Chapter 11, Tangled Web

Part 1 of 2

Tangled web~ a complex, difficult and confusing situation or thing.

Since this chapter is almost 20,000 words long. I split it in two chapters; Tangled Web Part #1 and Part #2.


"Jesus Christ, Wayne. Why would you do that?"

"I had to do something. It's above Hadley's pay grade to get the intel on Collette. So, I said words to Roosevelt like; I think she may have something to do with it. It would probably be the first place I would look into if I were still chief. She might have the biggest motive to want you gone. I didn't say anything concrete. All you gotta do when he questions you is say Collette doesn't and it stops there."

"If Jax finds out…" It came out in a rush because it was my worst fear at the moment.

"He won't because Roosevelt ain't gonna share the information with Jax. There's shit in there about Collette that's above his paid grade even. She was facing twenty to life and chose to turn rat to save her ass. I'd be more worried about what intel she's got on the club, Jax and you."

"Me?"

"If Collette has enough powerful information to use against Jax. Who has the most to lose by not turning against him too? It's you and the boys, Tara. If I were still in charge, you'd be the first one I came after."

The web the black widow spun wasn't just for the club or Jax. It now involved me and Nero too. She knew everything about us. But the puzzle wasn't complete yet. Why would she try to get me fired from the hospital? Or shut us down? Fuck, or want me dead for that matter? If what Wayne said was true; I'd be no good for cause dead.

"We need to find out what Jacob Hale has to do with it?" There was no way I could stop what was set in motion already. I had to proceed forward on all of it. Saving my husband and my family along with myself depended on it.

"I gotta friend on the commissions board. I'll poke around there and see what we come up with."

"Okay. I'll talk to Nero."

We had a plan. It wasn't a great plan but it was a place to start at. Wayne did his morning routine of taking me and the boys to the hospital. I was used to never being alone anymore, to be alone for five minutes would seem odd now.

"I'll be back when you get off work to pick you up."

"Thanks, Wayne."

They were great about making a place for the boys in daycare. Everyone actually welcomed me back with open arms as though I had never left even. Which, was sort of surprising to me.

"I love you, baby. You be good today, okay?"

"I will. I love you, Mommy."

Abel was excited to have other children around to play with again. He took off to see the other kids in a hurry. It helped him build social skills and built a foundation for when he got older. It was one of the reasons I never fit in well. As I child I was reclusive. It didn't change when I became an adult, I still didn't socialize with many.

It was early yet to teach Thomas the kissing game. But I smooched him goodbye until he giggled. "I love my big boy."

Now to figure out where to start the day. Mr. Price was coming down the hallway the same time as I was. "Good morning, Dr. Knowles."

"Good morning."

"It's good to have you back with us." His phony facade was sickening. He walked around here held his head high as the pillar of the community. While the whole time he was a piece shit just like the rest of them. But being a rich piece of shit got him a free pass. Or so he thought.

When we got on the elevator his true colors came out. "I'm sorry to hear the establishment got shut down. I did get the invitation for the grand opening. I will be attending it."

"Grand opening for what?"

"Your new establishment."

The pile of shit was so deep now it was drowning me in it. A new place in Stockton was opening up under the name; Madame Ecstasy's Play Palace. Not only did people want me dead; they were taking over my life one little piece at a time.

Fuck, at this rate I was going to start carrying around a tape recorder. It would be easier to play back my day for Nero. Rather than remembering all of this stuff.

After Mr. Price got off the elevator. I pulled out my cellphone to call Nero. Only for Margret to get on. "Shit." I shoved it back in my pocket quickly.

"They are prepping for surgery. You are going to be late if you don't hurry."

"Oh, I, I'm not sure I should do it yet. With being so out of practice and just coming back."

"You are a professional. When a patient needs you, you do everything in your power to save them. You have to operate at some point, Tara. So, you should figure out what it is you need to do and get to the operating room. Besides, there isn't anyone else available to take your place."

Nero was put on the back burner along with all my many other problems. I had to get my head cleared and focus on the child whose life depended upon it.

It had been so long since I had a comfortable pair of scrubs on. I covered up my hair and went to do my job. The anesthesiologist was already sedating the patient. Every instrument on the trays shinned brightly from the light above it could have blinded me. The air seemed so stale in the room.

"Just breathe."

"Did you say something, Dr. Knowles?"

"No."

It was all I could do to get through it. The sweat was dripping from my body. So much it made my eyes sting. It felt repetitious, it was such an easy fix. I should have done it quickly. But this took me forever to do.

Without my even asking, the nurse wiped the sweat from my brow several times. When the final stitch was in. I had to get out of there. I pulled my mask down as soon as I hit the door. The wall became my support as I leaned against it to not fall.

"Just breathe." Over and over I told myself with no prevail, it didn't work either.

"It's to be expected, you know?"

"What is, Margret?"

"You did great, Tara. I'm glad you're back." She went on about her business without really answering my question.

"I'm glad you think so." Hell, I wasn't sure anymore what I should actually be doing.

For the rest of the day I was so busy trying to get back in the groove of things it went by superfast. Wayne was already here to pick me up.

We picked up the boys and I called Nero several times on the way home. I never got an answer or a return call from him. So I tried Gemma, they were always together. It was the same thing. I even called Kyle and nothing.

"Abel, put your shoes on honey. We are going for a drive." Maybe Gemma was still at TM and had an idea what was going on. Of course we didn't go alone. Phil was right behind us.

If I did nothing else tomorrow, I was buying a car. I hated driving Jax's old truck. It was difficult to get the boys in and out of it. Not to mention, I had a hard time seeing over the dash.

