11.

"How do you know Manuel, again?" the scrawny Mexican asked.

Ava looked at him and shrugged looking about agitated, trembling. The guy might have been thin and helpless but the two others with him were of a more robust built and they flashed their guns in plain sight. She either had to play this right or find out for sure if she could take them out faster than a bullet would kill her. She tried to forget about being shot in a back alley in Oakland and focused on the man talking to her.

"I don't know Manuel. I was…" Ava trembled more "I was with his girl, Carlita, inside"

"You can buy from me" the man said.

"Can't, man" Ava smiled miserably "Don't have money. Carlita owes me and said Manuel would make it good"

The scrawny man pulled closer and licked his lips not even trying to hide that he was ready to fuck her there, in an alley that smelled of piss and rotten garbage. The other two had the same train of thought.

"And since when a fine piece of ass needs money to get the good stuff?"

Ava cracked a smile and leaned in. Her face went all seductive and mellow.

"I think I'll keep that in mind after I cash in Carlita's favor. I'll come find you and I'll pay you" Ava lowered her voice "Pay you nice and good"

The man snickered idiotically and Ava rolled her eyes momentarily at the pure idiocy men had before pussy.

"Mama, you can go down on me now. Manuel is busy"

"Busy?" Ava brushed his arm with her breasts.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" the man glared at her breasts and Ava bit her teeth down impatiently "A guy came in and paid him and his boys for a job"

"What guy?" Ava pushed as she drove her hands down his chest.

"A white old dude on a Harley. Not from around. Why you asking?" the man wasn't a complete idiot.

"White old guy with gray short hair and a cut with a Reaper?" Ava looked at him desperately.

The scrawny guy took out his gun.

"How the fuck you know, puta?"

Ava pretended to be scared shitless. She then ran her fingers through her hair desperately.

"It's my fucking Dad!" she said almost broke in tears smiling internally with her acting skills.

"Shit!"

"Yeah!" Ava backed away "He's looking for me" then threw herself at him "Don't tell him you saw me. He'll howl me back to his freaking basement to… cure me. You can't tell him. I'll skip town. Don't…"

"Fine" the man said and she released him.

She turned her back to the Mexicans and left round the corner as fast the junkie she was pretending to be could. When she was away from the disgusting trio, she walked up to her Prius with forceful, wide strides and drove away fast. She was grinding her teeth and fisting the wheel filled with anger. Gemma! This was all Gemma. She wanted her out of the picture and had convinced her dear old man to do it for her. She could only imagine what she whispered in his ear on their bed. And Clay, being the prick that he was, didn't think twice and recruited some low-life Mexicans to take her out. Her mind was running wildly when her phone rang and Ava answered it via her car's system.

"Babe?" Opie's voice calmed her a little "You coming?"

Ava bit her lip. The last thing she wanted was to go.

"Come on, we are celebrating. Tara is pregnant!"

Tara had broken the news to the club that morning and there was a little to stop the Sons of throwing a party. Between marriages and birthdays, babies born and even deaths, there were a few days left for the Sons not having an excuse to celebrate. And yet Ava had nothing to celebrate apart from the fact that her instinct was spot on since she laid eyes on Gemma and Clay the first time they met them.

A week had passed since the attack at Venus Streak and Ava was following the only leads she had. The clues the dead man's body had given her. She had no need to go anywhere but her lap-top. Clueing in all the information she had from his tattoos she got a hit. A member of the 22's with a woman named Carlita and three kids whose names and dates of birth he had inked on his skin. She tracked him down easily. Late Manuel had a nice long sheet and had done some time. His wife Carlita was in for assault and Ava easily devised a lie of her being a junkie that met Carlita in Stockton. And got exactly what she suspected. Clay had paid the Mexicans to attack the escort. Midday, dead hour with minimal security. And with her in there.

"Babe?" Opie stirred her back into reality.

"I'm not feeling so hot" Ava tried to avoid it.

"Cut the crap" Opie demanded.

