Chapter Twelve: Fuel to the Fire
"Our lives are defined by moments, especially the ones we never see coming."
"Mornin' Gem," Anna greeted the next morning.
I walked out from the kitchen to see my mother standing in the middle of the diner. With her straight-legged dark blue jeans, black shirt, brown leather duster, and knee high boots, my mother was the epitome of biker royalty. Her dark brown hair was pushed away from her face, pinned by sunglasses. She also wore her typical cleavage barring shirts, her crow on proud display.
"Hi Ma," I smiled.
"Hi girls," Mom responded.
"What's going on?" Anna questioned.
"Can I talk to you two in private?" Mom asked.
Anna and I exchanged glances for a moment before we led Mom towards our back office. Once the door was shut, mom looked between us as if she was weighing what she was about to ask.
"I need to ask you girls a favor," Mom began. "They need seventy grand, cash by the end of the day."
"Fuck," Anna cursed.
"Ma, what happened?" I asked.
"I don't know details," Mom shook her head.
"We don't have that much layin' around," Anna sighed.
"I think I have around ten or so?" I mumbled.
"Same here," Anna said.
"We'll bring it by TM in a little bit," I shrugged. "Do you want something to eat while you're here, Mom?"
"No thanks, sweetie," Mom smiled kissing us both on the cheeks.
When Mom left we took turns running to the bank to pull out what we could afford. Together Anna and I came up with twenty grand, which I ran over to TM. Pulling into the lot, I noticed all the garage doors were down, except for one that was only halfway closed. Ma's caddy was gone, but most of the bikes were on the lot including Clay's and Jax's. I parked next to where the Cadillac should've been, grabbing the envelope full of money from the seat next to me
As I walked towards the office, I caught sight of a van that was on one of the lifts. Stopping short, I realized that this wasn't just any van but an ambulance. Changing directions I ducked under the halfway opened garage door just in time to hear my brother say, "We're flush for the Irish."
"Izzy, what are you doing here?" Clay asked.
"Ma said she needed help," I shrugged. "I was walking into the office when I saw the ambulance. Did you guys steal it?"
"We didn't steal anythin'," Chibs corrected. "That would be the Prospect's bright idea."
Now that we had five prospects, we normally had to differentiate them by name. But, as the veteran Prospect, Half-Sack sometimes didn't have to babysit the diner, working more hours at TM. Braden, Grayson, Austin, and Carter were the ones that got stuck with babysitting duty.
"I was just thinking outside the box," Half-Sack pouted.
"I'd say this definitely covers thinking outside the box," I shook my head. "Do you guys know those things are lo-jacked?"
"Jesus Christ, Half-Sack," Clay snarled. "Juice, disable the fuckin' lo-jack. Chibs, call the Irish, set a meeting. Everyone else get back to work."
I knew that Clay had grouped me into the 'everyone else' category and turned to head back to the car, content to go back to the diner. Before I could duck under the garage door, Dad's hand dropped on my shoulder.
"It was good to see you, sweetheart," Clay smiled kissing me on the forehead.
"Good to see you too, Dad," I grinned. "I'm going to head back to the diner. If you want there's coffee over their with your name on it."
"You spoil me," Clay shook his head.
I shrugged and smirked before walking back to my car, after waving at the others. I moved quickly into the diner, after parking my car, grinning when I saw that there was four bikes set side by side near the entrance. It showed how much of a 'biker' diner the Crow was; that there was an entire section of the parking lot just for motorcycles.
I shoved my coat under the counter, sticking Anna's money back into her purse. When I straightened up, I jumped back startled to see Donna only a few feet away from me.
"Donna!" I greeted happily, leaning over the counter to hug her. "How are Ellie and Kenny?"
"They're good, we're good," Donna nodded, smiling her thanks as I poured her a cup of coffee. "Iz, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," I replied.
"You, Opie, Jax, Marco, and Anna grew up in the club, right?" Donna began.
"Yeah," I responded stopping to give Opie's wife my full attention. "There's a bunch of us who did."
"Jax told me that Opie can't be half in, half out," Donna sighed, burying her face in her hands. "He said Opie wouldn't ever walk away from the club, that it's all he knows. It's in his DNA."
"I don't see the question here, Donna," I whispered.
Donna looked up at me her eyes swimming with confusion before she continue I said, "Jax is right, Donna. My mom is too. I know you talked to her too, or she cornered you, or whatever but she's right. I know that all this can be confusing for people who weren't born into this lifestyle. When your husband's a Son you marry into the Sons. It's one giant family that would do anything for you, and you for them."
"He spent five years in jail for your family," Donna huffed. "He sat on his ass in jail while Clay and the others got rich."
"It wasn't like that, Donna," I replied. "Donna, I know. My father, my stepfather, Opie, Jax, and Marco have all done time. The entire club has. The sentences have varied but each and every time was awful. You miss them. You miss them something awful. But, it's the life. They do things that are illegal but the heart of everything is family. Brotherhood. These bonds don't break. Not over a prison sentence, petty arguments, nothing. These people have your back forever."
"What about Kyle?" Donna asked. "He was kicked out."
"Kyle was a coward who thought more about saving his own ass then worrying about his brother's," I retorted. "They're loyal people Donna. And the second one of them gets betrayed it's bad. It's really, really bad."
"I just can't…"
"Wrap your head around things?" I interrupted. "Yeah, it's insanely complex and yet it's simple. They're a brotherhood and the women are the glue. I love you Donna. And so do Gemma, Anna, Opie, Jax, Piney, Clay, and everyone else. It's a good thing. It's not good all the time but what is? What happened to Opie sucks but he doesn't have any ill will towards any of us or the club. You shouldn't either."