When we pulled up to TM, I found Gemma and Kyle there. Don't think it didn't confuse the hell out of me as to why. Kyle was hanging out at Nero's car. No sign of Nero either. But not Gemma. She made her presence well known.

Gemma was screaming at Jax. "What the hell did you do, Jackson?"

"Did you seriously bring that mother fucker here to my clubhouse?" Jax was screaming right back at her.

"They took Nero when we were all three together. Sorry, if it doesn't fit in to your evening plans." Gemma turned over a new leaf. She hadn't pushed Jax or stood up to him for a long time. But Nero was involved now and she wouldn't back down.

"Who took him?"

"Nero got picked up by the cops."

Abel went running before I could grab him. I was still trying to get Thomas out of the truck. "Kyle, how is George?"

"He's fine."

"Abel." Jax was pissed by his tone. Even more pissed off when Abel completely ignored him and went on talking. So Jax said it again. "Abel."

"Your dad is calling you. You better go see what he wants, buddy."

Abel took off to Jax finally. "Daddy."

Jax picked Abel up and gave him a kiss. Then handed him right over to Happy. I let out a long sigh because Jax was truly oblivious to his son's needs. He couldn't even take five minutes with his son when Abel craved his attention.

"Jackson." He ignored Gemma and kept walking across the parking lot. "Jackson." I found it funny. Jax did the exactly to Gemma what Abel had done to him. If Jax would just open his eyes to see, Abel followed the example he set. Just as to some degree Jax followed the precedence Clay set for him so many years ago.

What wasn't so funny was where Jax was going. It was about to get complicated quickly. "Jax." I tried to grab his arm when went he passed me but he ignored me too.

"Hold Thomas for me." Gemma took my baby and I went to stop the other baby from starting something that didn't need to be. It was strenuous relationship between them already.

"Stay the fuck away from my wife and my sons." Jax thought it was easier to throw out commands to Kyle rather than discuss it. Just like he does the club members. The members do what they are told. But I already knew Kyle wouldn't.

"Technically, I'm here with Gemma. Is she off limits to me too? Am I taking your mommy away from you now, Jax? You could actually take the approach of a little respect with her and Tara. It would go a long way with both of them. Because if I ever talked to my mother or my wife the way you do yours; my old man would have beat my ass for it."

It was brought to an abrupt halt when seven police cars pulled up. Roosevelt stepped out with a piece of paper in his hand. I had no idea what it was but you can damn well bet it was something bad no doubt.

"Tara, I need for you to come with me to the station."

"I didn't do anything."

"It's not a request, Tara. You can come with me or I will take you there in cuffs."

Roosevelt shoved the piece of paper into Jax's chest. "In case you don't know what it is already. It's a search warrant."

Then Roosevelt turned his attention to Kyle. "I don't know how you play into all of this. But I will find out."

"Good luck on that, sheriff. Because I don't even know myself."

"We will be behind you." Gemma gave Thomas to one of the crow eaters. Which killed me to see one them have my son.

"Someone needs to watch my children." I thought I was stating the obvious. But just case they needed a reminder.

"I'll be there, babe. As soon as they do their search." I rolled my eyes at Jax. Unless their search turned up something illegal. Then he might be longer than expected.

"Mommy." Abel was struggling to get down and out of Happy's arms. He was scared and confused as to what was going on. My son would see and remember my being carted off by the police. At least my sweet Thomas was too young to ever remember it.

"Please, let me say goodbye to him." It was more of a plea than a question to Roosevelt. He only nodded in agreement.

The main thing was to sooth my son. Put everything else aside and make him feel better. Abel hugged me and I wanted to stay with him but I couldn't. "Mommy, will be back. I love you, baby."

"Are you in trouble with the policeman?" The words wouldn't form to come out. What should I say?

"Hey, I'm policeman, Roosevelt." He stuck his hand out to my son. "What's your name?"

"Abel."

"It's really nice to meet you, Abel. Your mom is just helping me out." Abel stared down at the ground when Roosevelt talked to him and shied away. "You don't have to be scared of me. I help and protect people. It's my job."

"Like my daddy? He protects us from bad people."

Roosevelt debated for a moment. It probably went against all his fibers. But he said it anyway. "Yeah, like your daddy. I have something for you." He gave Abel a sticker of a dog dressed like a policeman.

"This is like George." It made Abel smile. It made me smile when he stuck it on his shirt even though the sticker was upside down.

"I love you, baby." After another hug to my son and I had to tear myself away from him.

"Thank you for doing that. It means a lot to my son." Roosevelt opened the back door to his car and motioned for me to get inside. Of course, I did it because what choice did I really have.

On the way to the police station I tried to find out why and for what he was taking me in for. "It's not me, Tara. ATF showed up today and are here to investigate the bombing. Especially since your car went missing afterwards, it is a very big deal. They issued a search warrant for TM. To see if the club is hiding the car there."

There was no way I could control it. The shaking and the fear I felt. If they thought the club had something to do with it, then they knew all about Jax and the club already.

For an hour I sat on a bench waiting to see what was going to happen to me. Gemma wasn't so patient with the situation. "I'm not leaving until you let my old man go. What the hell is taking so damn long?"

It wasn't uncommon for Gemma to get in the middle of everything and take complete control of the situation. Most thought I couldn't handle it in the manner she would. It wasn't I didn't want to; I didn't know how to. There were so many difference between me and her. One of the most obvious was her strength to take anything on. What would tear apart and kill most women on the inside. Only made her stronger.

Nero finally came out of a room with two men in suits. He was very pissed off by the look on his face. Gemma immediately went to his side. "Are you okay, baby?" He only nodded.

"Mrs. Teller, we are ready for you now." One of them in the suits stood in the door way to the interrogation room.

"We should get out of here." Nero took Gemma's hand to leave.

