I was the one Jax was sleeping with."

"He was only fourteen. If you had gotten pregnant it would have ruined both of your lives." Gemma shook her head. "Look I know I was a bitch to you and your mom while you were growing up. Your mother had slept with both John and Clay while I was with them. I was just upset."

"I know. She was the whore." I admitted with a chuckle. "I guess mother like daughter."

Gemma looked at me as she placed her hand on top of mine. "You're nothing like your mom. I can guarantee you that." She half smiled. "Chloe if you and Jax are gonna be together just think about what you're getting yourself into."

"We had sex that's it. It's not anything else." I admitted just then Jax pulled into the drive way.

"Well if you do just think before you leap ok?" She looked at me sternly. I nodded and wondered what her motives were. She got up and left.

"Good morning" Jax smiled and kissed the top of my head as he walked in.

"Morning" I was a little confused still by Gemma's talk with me.

Jax grabbed a cup of coffee and sat across the table from me. He pulled something from his kutt and laid it on the table. I gasped when I recognized it. "I know why you're here."

It was the letter from my mom. I had left it in my bag, how did Jax get it. "How did you find it?" I couldn't look up to his eyes.

"I found it on the floor next to your bag." Jax sounded funny. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I looked into his eyes and words fell from my mouth. "I was afraid if you knew you would think of me differently. Look at me differently."

"Chloe, I would never look at you different." He took one of my hands in his.

"You're telling me if I told you I was Opie's little sister, last night still would have happened." The words rushed out of my mouth before I could realize what I was saying.

"I don't know." Jax looked at our hands then back to my eyes.

"Jax" I had to say this before I lost the nerve to. "I have loved you for as long as I can remember. Leaving Charming was horrible for me. I tried finding a new love, but it was just meaningless sex. I couldn't even tell you names because I didn't care. I just wanted you back."

"I know exactly what you mean. I have been with many girls but I never see their faces. I only see you." He moved to me and kissed me hard and long.

Suddenly he pulled away when he heard the front door open. "Hey Op"

"Hey Jax, Morning Chloe" He smiled at me. "Nice shirt."

"Thanks Opie" I was a little embarrassed.

"Piney wants Chloe to stop by his house" Opie sat next to me.

"Why?" I looked panicked at Jax hoping he hadn't spilled the truth to Opie. Jax shook his head No and looked a little puzzled too.

"He said he had something to give you that he found after the funeral." Opie blew it off. "Jax, Clay wants us at the club house. We better head out before he hunts us down."

"Yeah, we better go." Jax stood up and walked over to me. "Stop by the club house when you're done at Piney's, we need to finish this conversation." He pressed his lips to mine and left.