"Is it this nuts all the time?" Donna sighed.
"No," I shook my head. "Most of the time you won't even realize what the club's doing. Opie got released at a bad time, that's all."
"Donna!" Anna greeted walking out of the back office. "Everythin' okay?"
Donna moved closing the distance between herself and Anna and kissing her on the cheek. Obviously, I had missed the point where the two had reconciled.
"Of course," Donna replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Doctor said in a few more weeks," Anna smiled, rubbing a hand over her protruding stomach. "How's the runts?"
"They're good," Donna smiled. "Ellie got on honor roll."
"She definitely got her smarts from you, not Ope," Anna shook her head. "Everything okay between you two?"
"Of course," Donna shrugged. "You know, I think I'm starting to get all of this."
"And to think it only took you ten years," Anna smirked to ease the sting of her words.
"You're so sweet, Anna," Donna rolled her eyes.
"I know, it's revolting," Anna laughed. "You still need that job we were talking about?"
"You wouldn't mind?" Donna questioned.
"We know you and Ope need the money, Donna," Anna responded. "It's the least we could do to help. And, it's the only way we can help, Opie would kick our asses if we ever thought about giving him cash."
"Thank you," Donna smiled.
"No problem," I said, handing her an apron, pen, and pad of paper. "Basically you take people's orders, put them in the window and hand them back. For now you can work the counter. This is where the less fussy people sit."
I was pleasantly surprised by how fast Donna picked things up, by the end of the night she was carrying full platters of food to the tables. None of the other girls had picked things up that fast. By early evening the diner had picked up, all the booths were filled, as were counter seats. The prospects had made themselves useful, cleaning up after people and keeping things moving. As things began to clear out, the roar of motorcycles were heard, quickly becoming louder the closer they came. A pack of them flew by the windows, parking their bikes before they came into the diner. Chibs, Marco, Half-Sack, and Opie walked in and sat at the counter.
"Hello boys," I greeted. "What can I get you?"
"Coffee," They all said at once.
With a grin I quickly poured five cups of coffee.
"Donna?" Opie gasped when she came out of the back room after putting the dirty dishes in the sink, which Braden was currently washing.
"Hi, Ope," Donna responded cheerily.
Opie's jaw clenched as he sent me a scathing look before looking around for his sister. When he found her, he got up and stormed over to her. No one could hear their conversation but they could see Anna glaring up at her older brother before punching him in the shoulder and telling him to stop being a jackass. Apparently Donna hadn't talked to Ope about working at the diner. I coughed to cover a laugh, it didn't matter how old Anna got, pregnant or not pregnant, she was still the same as ever.
Opie seemed to let the subject drop, sitting back down amongst his brothers as I served them some left over macaroni and cheese. Those guys were always hungry. The boy stuck around as things people began trickling out. The prospects, save for Half-Sack were busy cleaning and straightening up as Anna counted the money in the register before taking all the money to the back and putting it in the safe.
Nearly an hour later everyone had gone home, including all the Prospects and Marco who told me he'd wait up for me. I was straightening a few things when I realized a second too late that the front door hadn't been locked. I really had to stop doing that.
The bell chimed indicating the open door and I straightened to my full height. The sign on the door said we were closed and all the lights save for the lights in the office were off. Grabbing the gun, I crept into the main room, flipping on all the lights as I aimed the gun at whoever had come in. I rolled my eyes, huffing in irritation when I saw that it was just Jax and Damien.
"You a'ight?" Jax asked.
"Yup," I yawned. "What about you?"
"Fine," Jax smirked. "Abel's out of the toaster."
"Jax, that's great!" I cheered.
Jax smiled widely as I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my head on his chest. We stayed like that for a moment before Jax's, Damien's, and my phone began to ring. Exchanging perplexed glances with one another, we each answered the phone. Whenever pre-paids rang like that nothing good came of it.
"Marco?" I questioned. "What's wrong?"
"Someone tried to kill Clay tonight," Marco said. "Get to the club house."
Before I could respond, he had already hung up. I stared at my phone in shock. It wasn't often that someone actually had the balls to try to assassinate the President of the founding charter. One of the last three living members of the First Nine, it was an open declaration of war. Whoever had done this, did not even know the shit storm that was brewing.
"Leave your car," Jax ordered.
Not bothering to argue, I pulled on my jacket and my bag. I pulled my keys out of my jacket pocket, following Damien and Jax out of the diner, after I locked up; I followed them into the parking lot. I hopped onto the bitch seat on my brother's bike, taking his offered helmet and strapping it to my head as I wrapped my arms around his waist. With a jolt both motorcycles were flying down the street, gunning towards TM. When we arrived, things were a complete clusterfuck. Everyone, and I mean everyone was at the clubhouse.
"Clubhouse," Jax ordered as I handed back his helmet.
Deciding that now was not the time for a smart-assed comment, although, one was on the tip of my tongue, I bit it back, and stalked into the clubhouse slamming the door with all the pent up frustration of the past week or so. I don't know when time had changed, but it felt like I was a kid again, not the twenty-four year old woman, an old lady to one of the founding nine.
"Well, you look down right cheery," Anna snarked.
"Shut up, Prego," I responded.
"Feisty this evening," Anna smirked. "About time, Teller."
I rolled my eyes as I scanned the club some other old ladies were milling out, some kids, no patched member, though. They were probably in the garage or the Chapel. But, the cigar box that held all their cell phones when meetings took place was absent from the pool table.