"What do they want with me, Nero?"

"They got a lot of questions, mama. I don't know anything to tell them. I'm not a mechanic so I got no idea what happened. For all I know it was faulty wiring that set your car a blaze." The way Nero said it. It was meant for me to follow his lead with the same story he gave them. I only hoped there weren't any other questions the same way I varied answers on.

"Maybe, I didn't make myself clear to you. Stay the fuck away from, Tara. Get off Gemma's tit already." Common sense should have told Jax when he came in and they were still here. Starting with Kyle the middle of the police station was not a grand idea. But, hell, it didn't.

"Take a look around, Jax. Is showing me how big your dick is that important to you right now? I'm not the one under the microscope. So, we can do this any way you want to."

"This is on you." Since Jax got nowhere with Kyle. He went on down the line to Gemma.

"What the hell did I do, Jackson?"

"You didn't just disrespect the club by bringing him with you. You disrespected me. I'm your son, what happened to family comes first bullshit you shoved down my throat all these years?"

"There's been a lot of disrespect going around lately. You might wanna remember who the hell you're talking to. I'm not Tara. Save your bullshit for her." Well, he didn't get far with Gemma either. Because she lashed out at him.

Roosevelt shook his head, let out a long sigh and came out of his office in a hurry. "I am about to lose my patients with all of you. But while you're still here, Mr. Brandon. I ran you. Your background doesn't exactly click with the MC. Now I got to ask myself. What would some special ops, clean past and decorated military guy be doing with this bunch? On such a regular basis."

When the cocky little smile crossed Kyle's face, I worried was about to come out of his mouth. "I'm just here to hang out with my buddy, Jax. He loves having someone around whose dick is bigger than his and doesn't mind showing him so."

"You, son of a bitch…"

There was very little tolerance my husband had about anything. But nothing was worse for him than someone who challenged him in anyway. His word was considered gospel to the club and how dare someone question his authority in anyway. Even when it came to me.

"Mrs. Teller, we're still waiting." I left them all standing there to get this over with. I figured Roosevelt would intervene from them killing each other while I was gone.

Only one of them spoke to me. The other seemed to just be the observer. He laid a bunch of pictures out on the table. "You are married to Jackson Teller, the President of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle gang, correct?"

"Motorcycle club. It's a club not a gang."

"But, you are married to him, right?"

"Yes, I am."

The rest of his questions weren't so easy to answer. I stayed along with Nero's explanation to what happened to my car. But the other ones; I didn't know anything about. Even when I did, it was still the same answer I gave. You would have thought they would tire of hearing me tell them it. Oh no, they asked the same question ten different ways to see if I changed my story at all.

After two hours they finally got tired of me or they were actually done with the interrogation. "Mrs. Teller, you do realize. If you protect your husband, you can be held accountable for his actions as well."

"Yes, I do understand."

"We will be in touch again with you." He never said when or for what though. They existed the room so I left too.

Jax's greeting to me wasn't as warm as Gemma's was to Nero. "You didn't tell them anything. Did you?"

"No. I'm not stupid, Jax."

"What did they ask you about?" I ran down the basic question for him.

"How much does Kyle know?" It never ceased to surprise me how Jax truly seen what evolved around him. It wasn't his fault he committed criminal acts. It was the fault of others around him he could pin the results on when he got caught.

"What does he have to do with it?"

"It makes sense why he's hanging around. He's using you to get to me. It's why you're so important to him. He's even tight with Nero and Gemma now too. It's just another revenue to get to me. All this shit started after Kyle came. Or why else would they be coming after me and club? The cops weren't just looking for your car. They tore shit a part to find something they're not saying while they searched."

"I've never told Kyle anything about the club."

"This guy is bad news, Tara. I'm telling you the best thing that can happen, is he goes away. I think I'm a better judge of character than you are."

"Yeah, Jax. You know best." Jax's judgement of character was off. He was in business with an informant. The question was how much did Collette know about all of us already? What hell would rain down on us because of her? Just because Jax's was always blinded by pussy; what would happen to our family in the process?

The ride back to TM went quickly. But the bad wasn't over yet when I saw her standing there. "Oh shit."

Gemma had her hand on her hip. She was definitely in her authority stance. Whatever it was she was about to do was going compound my life somehow.

"I wanna talk to you, Jackson."

"I don't got time for this shit." Jax's full intention was to blow her off and go on.

"Now." Mother Gemma had spoken and her son made time for it.

But I did notice she brought Kyle back with them just to defy Jax. Just to show him she could. Kyle hung back with Nero at the car and it was probably a good thing at this point to not push Jax any farther.

"I need to talk to you, Nero. I'll be by in the morning." I've been trying to have a conversation with him all day.

"Okay. Come by the Lodge."

Our conversation was mild compared to the one Gemma had with Jax. Especially when he blew up on her. "You're just an old lady and not even that around here anymore. This is my fucking club and I'll run it as I see fit. And I don't need any family advise from the whore who ran JT and Clay in the ground."

The lioness was finally unleashed from her cage. I was wondering when it would raise its ugly head and make an appearance. Gemma slapped Jax's across the face as hard as she could. He wouldn't take it from no man but he did her. She stuck her finger in his face and meant business. Before my eyes I watched a strong outlaw turn back to the little boy of his mother.

"You need to get your shit together and get your head screw on straight, Jackson. You're losing it just like John and Clay did. Either you're to blind to see it. Or too foolish to not do something about it already."

"Wow, mommy slapped his dick in the dirt." Kyle seemed surprised by what Gemma had done. I wasn't at all. It's the way she used to be with him.

"Yeah, Gemma has got that way about her." It was hard to tell if Nero was pleased with his woman or speaking from personal experience.