She could lie to anyone, manipulate and extort the truth. He couldn't lie to him. She hadn't shared her suspicions but he knew she was holding back. So far he was giving her space but Ava wasn't sure she would be able to manage her feelings and hide what she knew.

"I'll be there"

It was hours after and Ava was pulling into the garage and the party was well underway. Both the parking lot and the bar were filled with people. LuAnn's girls were there and so were the girls from Venus Streak. Some were already fondling with members and the thought of catching Opie with Lyla made her forget her agitation. Instead, she spotted him on the bench outside with Jax and Tara, drinking a beer. He saw her and got up, coming up to her. Several eyes followed the gigantic man as he moved up to her and opened his arms. She ignored everyone and sunk into his embrace. She stayed there and inhaled his musk, leather and cigarette and his manly smell that drove her senses into overdrive. She felt safe and happy there.

"There you are" he kissed her hair.

Ava pulled away and smiled to him. He took her by the hand and they went up the bench. Ava put on a wide smile and approached the happy couple.

"Congratulations" Ava said enthusiastically.

And was met with half muttered thank yous. Ava pressed her lips together as she saw Tara shift uneasily in Jax's arms and avoid eye contact with her. Jax on the other hand was looking straight into her eyes and despite his smile and hand on his old lady, his look was icy cold. Ava raised her brow and without any hesitation she turned to the garage's door. Gemma was standing there, one hand and on her hips and a cigarette in the other. Even from that far she could detect the flicker of triumph in her eyes.

"Those LOAN fuckers are a hard nut to crack" Opie continued a talk he had with Jax "Nazi fucks"

"We'll get them, man" Jax replied and then turned to Ava "Eventually, we get them all"

Was Jax in on the hit? He knew what his mother and stepfather had planned for her? Ava looked away and turned to Tara.

"How far along are you?"

"Far enough" Tara said and got up "I'm going to help Gemma inside"

Ava followed Tara's back as she walked away. She contemplated how long before she could get the hell out, away from Gemma's poisoned atmosphere.

"A word" Jax came close.

"Sure"

He took a few steps, away from Opie and Ava followed him.

"That shit in Venus Streak" Jax leaned his head to his left "What was that?"

"Not a clue" Ava straight down lied.

"Wasn't the Mayans? After you?"

Jax was clueless Ava knew the moment she looked his eyes and she wondered if he knew she was lying the same way she knew he wasn't. Clay must have spread some shit of the Mayans going after her and how that fucked with SAMCRO business.

"Could be" she shook her head.

"Better to stay away for a while" Jax voice was firm.

"Was planning to. Have everything handed to Bobby"

Jax was taken aback by this and Ava kept her face straight. That was the card Gemma was playing against her? That she was trying to keep the escort to herself? That she was there to take advantage of the club and they had to free Opie from her claws? That manipulative bitch was getting on her nerves and Ava was fighting tooth and nail not to barge into the bar and bash Gemma's head in.

"Sorry, didn't know about that" Jax's mind was working hard.

"It's your baby, Jax" Ava attacked Gemma's creation "I just helped. You going legit means it's safe" Ava turned to Opie talking with a prospect.

"It does" Jax seemed puzzled.

"I signed everything off to the dummy corp. I'll gradually get my initial capital back. That's it. Even my office is empty" Ava smiled "Bobby will explain this shit better"

Jax licked his lip and nodded. Ava saw the confusion in his eyes but she wasn't going to push it. His Oedipus complex with his mother was too deep and she didn't find it beneath Gemma to get Jax to kill her. She had her husband try it out and she was alive and kicking. Jax would be next and Ava had to act faster if she wanted to avoid bloodshed and heartache. Opie's heartache mostly.

"Okay, Av" Jax sighed "Thanks"

"No problem" Ava nodded and moved up to Opie.

Her man was standing listening to some absurd story the prospect was telling him. She sat on the bench facing his back and threw her arms over his shoulders and Opie leaned and kissed her knuckles. Ava turned to the bar and through the windows she eyed Gemma going about playing mommy. And she was glad no one was looking at her cause she was sure one would notice the murderous poison dripping from her look.