"Do you know if he's hurt?" I whispered.
"I don't think so," Anna replied. "They haven't told us much but I think things would be a lot more tense if he had been shot or something."
"Never a dull day, huh?" I muttered. My mind flashing back to the conversation that I had with Donna, promising her that it wasn't this crazy all the time. Damn boring, my ass. This life was craziness, all the time, and it was all we could do to keep our heads above water.
"Evidently not," Anna snorted.
"We're just supposed to wait here?" I frowned.
"Lockdown," Anna shrugged.
There had been numerous lockdowns over the year. Some were planned others, like this one, were spur of the moment. More rushed and panicked. If I had to chose between the two lockdowns, I preferred the planned ones. When Mom and the other Old Ladies teamed up and made sure there were enough beds and food.
"I'm going to check on things," I announced a little bit later.
Without waiting for Anna to respond, I moved out of the clubhouse, walking quickly to the garage. I walked through the office and into the garage, noticing that the ambulance was still here.
"Holy shit," Mom snapped. "Where'd we get an ambulance?"
"Numb nuts stole it," Chibs explained, from inside the aforementioned vehicle.
"We'll patch up the Irishman," Clay said.
"Alright, so what do you need me to do?" Mom asked.
"We're gonna have a full house tomorrow, if you could prep that?" Clay asked. "You know, food and booze."
"Okay, I'll get the girls into it," Mom replied. "Man, I hate this shit."
"Dad?" I asked when Mom pulled away.
"Iz," Clay sighed.
He pulled me into his arms hugging me close. I wrapped my arms around his waist, holding two handfuls of fabrics as I burrowed into his arms. I had almost lost another father tonight.
"I'm okay, sweetheart," Clay promised. "Still in one piece."
"Good," I muttered pulling away.
I was about to say something else when I heard a low groaning from the inside of the ambulance. Stepping around dad I saw the Irishman on the gurney, blood everywhere. He'd been shot in the ass. Twice.
"What…?" I asked.
"He got hit instead," Clay explained.
"T'bullet's blockin' an artery," Chibs sighed. "T'only way we're savin' his life is if I get some surgical tools."
"Like what?" Tig asked.
"Scalpels, sutures, that kind o' shite," Chibs snapped.
"Chibs, right down a list of what you need, I'll see if Tara can help," Jax ordered.
"Aye, no problem, kid," Chibs nodded.
"Be careful," Mom said, glancing around the room.
The guys nodded in affirmative and Mom nodded in return before turning to me, "Come on, baby."
Everyone jumped when Grayson slammed through one of the still open garages, breathing heavily.
"What the fuck, prospect?" Clay barked, rattling him even further.
"It's Anna, Clay," Grayson stated, gasping. "She started wheezing and then passed out."
"Did you call an ambulance, you idiot?" Jax questioned.
"Yeah," Grayson replied. "Piney's with her. She's not breathing…"
I didn't even see Juice in the garage before he was moving around everyone, sprinting towards the clubhouse with Jax and I at his heels. It took Mom and Clay a second before they were running as well. Slamming through the clubhouse doors, I saw Anna on the ground, her head in Piney's lap, his breathing mask over her face. He was giving her CPR but she wasn't responding.
"Jesus," Jax hissed.
"Anna!" I yelled. She was pale, way too pale. Her normal slightly tanned skin was bone white, her eyes shut, and body limp.
"Izzy!" Jax snapped, snagging my arm, whirling me around and pinning me to his chest, my arms trapped at my sides as I squirmed.
"Let me go!" I growled. "Jax, please, I gotta help her."
"What happened?" Jax asked, ignoring me.
"Asthma attack," Piney shook his head. "I didn't know it was this fucking bad."
"No one knew, Pop," Opie soothed.
"Ambulance is here!" Half-Sack called seconds before EMT's rushed into the clubhouse. The quickly strapped Anna to a gurney, wheeling her out of the clubhouse. They let Juice and Piney ride in the ambulance with her. Not that Anna would know she had still been unresponsive.
"Come on, we'll meet them at the hospital," Clay ordered.
Everyone followed mom and dad out of the clubhouse and over to the cluster of bikes. Breaking formation, Opie and Piney were at the front quickly followed by my parents, Jax, Marco and I, and then the rest of the members. One would think that the hospital staff at both St. Thomas would be use to waiting rooms filled with Sons of Anarchy members and their families. They weren't, however, all the suspicious looks alone were enough to enrage even the most even-tempered of us.
Hours went by and we still hadn't heard about Anna. Donna had left the kids with Neeta, the club's resident baby sitter and Bobby's old lady. She was sitting next to Opie who looked over to the locked double doors leading to the main floor of ICU and the clock. Juice was pacing back and forth while the rest of us sat in the chairs, barely masking the fact that as time went on we became more and more worried.
Anna had been fine when I left to see if everything was okay in the garage and now she wasn't. I don't even remember the last time she had an asthma attack. It had been years, ten at least. The knowledge that one had been bad enough to knock her out was awful. The situation had was made even worse by the fact that Anna was pregnant, Anna not breathing was bad enough for the state of her own health, but what had that done to the baby?
"Family of Annemarie Winston?" One of the Doctor's asked.
"Here," Opie said, his hand-sweeping out to encompass all of us.
I had to hand it to the Doctor that he didn't even bat at eye instead he cleared this throat and made eye contact with each of us, "One of Annemarie's lungs collapsed. The asthma attack was no doubt brought on by stress. We were able to repair the damage; she's still unconscious. Just to warn you all, there is a breathing tube down her throat. We'll take it out when she wakes up."