Jax and Gemma parted ways. But obviously her rant wasn't over quite yet. "I held John and Clay together to keep shit going with the club. I can't do it for Jackson too. It has to be you, Tara. The day Clay got drummed outta the club, so did I."

"I don't even know what I'm supposed to do about anything anymore, Gemma. I'm not like you."

"In your heart, do you love Jackson without any doubts?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Don't let them fool you, sweetheart. We are what makes them or breaks them in this club as leaders. There are some lessons in this life, even I can't teach you. You gotta figure it out on your own and sometimes it's the hard way. If you really love him, you will figure it out."

"I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Jax slammed the door to the clubhouse because he was so pissed off. Then another slamming of the chapel doors came next.

My first priority to was to check on my children. Abel was out already and Thomas was still up going strong. Tig had him.

"I'll be right back to take him. If it's okay?"

"Sure, doll. Take your time." Tig had a peacefulness to him when he held one of the boys. It connected him to something deeper. I just didn't know what.

Jax set alone at the head of the table staring at the reaper in the center of it. There were times I wished, I could be more like Gemma. This was where she would know exactly what to do for her man. How to console him and make everything alright again.

"Hey, babe." It took Jax long enough to see me standing here.

"This is killing you, Jax. I see it more all the time. You've changed so much since you took over the gavel. The torture of it haunts you. If you don't step away from it soon, I'm afraid there won't be any part of you left."

"It's hard to unplug from it when you're everybody's life support and they all depend on you. There's days when I look in the mirror. The reflection looking back at me is broken beyond repair. I can't ever seem to get past this shit long enough to heal from it."

"I only used to see the struggles and pain you go through. I feel it now too, Jax. Every day I wake up with the burden in my heart weighing me down. There's times when it's hard for me to even make it through the day anymore. I just do what I have to so I can get by. If we are experiencing it, it will spill over to our boys' lives at some point. You can still change, there is still time. It doesn't have to be this way, baby."

"Unfortunately, it does. I didn't choose this life. It chose me." If Jax really believed it, I wasn't sure he would ever change. Would my sons end up feeling the same way? They had no other option but to turn to the club.

"There was a time, Jax. When all you wanted to do was get out of Charming and save our boys from any of this life. Not to have them live with the torment you do. When is it going to happen?"

"I can't walk away from the club right now. I'm trying to move it in a different and better direction. I just need time to make it happen. We'll get past this somehow, babe. Me and the club won't let anything happen to you or to my boys."

"The club is the reason everything happens to me and our family, Jax."

We could have debated it back and forth all night long. But I was tired. Jax helped me get the boys together. When I went to pick up Abel from the couch, Jax stopped me. "I got him."

It was the same thing when we got home. Jax had to be the one to carry Abel inside. Since I did it most of the time, it was good for Jax to be around to get the opportunity to do it.

By the time we got the boys down for the night. I fell into bed, literally. I had only been at this kind of life style a couple of months and it was killing me already. Jax had been at it a lifetime. I could only image the damage it done to him.

It comforted me to feel him snuggle in behind me. Jax kissed my shoulder a couple of time and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

As every good thing must come to an end. So did the comfort of lying in bed knowing I had Jax's attention and affection. Thomas woke up before the alarm clock went off. A mother's work was never done around here.

"Good morning, baby." I never wanted Thomas or Abel to ever doubt my love for them. Or to not know they didn't have my affection at any given time. Before I started the day, I always took a few minutes to just hold Thomas to my chest and not let go of him. He always responded in kind by laying his little head against my heart. I always gently rubbed it with my fingers. He always cooed back at me.

Jax was at the doorway just watching us when I turned around. He kissed me then Thomas on top of the head. He never said a word before he left the room to ride away to start his day.

Today was my day off but it wouldn't be one for me. I had a bunch of stuff to get done. Wayne came by just like he does every day to pick me up.

After we dropped the boys off at daycare it took some talking to get Wayne to drop me off at the Lodge unsupervised.

"Where's Nero?

"In his office." Gemma was just hanging out drinking a cup of coffee and smoking.

They seemed to have many conversations when I wasn't around or even a part of. Because there was another one going on between Nero and Kyle.

"How do you pretend this shit is okay? It's not okay. None of it is okay, Nero."

"Yeah, I know. Me and Gemma have already discussed what to do about Tara and the boys when shit goes bad with Jax. Shit is just so upside down with them. I don't condone it but I gotta play it out for Gemma's sake. I get what you're saying. My head says; run, you, stupid mother fucker while you still can. But my heart says something completely different. If you love the woman, you'll figure it out. I need you to get right with this, Kyle and stay focused. Or it'll get you upside down too."

"You keep pushing me to get right with all this and tell her something. What the hell am I supposed to say? Oh, hey, by the way. When I'm around you I feel like a horny teenage boy with my first hard on that's not sure what to do with it. It's got to be the reason I am such a stupid fucker because the blood flow has all gone to my dick and I've lost my fucking mind. Or I wouldn't be any part of this fucked up crazy shit."

"Yeah, if it's what you gotta do. Then do it. We're men, we handle our business."

"Tara." Gemma scared the shit out of me when she came up behind me. It's what I got for eves dropping on them. Since she was here, we both just went on in.

Where to begin with this long ass story I had to tell them. I expected Nero to be the calm one out of all of them. But it wasn't the way it went down. He pounded his fist down on the desk.

"I knew something didn't feel right with Collette. I warned Jax not to get in bed with that bitch." Once he seen the look on my face, Nero adlibbed more. "No, mama. I meant it as a figure of speech."

"Yeah, I got that part."