"What about the baby?" Juice demanded.
"You're the father?" The Doctor asked.
"Yeah," Juice mumbled.
"They're fine," The Doctor soothed. "They're both thriving despite the severity of the asthma attack."
"Both?" Juice asked.
"Congratulations, sir," The Doctor grinned. "You're the father of twins. A healthy baby boy and girl."
Juice seemed a little shell-shocked but everyone else was excited. Twins were an exciting concept, something nice to think about. Instead of dwelling on the fact that Anna was still unconscious. After one in the morning everyone except for Piney, Opie, Juice, and Donna were kicked out of the waiting room. It was only with a little more cajoling that we convinced hospital staff for two of the prospects to stay with her. Even if Anna was in the hospital she was still at risk.
By the time we got back to the clubhouse the other Old Ladies had pulled through. There were platters of food, booze, and even more food in the refrigerator. The walls were lined with deflated air mattresses and enough blankets for anyone who could possibly show up. In the time we were all at the hospital the Fresno and Nomad charters had already arrived, with the others on their way. It was straight out of the lockdowns of my childhood, with members on the roof carrying guns, the only times that guns were allowed anywhere near the clubhouse.
Bright and early the next morning, Anna was released from the hospital. Once everyone with a Redwood patch, and anyone related to said patch holder were safely in the clubhouse, everything shut down. The diner and the automotive shop were at a standstill. In other places the residents might've been ticked that two of the main establishments in Charming had shut down for an undetermined amount of time, here everyone knew it happened on occasion and functioned as though nothing had changed. Anna was still exhausted, the asthma attack always took a lot out of her. But, she hid it well as she slid onto one of the stools between mom and I.
"Twins okay?" I asked.
"They're being kept for observation," Anna confessed. "Tara said they'll be fine."
"You think of names yet, baby?" Mom asked.
"Devin Marie and Noah Adrian Ortiz," Anna smiled.
"Those are great names," Mom grinned.
We all smiled at one another before our eyes swiveled back towards the security monitors. A comfortable silence filled the room only to be broken by Mom twenty minutes later.
"Where's Jax?" Mom growled softly.
"I think he went to find Tara," I shrugged.
"That was hours ago," Mom shook her head. "He went straight to her house from the hospital."
"I'm sure he's okay, Gem," Anna soothed.
Mom nodded her head but I could tell that the fact that both her children weren't within arms reach were bothering her. Jax and I might be thirty and twenty-four respectively, but we'd always be Gemma Teller's babies.
"Until we see where this lands you three stay put, understand?" Clay ordered coming around to where Mom, Anna, and I were gathered around the bar's counter one eye on the security cameras and one ear listening to the surrounding areas and ready to act when Abel woke up.
"What if they got to him?" Mom snapped.
"Jax can take care of himself, Gem," Tig soothed from one of the neighboring tables, close enough to here the conversation.
"So can we," I mumbled.
It was the truth too. I could understand the lockdown, and I did. I had seen what happened when Sam Crow were caught unawares but Mom, Anna, and I were far from defenseless. The guys had taught every one of us how to shoot a gun, and fist fight but it would never stop them from putting people on us whenever something went sideways.
"Don't start that shit, Izzy," Clay reprimanded. When I moved to tell him as much he silenced me with a look.
"I'll take a ride to the hospital see if he's there," Opie offered. He had finally come back into the SOA, with Donnas' blessing, of course. "I called his cell and Tara's house a million times. No answer."
"I'll go with you," Piney announced.
The guys weren't supposed to go anywhere alone either. People doubled up, which was half the reason why Mom was so worried about Jax, he had gone to Tara's alone, promising he'd pick her up and bring her right to the clubhouse with the medical supplies Chibs needed. Rising to his feet, Opie shrugged into his cut moving over to kiss Mom, Anna, and I on the cheek before he walked out of the clubhouse.
"Take care of my boys," Mom ordered glancing over at Piney.
"Always," He promised.
I kept myself busy by getting people coffee and food when everyone had been served I grabbed a cup of coffee for myself before reclaiming my seat next to Anna. Taking a sip, I watched the security camera noticing the police cruiser driving onto the grounds.
"Unser's at the back door," Mom announced
"Let him in," Clay ordered and then gestured towards the Chapel's doors where Cameron, the new liaison between the True IRA and SOA was. He still had the bullets in his body and Chibs was getting antsy. The wounds were beginning to get infected.
"Shut those doors and keep him quiet," Tig stated, sharply before he shut the doors.
One of the prospects had jumped up to open the door for Unser, stepping out of the way so that he could walk inside.
"What can I do for you, chief?" Clay asked.
"I need to bring you down to the station house," Unser replied. "Ask a few questions."
"Why?" Mom questioned. "What happened?"
"Someone went after Darby last night," Unser explained. "Killed one of his guys and two women. At his house, in Charming."
"You think it was us?" Clay scoffed.
"I also found two dead Mayans in a ditch off 18," Unser retorted. "Last time I checked the NORD's and Mayans were the away team."
"Well, you're rooting for the home team," Clay quipped
Unser's eyes narrowed, obviously not appreciating the joke at his expense, "can I talk to you for a minute?"
"It's okay Gem," Tig whispered when Mom moved out of her chair moving to follow after Clay.
Clay and Unser talked quietly, too quietly for me to hear what was going on. The conversation obviously wasn't going the way I expected it to when Clay suddenly opened the Chapel doors where Chibs, Juice, and the Irishman were. I hadn't been in there since Cameron had been moved but I could only guess that it was just as grisly as it had been hours ago. The conversation grew more heated after that as they both gestured angrily.
Finally, Unser seemed to get irritated enough to growl, "I need you to come with me. Alright? Due process."
"I got nothin' to hide," Clay shrugged.
"Hey, you do not go alone," Tig approached moving closer to Clay.
"I think I can keep him safe," Unser responded moving in between Clay and Tigger.
"I'll be alright," Clay soothed. "You hold it together here."
"I'll meet you down there," Mom stated.
"No!" Clay snapped. "You stay put."
Mom bristled about to say something but Clay beat her too it, grabbing her face between his hands and kissing her firmly. As he followed Unser out of the clubhouse he exchanged significant looks with Tig.
"Yeah I'll watch them," Tig said.
I didn't have to look at my mother or Anna to know we all rolled our eyes at the same time. Most of the time the clubhouse was fun with the booze and the music. But, during times like this it was incredibly boring. Being trapped somewhere and knowing you couldn't leave tended to suck the fun out of anything. I still watched the cameras while Mom wandered into the Chapel. I flinched and winced when I heard a squeal of pain seconds before the Chapel doors were thrown open. I turned around to look at Mom, who seemed be completely livid.
"This is insane!" Mom snapped.
"Whoa, whoa," Tig growled trailing after her, grabbing her arm to halt her movements. "Where do you think you're going, Gemma?"
"To find Jax and Tara," Mom stated.
"You heard Clay, he said family stays put," Tig retorted.
"Look, Tigger, you got two choices, tackle me or tag along," Mom growled.
"Now, look, I got nothin' but adoration for you, why you givin' me such a hard time for?" Tig complained.
"It's my nature," Mom quipped. "I'm a giver."
I masked a chuckle as Mom slammed Tig against the wall brushing aside as she walked out of the clubhouse.
"This is why I beat hookers," Tig mumbled before trailing after Mom.
Even if he was annoyed that Mom wasn't cooperating, Tig would never go against Clay's orders. He also would never lay a finger on Mom, Anna, or I. We were the Sergeant-at-arms weak spots, and unfortunately for him, we knew it. It took nearly a half hour of convincing to get Tig to let Anna and I go to work.
Jax and Tara had arrived seconds after Tig and Mom had come back. Tara went into Doctor-mode and had closed the Chapel doors, carrying her giant kit of medical supplies. While Tara was a pediatric surgeon, I knew that Cameron was in good hands. And even if he wasn't, it was the best he was going to get since he couldn't go to the hospital. He was on enough federal watch lists to get all the National agencies in Charming by the end of the day.
Clay was still at the station house, and who knew how long Unser would keep him there. The Oregon, Utah, Washington, Nevada charters had all come within hours of one another. The rest were in constant communication with Juice. Who was stretched a little thin, between helping Chibs, keeping the Irishman alive by plugging one of his bullet holes, and talking to the other charters scattered all over the country and Europe. McGee, Belfast's president had called once or twice and he was the one who kept English and German charters up to speed. It was necessary for them to know what had almost happened to Clay. And maybe the Mayans stretched further than I had thought.
After Mom had sort of given Tig the slip, he had cracked down, barely letting any of us out of his sight. But, after both Anna and I had made it clear that we wouldn't stop bothering him until he let us go to the diner, with escorts, he finally folded. Bobby and three of the prospects drove us to the diner, where my car was still parked. Unlocking the door, Anna and I hurried to the kitchen, calling up Tori and Kat, as well as all of our waitresses as we started making coffee.
Within two hours The Crow diner was functioning like it had never opened late. People were coming and going, coffee flowed and food flew out of the kitchens. We ran a well-oiled machine that could almost always bounce back from late openings or anything else. I moved on autopilot for a while. Balancing our books, making sure people had coffee, and calling TM to make sure things were still going okay. The last phone call had told me that Cameron now had both slugs out would make a full recovery, thank god for small favors.
"What the fuck?" Anna snarled.
My head whipped up and I saw Anna glowering at a woman I thought we'd never have to see again.
"Annemarie Winston?" The woman questioned. "Agent Stahl, ATF."
"I remember you," Anna responded curtly. "Can I help you, Agent?"
"Actually, I was hoping you'd be able to accompany me to the stationhouse," Agent Stahl shrugged.
"Am I under arrest?" Anna demanded.
"No," Agent Stahl replied. "Child services wants to talk to you. But, they let ATF talk to you first."
"Isn't that nice," Anna scoffed.
"Come on, Ms. Winston," Agent Stahl prodded. "Unless you want to make this official?"
Anna and I glanced down in time to see Agent Stahl holding her handcuffs, one light brown eyebrow raised. I hated her, and not just because she was an ATF agent. She had this high and mighty attitude that made my palm itch to smack it off.
Anna's Point of View
It was nice to get out of the clubhouse for only a little while. Truth be told, I was contemplating snagging Izzy's car in order to head back to TM, both to check on everyone as well as get some more sleep. Then ATF showed up and sprouted off some bullshit about Child Services.
"One of the princesses of the Sons of Anarchy," Stahl smirked once we were seated in Charming PD's only interrogation room. "I'm honored."
"Go fuck yourself," I snapped.
"Well, you are just as sharp-tongued as I was told you would be," Stahl shook her head.
"Why would I ever be nice to you?" I questioned. "You and the rest of you scum threaten my family every couple of months."