"I say, we get Collette's down and beat her ass until she confesses what she knows. Then shoot the bitch in the head when we're done." Gemma solution to almost everything was violence somewhere in the equation.

"Gemma, you're not helping here. If we kill Collette, it brings more shit down on us. More feds roll in here and probe us all anally." There was the rational Nero I expected him to be.

She shrugged her shoulders. "It's how I'd handle it."

"There's more. The new Madame's Ecstasy Play Palace is getting ready to open up in Stockton soon. One of our clients has already got an invitation to it."

Nero opened his desk drawer and took out a gun. He checked the cartridge for an ammo count, then shoved it back in it. "I need to have a little chat with Barosky."

"Baby, it's too dangerous for you to go alone." Gemma never stopped worrying about something or someone.

"I can't let it just go, Gemma. Charlie shits on me and the word gets out, no one respects boundaries anymore."

"Kyle, are you in? You gotta be all in or none, man. I'm good with it either way. But I gotta know if I can count on you or not." Nero waited for his answer.

"Yeah, I'm in." The confidence wasn't in his voice. Maybe he just needed to convince himself he really was all in on it.

They left but I should have known better than to think Gemma would actually obey what Nero told her to do.

"Well, just don't sit there, Tara. We got shit to do." I had no clue what Gemma's intent was. But I followed after her anyway. She twisted her ass out to the car.

"This can go down one of two ways, baby. I go on my own and handle it my way. Or you just accept the fact we're a team Nero till death do us part and I go along with you to do it your way."

Nero let out a rant in Spanish I didn't get nor understand. He finally opened the back door to the car. "Get in, Gemma. But we do this my way, mama. Do you hear me?"

"Sure, baby." Gemma was saying yes to him. But, I had a feeling it really meant no somehow in her fucked up mind.

If Gemma was going along so was I. I couldn't be just a part of it without see it all through. As soon I grabbed the handle of the door, he stopped me. "You got Thomas and Abel to think about, Tara. You shouldn't do this."

"They are the reason I have to do it. If I don't, something bad could happen to me anyways because of it. What will happen to my sons if I'm not around anymore? Everything I do is to protect them."

Kyle surrender to the words I spoke to him because he knew they were the truth. He opened the back door for me. "This is such a bad fucking idea, girl." Then slammed it shut.

Nero made a few calls but talked in his language. We met up with some of the other Bizlats outside of town. Again he had a conversation with them in front of us, I couldn't comprehend.

"Do you know what they are saying, Gemma?"

"I know what Nero's doing. He's flexing his dick with them. He's the boss." Gemma had Nero down to a fine art. She didn't even need to know what he said.

"English, damn it." Gemma couldn't stay out of anyone's conversation.

One of the younger guys from Nero's crew got up in Gemma's face. "You want English. I'll give you English. It's bad enough Nero brought a white biker bitch into our world. Now he is running knee deep in white bitches."

"Hey." It didn't take Kyle long to get involved. He went to Gemma's rescue by shoving the Bizlat out of her face.

Although it wasn't Kyle, he needed to worry about when Nero got ahold of him.

Nero shoved the guy down on the hood of the and pistol whipped him across the face a couple of times. "You ever talk about Gemma or Tara, that way again. I will cut your tongue out. I run this crew. You got any problems with that shit?"

"No, man. I don't got no problems." The guy spoke through the blood coming out of his mouth. Spitting a few teeth out as well when he got far away from Nero.

"We're going to Baroksy's territory, homes. You know the blow back we feel because of it." When this Bizlat said what he had on his mind, I noticed it was nowhere near Nero or Gemma when he did it.

"Charlie crossed over in ours first, fools. If he isn't taught better, he will eventually take over our street too. Either you're in for this or those tatts you wear, mean nothing. I'm just gonna have a talk with him about boundaries." They all had their reservations about following Nero. But they finally agreed to do it.

They all knew what they were doing obviously. Each had their guns ready to go and referencing things in just broken sentences around me.

"Do I get one?"

Nero and Kyle looked at each other and started laughing. Then said it at the same time. "No."

"Are you ready to do this, shit head?"

"It's your party Nero, I'm just a guest."

Gemma and I were to hang back while they talked to Charlie. At first Nero told us to stay in the car. But, then decided since she wouldn't do it anyway. So, it was better to keep her in his sight.

Charlie came out of the bakery when he seen Nero and his crew pretty quickly. "What's up, Nero?"

"We need to talk."

"Brought a lot of fire power with you for just a talk. You should know better than to roll up in here with your posse. I don't take kindly to this shit. These are my streets."

"Yeah, well I don't take very kindly to the shit that's gone down lately either, Charlie."

We stepped back to give them a minute to have a private conversation. They set down to the little table outside the bakery. Nero took out his gun and slammed it down on the table. It got all of our attention. "I'm just an old gangster at heart. Looking for reason to make a comeback. You just might be the reason, Charlie."

"Are you seriously threatening me, Nero?"

"It's not a threat, man. If I find out you're behind any of it. I'll come back to do more than talk next time."

Most of the time Nero was a gentle man and a sweet soul. Unless you fucked with him or what he believed was a wrong you've done to him. Then I think he could unleash a hell down on you.

"How about you? You got a problem with me too and need Handsome Jack to handle it for you?" Charlie was addressing me now.

"I can handle my own shit and I don't need Jax for it."

"And what she can't handle, I will."

Charlie sneered at Kyle. "Who might you be?"

"I'm nobody."

"Well, nobody. Just because you have a handsome face. Doesn't mean I won't shoot you in it if you fuck with me." Charlie loved to intimidate people, you could tell.

"Just because you got an ugly face, doesn't mean I won't do the same to you." Of course, Kyle didn't take intimidation well either.