"Your family are a bunch of criminals," Stahl retorted. "And we'd be doing your twins, your brother's children, and Jackson Teller's boy a favor if we pulled them from your custody."
"We all might have criminal history but we're not neglectful," I growled straightening up. "Our children are never exposed to anything harmful, not drugs or alcohol or anything. We're not abusive either. You have no grounds to take them from us."
"You're smart, Annemarie, I'll give you that," Stahl nodded before dropping her voice. "But who you think Child Services will believe? The person with the criminal record or the Federal Agent?"
"You might be right," I stated. "But, I know what you're doing. You think by threatening my nephews, and niece you'll get me to betray the Sons? Sweetheart, I just own a diner, I'm the girlfriend of a motorcycle enthusiast. The Sons of Anarchy are a motorcycle club, nothing more."
"And that's what you've been taught to say since you were little, right?"
"You don't have anything, do you?" I smirked. "That why you're pumping me for information. I'll save both of us some time, sweetheart, I don't know anything."
"Well, we have the porn star and the girl from Nevada in custody too," Stahl smirked. "Something tells me they won't be as well versed as you in the art of keeping secrets."
"I thought you needed a clean psych evaluation to be able to work for the government, Agent Stahl," I raised an eyebrow. "Did you just slip through the cracks? I'll say it one more time: We don't know anything about the Sons of Anarchy because there's nothing to know. They ride Harley Davidson's, I hardly think that's enough to get the government's interest."
"Maybe your sister-in-law will be more willing to give over information about the Sons of Anarchy," Stahl shrugged.
"Now I know you're desperate," I shook my head in pity. "Donna doesn't know anything about the Sons. And if you continue to waste the government's money I don't think your boss will be very happy with you."
"You're free to go, Ms. Winston," Stahl snapped.
"I thought you said CPS had to talk to me?" I snickered, rising to my feet. "You gotta work on your lying skills honey. They can save your life one day."
I shouldn't have been surprised to see two motorcycles in the lot waiting for me but I was. Juice was leaning against his bike with Half-Sack by his side. Iz must've called the clubhouse after I had been taken in. I smiled at my boyfriend walking down the stairs and into his waiting arms.
"Hi baby," Juice whispered.
"Hey, sexy," I grinned.
"I hate that ATF bitch," Juice growled when we pulled apart.
"She's scramblin' babe," I shook my head.
"No, she isn't," Juice sighed, "she's trying to use RICO."
"Jesus fuckin' Christ," I muttered. "Does she have anything."
"Luann's in lockup," Juice explained.
"Fuck," I mumbled. "They're using Luann as leverage for Otto."
Juice didn't have to say a word, I knew that was exactly what Stahl was doing. Otto was one of the most loyal members of Sam Crow but he also loved Luann with every fiber of his being. He would do anything to protect his old lady, any of the guys would. But, even the smallest detail about the Sons when someone was trying to pull a RICO act was important. And everyone went down if it was successful.
The RICO act, otherwise known as The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, was a major pain in our collective asses. Any violation of state statures against gambling, murder, kidnapping, extortion, arson, robbery, and bribery. I knew that the Sons extorted businesses for protection and technically getting guns from the True IRA was considered an act of terrorism. Whenever a Fed tried to use RICO any information was useful, meaning that while Otto wouldn't intentionally sell out the club, he might accidently by using something old.
"Come on," Juice prodded. "Izzy shut the diner back down."
"Because she wanted to?" I asked.
"Jax and Clay made her," Juice smirked.
"We're under another lockdown?" I sighed.
"Sort of," Juice muttered. "Just trying to make sure we know where everyone is."
"Well then we shouldn't keep people waiting," I declared, taking my helmet from the back of Juice's bike before hopping onto the seat. I wrapped my arms around his waist resting my head on his shoulder as he floored the engine, gunning it out of the police precinct's parking lot and going towards TM.
Things weren't quite as locked down as they had been for the past couple of days. The automotive side of Teller-Morrow was once again up and running, which was probably bugging the hell out of Izzy, she hated closing the diner. Or more to the point she hated being stuck in the clubhouse for an undisclosed amount of time. Izzy always complained that I was the one who got us into trouble, but she was the one who could sneak out of a full Sam Crow lockdown, without anyone knowing she was gone. It was s something that drove everyone absolutely nuts. These guys weren't use to being disobeyed, especially a five foot, one hundred pound girl.
"We're at the table," Tig snapped once Juice rolled up, barely letting either of us off the bike before dropping the bomb. "You get in touch with Rosen?"
Juice and I got off of the motorcycle, placing our helmets on the handlebars before we walked into the clubhouse. Juice and Tig dropped their cell phones in the cigar box on the pool table, kissed me on the cheek before walking into the chapel. Glancing at the double doors I moved across the open space and into the apartment.
"Stahl give you a hard time?" Izzy asked. I hadn't even heard the door open.
"Nothin' I couldn't handle," I smirked. "She's tryin' to use RICO."
"I heard," I shook my head. "Luann and Cherry are in lock-up."
"Cherry?" Izzy scoffed. "She's the prospect's old lady. She doesn't know shit about Sam Crow."
"Yeah, well, Luann does," I responded. "And Otto will do anything for her."
"That's why they're at the table?" Izzy tilted her head, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
"If Otto's as smart as I remember, he'll request visitation," I muttered. "Maybe Luann'll realize something's up."
"I hope so," Izzy mumbled. "She's been Ma's best friend for years, she should be quick on the uptake."
"I just hope no ones gets put away for this," I frowned. "It's bad enough that Otto's still in Stockton."