"You heard me, Charlie." Nero gave him his last warning. Before we all walked away.

The motorcycles were coming down the street. I heard the roar of the engines before I ever seen them. My breathing increased so badly, I had to stop to catch my breath for a second. It felt as though an elephant was sitting on my chest robbing me of the oxygen supply. Only it wasn't Jax or the club.

"Shit." I was surrounded by a bunch of Mayans. They were all drawing weapons. I knew it was bad shit because even Gemma drew hers too.

"Let's all calm down here and talk about this, Marcius."

"Time for talking would have been before you came to my territory, Nero and brought Teller's old lady with you. You know me and the Sons still got bad blood between our MCs. You even brought the biker queen herself too."

"Gemma and I are married now, she's with me. Tara, don't have nothing to do with it. Me and her are partners at the Lodge. Come on Tara, come over here to me, mama." Nero stood right in front of Gemma because he would take a bullet for her if he needed too.

Alverez held out his arm so I couldn't get past him. "Not yet. Call Teller for a sit down before I let her go. He's got some sins to make right with me."

"Let Tara go or I drop you." Kyle wasn't the same man I've seen the last couple of months. The charming and carefree soul turned to a much darker place. Anger clouds judgement and we do things because of it. But he wasn't angry. He was completely calm and focused on the task at hand. What stood out the most was the change in his eyes and facial expression.

"You need to realize son; my men will kill you where you stand on my command." Alverez didn't even flinch a bit. No different than Jax would have done.

"Not before I kill you. I can hit my mark from five hundred yards away. You're only fifteen feet from me. I won't miss. Let her go." If I could ever get my breathing under control like Kyle in this type of situation. I'd be much better off. His was still at a steady rate when he spoke.

"Let's all keep our heads here. It doesn't got to be this way, Marcius. I've always made it work with you and your crew. We don't got shit to do with what Jax does. Let Tara go and we'll talk about this shit like men." Nero tried to keep the peace before he enforced violence. It always separated him from the others.

Once Alverez gave the nod to his guys to put their guns down. So, did Nero. Only Kyle didn't lower his until I got over by them.

"Get them to the car while I talk to Marcius." Nero walked off with Alverez while we got our butts to the car.

"How did you know to go after Alverez as your target?" Gemma was very inquisitive.

"He had the president patch on. So, he means something and they will do anything to protect him." Which what Kyle said was true MC. They always protected Jax above all else.

"Thank you, for what you…."

"Tara, this is not a game. You have two kids who need you. You could have been killed today."

"So could you, Kyle."

"I have nothing to lose and you do. Stop this bullshit, before something happens to you. You don't belong in this or anywhere near it." Kyle got in the front seat and slammed his door shut because he was done talking about.

"I can take care of myself." He might be done with it but I wasn't yet. I even opened his door and slammed it shut just so he knew I was now done with the conversation.

"No, you can't." He got out and slammed the door again.

So I did the door again too. "Yes, I can."

"Really, you wanna do this here and now? Fine, let's do it then." Kyle gripped on to my throat. "Get out of my hold and don't go for the obvious."

Each time I grabbed his hand to get it off my neck, he would smack mine down. "Don't go for the obvious."

"You made your point." After I surrendered to the fact, I couldn't get out of his grip. He let go of me and I felt so stupid.

"Look, you are too small to stand and fight it out with a man. You can't win with them; they will always overpower you with their strength. So, you have to learn to fight smart or at least do enough damage to get away from them. I'm not trying to be a dick to you. I don't want to see something happen to you."

"Then teach me how." If you can't beat them, join them. Since, I already chose to join in. I needed to feel I could take care of myself.

"It's not that simple. I felt your heart starting to race as soon as I gripped your throat. When you panic it fucks up your thought process. The obvious solution and easiest solution is not always the best one."

"How do you know all this stuff, Kyle?"

"Part of my test was they take you into a dark room where you can't see a damn thing. A plastic bag is put over your head and its cinched up tight around your neck with a rope tied in knots almost impossible to get undone. You have two minutes to figure out how to survive. Because in two minutes, you will suffocate. A lot faster if you panic because you use up more oxygen quicker. Most spend the time yanking and trying to untie the rope from their neck because they panic. When all you gotta do is simply tear a hole in the bag for oxygen then take your time to get the rope off. If you control the fear, you won't panic. If you don't panic, you control the adrenaline rush and you think it through clearly."

"Is that where you learned the just breathe thing from?" It had actually helped me somewhat.

"No."

"Kyle's right. You need the instincts to fight back. You kick, claw, punch or bite if it's what you gotta do to get away. Do it with me."

He did the same with Gemma's throat. She was incredible to watch. She made a bunch of different moves to get away from him, he blocked each one. But still, she knew, she just knew how.

"What the fuck?" Nero was back with us now.

Only Kyle should have been paying attention to Gemma, instead of Nero. Because he didn't block her last move. Which was a shot to nose. "Oh shit, I'm sorry."

Another long cussing rant came out Kyle. "You two, are fucking killing me."

Nero laughed while he embarrassed Kyle a little more. "I can't leave you alone with them for five minutes, shit head. Tara shoots you and Gemma kicks your ass."

"That shit isn't funny, Nero."

"You ain't seeing it from where I'm standing, Kyle. Don't worry I won't the little girls hurt you anymore."

"I really am sorry, sweetheart." Gemma gave him kiss on the cheek.

"You're like the good son Gemma never had or ever wanted." Nero was still giving him hell.

On our way back Nero explained the situation between the Mayans and the Sons. "Marcius isn't pulling any shady shit. He's protecting his interest it's just business with him. It's all about the bottom line percentages. Its why he was included in on those meetings. Hale, he's playing hard ball to get the Sons outta Charming."