Anna's Point of View
September 30, 2003
Opie and I had almost never been away from each other. Of course he went on runs but he always made sure to check in with both Donna and I. When Opie was on a run, I was comforted by the fact that he had back up and would be home in a few days. Opie was being held in Chino after a run had gone bad. He couldn't call anyone and Rosen, the lawyer who went to bat for anyone related to Sam Crow, could barely see Opie, he was locked down entirely. At least whenever Ope had been held overnight in the station house, I could talk to him and post bail. This time he was on complete federal lockdown. His affiliation with the Sons was enough for ATF to use all the power of their authority to keep him away from us.
I had no idea what had happened. No one would say anything and any time I attempted to bring it up someone else would change the topic. I was all alone at the diner, Gemma needed Izzy's help with the filing over at TM, leaving me to run the diner.
"Annie, phone for you," Tori called.
"Okay, thanks Tori," I replied picking up the office extension, "Hey, what's going on?"
"You should get over here," Izzy announced without preamble. "Everyone just went into the clubhouse."
"What?" I asked.
"Anyone with a Sam Crow patch is here right now," Iz explained. "And it's not Sunday."
"We're not allowed in on those meetings," I pointed out, failing to see where Izzy's reasoning was.
"Yeah but this could be our first clues as to what happened with Ope and Kyle," Izzy responded.
"I'll be right there," I growled.
"Diner's closed everybody, please find your nearest waitress and she'll give you take-out containers and a coupon for your next meal," I announced. "Tori and Kat can you shut down for me?"
"No problem, sweetheart," Tori replied.
I ran down the steps and into my car, flooring it over to TM. When I got there I parked in between Izzy and Gemma's cars, noticing that all the motorcycles were present, just like Izzy had said. There might've even been a few more because I saw some bikes I didn't recognize.
Before I could find either of the Teller women, the door to the clubhouse was thrown open. Kyle Hobart was walked out, his blue gaze icy as he looked around the compound. The first thing I noticed was that Kyle wasn't wearing his cut, or any of thing that would identify him as a member, which was forbidden. Once you were a Son, you wore the reaper with pride no matter where you were, unless you ordered not to, like on a run.
"Kyle?" I questioned.
"Anna," Kyle grimaced stopping near me and looking like he wanted nothing more than to be anywhere but here.
"What's going on?" I asked. "Was the meeting about Ope? Do you guys know anything new?"
"Annie, I-"
"Stop fucking talking to her, Hobart!"
I jumped at the unabashed rage in Jax's voice as I took an unconscious step backwards. I don't think I had ever seen Jax look that angry. Looking between Jax and Kyle made me even more confused. Jax, Opie, and Kyle were friends close enough in age to have been friends even without the club. Now, though, Jax was looking at Kyle like he was the enemy.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Get outta here, Hobart, you know you don't belong here," Jax ordered sharply.
"No," I retorted, grabbing Kyle's arm and stilling his retreat. "Someone tell me what the fuck is going on. Opie's locked up, Jax! I don't know if he's okay and no one will tell me what happened."
"The only reason why Opie is locked up right now, and probably will remain so is because of Kyle," Jax sneered. "He was Opie's get away ride."
"He was Opie's get away ride," I repeated. It took a moment for that to sink in, if whatever they had been doing required a get-away ride, there was a far amount of risk involved. And if Kyle was free and Opie was locked up that meant…
"You left him?" I growled.
"It wasn't like that, Anna," Kyle disagreed.
"Bullshit," Jax snarled.
"Jackson!" Gemma called from the office. "Can you come in here?"
"Yeah," Jax called back. "You better be gone by sunrise, Hobart."
Before Kyle or I could say another word, Jax turned on his heel and walked into the office, shutting the door behind him. I stared at Kyle, still unable to believe that he would just look out for himself. Betrayal and white hot rage rushed through my veins as I glared at the excommunicated Son.
"I'm sorry," Kyle whispered. "I'm so, so sorry. I heard the sirens and I panicked. By the time I swung back around Ope was already in the back of a cop car."
"He wouldn't be in that cop car if it wasn't for you," I retorted.
"No, it would've been both of us," Kyle snapped. "They were tipped off or something."
"You left him to rot," I hissed.
"It wasn't-"
The one thing that had always bothered me about Kyle was the fact that he could never take responsibility for his actions. Even if it was something small like forgetting to check the invoices or bring desert for the potlucks, he always had an excuse for everything. Only now his cowardice and irresponsibility was hurting my family. Donna was apprehensive enough about Sam Crow; we didn't need an arrest spooking her further.
I remembered how badly she reacted when Jax had been thrown into Stockton for five months over an assault and battery charge. Now that it was Opie didn't know how my sister-in-law would react. I had a niece and a nephew both under five and now Donna would have to raise them alone for god knows how long.
All I wanted was or Kyle to stop apologizing and blaming the police. I just wanted him to walk away and leave me alone. Instead he kept trying to make me understand, get me on his side. Like having my blessing would get him back the Sons, if they had, in fact, thrown him out.
My fist was a blur as I threw a punch just as I had been taught, using all the power I possessed to hit Kyle in the jaw. He toppled backwards, obviously surprised that I had thrown the punch. He didn't have time for much of a reaction as I tackled him to the ground. He was pinned under my thighs his stupid shocked face looking up at me. Once I started punching, I didn't stop. I threw punch after punch, yelling at him incoherently. His nose broke with a solid blow, sending blood flying all over me and pouring down his face. Still I continued punching. My words punctuated by my swinging fists and sobs.