"Since when do the Mayans operate outta of Stockton?" Gemma knew so much more about club business than I could even keep up with.

"They setup shop here and opened up a charter. Jax is pushing boundaries with them by being in business with Collette. The Sons will feel the pain of it, Gemma. You know this shit works."

"Jesus Christ, Jackson is completely lost. The Sons won't survive another bloody war with Alverez. It tore apart the club the last time." She was referencing old history. Which again, I knew nothing about either.

They continued to talk and I went off in my own thoughts on it. Was this the new direction Jax was taking the club in? How much worse could it possible get before he finally steps away from it all? There was so many backstabbing each other, you needed to make up a chart to see who was fucking who over the worst.

Gemma and Nero went to talk privately in his office. I couldn't stop thinking about what was coming our way. Nero made it clear to not tell Jax about Collette. Because he already knew how Jax would handle it and what the repercussions we would all suffer from of it. At least not until we knew for sure what information she had already. What convinced me the most to keep my mouth shut was Gemma. I knew she wouldn't let anyone hurt Jax or the club.

"Hey, are you okay?" It got my attention when I saw Kyle grasping on to the bar. From a distance I could tell how badly he was shaking.

"I'm fine." As he used his hand to wipe away the sweat from his face.

"You are not fine. What's wrong?"

"This town is what's wrong. Everything about it goes against what I am and who I am. Yet, I'm still here doing it. I never panic and I did today when he had you. I've always got my shit in check. All I could think was shoot the fucker in the head before he could hurt you. I'm not a violent by nature I usually have to be provoked to it or in self-defense. But this place brings it out in me. Since I've been here, look at all the shit that's happened already. I just got this bad feeling; the worst of it is still to come and it's coming your way, Tara. I can't ever get right with any of this if something happens to you."

Before I could talk to him about it, Nero was getting to leave. "Are you ready to go?"

Nero and Kyle left. Gemma and I were going to the car lot to find me something to drive. We had to promise we would be careful of course before Nero was okay with it.

I sat at the bar waiting for her to finish whatever it was she was doing. The more I thought about what happened with everything today and the new place they were opening in Stockton. It always went back to the same conclusion of how they got our list of names.

"It has to be Lyla. She is the only other person who knew the clients names besides me. Not even Nero knew them. It wasn't his end of the business."

"Then we pay Lyla a visit."

"We told them we would just go down the street to the dealership and be right back."

"Technically, we are going down the street to buy you a car. A little farther down the street to see Lyla. Then we'll be right back." Gemma always had a strange logical way of presenting anything.

We made our way down the street. I found a car. It's wasn't brand new but I really liked it. I could have paid cash for it. After thinking it through, I financed it and would pay it off early. So not to bring any attention to myself with cash flow. It wasn't as though the ATF, local police, gang bangers, the club, my husband and I'm sure I left out a few names who had eyes on me.

We moved on a lot farther down the street actually to the next place. When Lyla seen who it was at her door, she wasn't thrilled by the idea we were here. I wasn't too thrilled by what I seen on the inside either. Food take out cartons and boxes were strung around her apartment. Clothes laid on the floor in piles. The way these poor kids had to live was a shame.

Even worse were the empty cocaine vials and needles laying on the table. In her state of mind, it wasn't hard to get her to confess to everything she had done. She didn't once pretend like it wasn't her.

"You backstabbing little gash. You are going to help me makes this shit right. By doing what you did, you took food out of my children's mouths. Or I will make your life a living hell." Lyla's head only bobbed around because she was so out of it from all the drugs she took. "This is a waste of time. She won't even remember anything I said tomorrow."

"Here, let me handle it." Gemma slammed Lyla's face down on to the counter. All Lyla could do was hold her face. "Betrayal is unforgiving. You will redeem yourself by whatever means are necessary to make shit right. The only reason I don't take it to the next step, is I loved Opie. If you tell Jax anything about this, I will be back." Once I let out a breath because it was over. Gemma did it again by pounding her face on the counter. "That's just to remind you, sweetheart. Who I really am and I will seriously do some damage to you."

The way Gemma could switch gears in a heartbeat amazed me and confused the hell out of me. She wet a kitchen towel and went to the frig for ice. Then she handed it to Lyla. "Once the bleeding stops, you'll be fine." Gemma said it cheerfully too and as if she were a concerned mother.

"Do you think it was the best approach with Lyla today? She so out of it, Gemma."

Gemma put sunglasses on and lit up a smoke as soon we hit the porch. "I'm a gangster mama now. I approach shit in a whole new way."

"Yeah, I can see that." It was the best response I could give at the moment.

"Oh shit." I didn't know what Gemma was talking about. Until Mary pulled up with Ellie and Kenny. My boys had a charming life compared to what these kids went through already.

"Where's Lyla? The school called me again because she didn't pick them up."

"I'd say she's doing some real soul searching. Trying to heal herself right now." No one could be as coy as Gemma could be.

"I'm too old for this shit, Gemma. Being a grandma isn't supposed to be as hard as being a full time mom."

"Yeah, I hear ya. I'll take Kenny and Ellie for a couple days. It'll give you a break and give Lyla some time to get her shit together."

We packed up what we thought the kids needed for a few days. Piper was with Lyla's mom. So it was one less child we had to worry about. "I'll help out too with the kids, Gemma."

"Okay. If you could watch them this afternoon. Me and Nero have an appointment with Lucia's doctor."

"Sure, I'll take them all to the park or something."

The first thing we did after picking up the boys was stop to eat. Ellie and Kenny ate as though they were starving. Sometimes it takes others around you to put life in perspective for you. My children always had food available to them. A warm bed in a home. Their mother was still with them; fighting for them to have another tomorrow. Most of all, they knew they were loved and wanted. When you take it away from a child, it's hard to get it back even as an adult.