"Anna!"
It was a clear and solid reprimand, one designed to stop me in my tracks but I was too far gone for that. I just wanted Kyle to pay for his actions. I didn't care that he had lost the club, had to get out of Charming, it wasn't enough. He had let Opie, left him to rot just because Kyle didn't want to see the inside of a jail cell. God only knew how long Opie would have to pay for Kyle's cowardice. And how hurt he must be. They were brothers, supposed to have one another's backs no matter what. Be ready to lay down their life to protect another. And yet Kyle had left Opie to rot, to face the consequences alone.
"Fuck!" Juice yelped.
At the moment Juice was a prospect he might've been in the clubhouse but he had no say in whatever had happened. He was, however, the first to notice that Kyle had yet to leave the premises and that I was currently beating the crap out of him. His arms wrapped around my waist pulling me away from Kyle who was moaning pitifully.
I squirmed and kicked in his grasp putting up enough of a struggle that Juice was scrambling to restrain me.
"Hey!" Juice shouted making his voice echo around. "A little help out here!"
All the guys seemed to react at once as the office door was thrown open and people were hustling out of the clubhouse's door. Marco was the first to reach us grabbing onto my other arm as he and Juice kept me pinned between the two of them.
"Holy shit!" Clay growled.
"That's my girl," Pop snickered from somewhere to my left.
"He's still breathing," Tig announced. "He's just fucked up."
"Hey, hey, hey," Jax admonished, holding my face between his hands. "Calm down."
I shook my head, kicking my legs as Juice and Marco worked in tandem to move me away from Kyle and closer to the clubhouse. The other members were talking amongst themselves about what they should do about Kyle: take him to the hospital or leave him there.
"Annie, you need to calm down," Jax continued, his eyes locking on mine. "You could've killed him. Would Ope want you to do that?"
When I didn't answer Jax's gaze grew stern, "Anna."
"No," I huffed. "Can you let me down?"
"You gonna stay away from Kyle?" Jax questioned.
"Yes," I replied.
With a look Juice and Marco dropped me on my feet. I stretched between them and looked at Jax. I sighed as I leaned back against the clubhouse. Jax grabbed my hand bringing my battered knuckles up to the dim light.
"You could've killed him," Jax reproached. "We already stripped him of his patches."
"That won't do anything," I mumbled.
"Neither does beating the crap out of him," Jax sighed. "But it made you feel better."
"Yeah, it did."
"Come on, little killer, let's clean you up."
Izzy's Point of View
I loved spending nights in the clubhouse especially when the clubhouse wasn't overrun with sweet butts and other hangers-on. When it was just the family hanging out with on another. Tig, Chibs, and Bobby were playing pool, and drinking. Juice was at the front of the bar, watching the security cameras and looking at something. Clay was in his office talking to Rosen, Mom was at the table with a beer and papers spread out in front of her. Anna was sitting next to her father, laughing about something he had said.
I was sitting in Marco's lap exchanging little digs with Tig as he struggled to win back the money he had lost to Chibs. When the Chapel doors opened people's head swiveled in that direction to look at Clay.
"Luann's in the clear," Clay announced. "Otto, not so much."
"Why?" Bobby asked. "What happened?"
Clay grinned and chuckled as he said, "he shattered Stahl's face"
"Ooh, I love that man," Tig whooped as Chibs laughed.
"Trying to prove to the club that he wasn't gonna give anything up," Clay shrugged. "We're clear of the ATF, ladies and germs."
People whooped and cheering, downing beer and shots, exchanging hugs and high fives. I kissed Marco as I looked over to my parents. Ma had gone over to run the price of painting Jax's house by Clay. It was more of a formality, everyone knew that Ma had him wrapped around her finger.
"Okay, okay," Clay finally relented.
"That's why I love you," Ma grinned kissing him softly.
"Shit, Clay, cops!" Juice warned slamming his laptop shut seconds before the club door was thrown open, SWAT rushed in.
The main door flew open, cracking against the glass window, shattering it instantly.
"Everyone down!" SWAT officers screamed as one. "Get down!"
Marco and I leapt up only to be shoved to the ground near Tig. Juice and Anna were already on the ground closest to the bar. The white sneakers that Jax always wore came through the back hallway right before he was thrown to the ground by Clay's side. Clay didn't go down without a fight, especially after Ma was forcibly handled to the floor. I turned my head to see Stahl walking through the club house a victorious smile painted across her bruised face.
"Robert Munson, you're under arrest for the murder of Brandon Hefner," Stahl's partner announced. "You have the right to remain silent…"
"Who?" Bobby demanded.
"I'll call Rosen, Bobby," Clay shouted. "You just sit tight."
Another ATF agent kicked Clay in the stomach winding him and causing him to curl in on himself, his face screwed up in pain and fury.
"Hey!" Jax screamed.
"Bitch," Ma swore, spitting the Stahl's general direction.
It was then Stahl did the unthinkable, she kicked Ma in the stomach, "Manners Gemma, manners."
"Whoa," Chibs called out.
"Mom!" I yelped. "You fucking bitch."
"Charming's little princess," Stahl sneered. "How cute."
"What's wrong?" I responded back, looking up. "You get your little feelings hurt that the big, bad biker bashed your pretty little face in?"
No one told me to stop but Marco's sudden grip on my wrist told me that now wasn't the time to goad an agent. I only wondered what they thought they had. All I knew for sure was that Clay wasn't right, we weren't even close to being clear of the ATF. My intuition was sending up major warning signs: all of which were saying that our troubles were just beginning.