"It's so sad."

"What is, Wayne?"

"Motherless children." Wayne joined us at the park because he was supposed to be my babysitter after all.

But from personal experience of growing up without a mother. I couldn't have agreed with him more. The thought was always in the back of my mind. What would happen to my boys without me?

Kenny seemed to handle things better than Ellie did. He went off to run around with Abel. But not her. She sat on the bench between me and Wayne. Not moving a muscle, not making a sound and not showing one ounce of any kind of emotion at all.

"Hi, Tara."

"Hey, Nicole. I see you have custody of George today."

"Do you mean Georgina? I could kill Kyle for getting another dog. But it does make my son happy." Nicole spoke like a true mother would. Everything we did was for our children's happiness even if it wasn't something we wanted to do.

After I introduced Wayne and Nicole they struck up a conversation. So, I got George. He got up on his hind legs and stretched as far as he could to get Ellie to pet him. It was the first smile I had seen from her all day.

"Do you want to walk George? He probably needs to go potty."

Ellie peeked under him. "Isn't George a boy's name?" She was older and not so easily fooled.

"Yes. But it's a secret. So, don't tell. Besides once Abel sees him, you won't get the chance to."

"Come on George." Ellie was getting the opportunity to behave like a child. The silly little puppy made a difference for the kids.

It wasn't until I stepped out of the box of Abel's life it hit me why the puppy mattered to them. It wasn't their attachment to it. It was the way the puppy was so attached to them and the love it gave them freely. We all wanted a love like that.

"Have you seen Kyle?" I heard what Nicole said but I was still trying to wrap my head around the true meaning of my thoughts. "Tara."

"I saw him earlier today."

"He was supposed to be here already to get George. He said he would look at my car for me and I have to go soon."

"I can look at it if you want." Nicole took Wayne up on his offer. I kept Cody and George. Although Ellie played with the puppy.

When the boys went running and screaming his name. I didn't have to turn around to know who was here.

"Where's Nicole?'

"Wayne is looking at the car for her." By the time we discussed it, they were back already.

"It's just the battery. I will get one on my way to work. Are you still watching Cody for me?" Kyle nodded his answer to her.

"Thanks, Wayne. You're really sweet." Nicole placed a little innocent peck on Wayne's cheek.

"Yeah, sure. No problem." It gave Wayne a grin from ear to ear.

"Cody lets go." He was so busy playing he didn't even hear Kyle calling his name. "Now." That deep loud tone got the little boy's attention quickly.

"I'll see you later, Tara."

"Are you okay? We didn't get a chance to talk earlier and I…."

"I'm fine, girl. Don't worry about me. I'll see you later."

"Bye." There was nothing else I could say when Kyle just walked away like it was no big deal.

For another hour or so Wayne and I sat quietly. Letting the world pass us by while the kids played, except for Ellie. After George left, she became disconnected again. When I did try to finally get her to talk to me. She wouldn't do it. This little girl was seriously broken a part.

"I didn't have a mom growing up either. It's a hard thing to deal with. So, I do understand. If you ever want someone to talk to about it, I'm here, Ellie."

"I miss my mom. I didn't even get to say goodbye. She never left me anywhere she didn't kiss me and say goodbye first." Ellie lacked closure from Donna's death. Hers wouldn't be as easy to solve as Abel's.

It was the small things with your children they remembered. Ellie held on to the fact her mother would never ever leave her without saying goodbye first. What would my sons hold on to in their memories about me?

"Maybe there is a way for you to say goodbye to Donna."

Lately I had enlisted Wayne's help on a lot of things. This was no different. We stopped and bought flowers. He kept the boys in the car while I took Ellie with me.

"Do you think my mom will know I'm here?"

"Yes, I do. When you smiled earlier. It reminded me of your mother so much. She will always be a part of you and is still with you in various ways." She wore a different kind of a smile now on her face.

Ellie grasped on to my hand tightly as she too took her long walk like I had many times recently. When I paused at Opie's grave. Ellie let go of me and never stopped walking on until she reached Donna.

It was hard to tell which was the saddest part. Watching Ellie tell her mom she loves and misses her so much. Or the fact she didn't care about Opie at all. Even when I pointed it out to Ellie, just to make sure she hadn't missed where her dad was buried at. She just shrugged her shoulders at me. As though she didn't know what to do or really cared.

"Tara."

"Yes."

"Do you think you can bring me back again to see my mom?"

"Sure, we can come back to see her. I'll give you my phone number and anytime you want to. We will come together. I know she misses you too."

Ellie hugged me. It was the first true emotion I seen this little girl display. All little girls needed their mother around. Just like all little boys needed their father around.

"I'm going to tell Mommy I will be back to see her."

"Okay, baby. I'll be right over here when you're done."

The crow landed on Donna's grave before. Perhaps this was something else I needed to fulfill as well. Since I was here anyway. I walked over the hill to visit John. Only he had another visitor already.

Gemma had knelt before John's tombstone, grasping on to it for dear life. Crying her eyes out. She was so drowned in sorrow she didn't know anyone was around her. Whatever was weighing on her, hadn't been fixed yet.


Tangled Web, Part #2, Chapter 12 is already posted for you. Forward on to read the rest of it. Please be kind and stop here to leave a review before you proceed on. Let me know you are still with me for this story. You are what makes it fun for me to write it and even a simple smiley face lets me know you are reading it. I plan on posting more chapters this way too if you guys like it.

I know this is an extremely long read. I get a little carried away sometimes. I hoped to squeeze more in it than I actually did. Do you like the super long chapters? Or would you rather have them shorter?