Hey, so I managed to find a spare hour to get this up. Again I only had chance to give it a quick once over so I apologise again if there are mistakes.
So we are on the home straight now, there are only a few chapters left and I'm hoping that work quiets down again so I will be able to find some spare time allowing me to update, because you all know that I hate leaving you lovely readers hanging.
Anyway hope you enjoy this chapter and as always thankyou for all the lovely reviews and to those who have added me and this story to your favs and to those who are just reading. Love you all.
Everything Changes
Chapter Twenty Nine
"We understood yer need to shed the Russians and fuellin' our small arms to da Mexicans was a reasonable risk, but everything that's happened since, not very reasonable at t'all." Galen spoke as he looked around the gathered Sons as they stood in warehouse that housed their guns.
"The blood shed was an internal Cartel beef. It's been handled." Jax tried to reason with the Irish king.
"Handled by the guns dat we specificity told ya not ta use..." Galen argued.
"Those RPG's saved my life brother. Jax doesn't make that call we wouldn't be standing here right now." Clay argued back in defence of his VP.
"If we weren't in bed wit those dirty wetbacks we wouldn't be standin' ere either. I'd be at home restin'." Galen looked at Jax. "So would yer girl."
"Look you trust me, I trust Gallindo. We're talking bout a once in a life time opportunity here."
"Romeo understands the need for discretion." Jax continued picking up where Clay had left.
"Look all these big guns will be used south of da border." Chibs informed them as he stepped around Jax. "None of dis shite will blow back on da cause."
"I need assurances." Galen stated. He was not about to go into this blind.
"We're going to meet with Romeo tomorrow he will answer all your questions and concerns I promise." Clay hoped that this would convince them.
"The meet needs to be on neutral ground. Bring dem a sample of the weapons. If it works out bring em back here, do the exchange." Galen told him.
"There's an Indian Reservation 10 mintues from here. Very private."
"3 o'clock."
"Good." Clay and Galen shook hands and the Irish Kings went on there way.
As everyone made their way back to their bikes Juice hung back. Flipping open his cell he sent a quick text to the feds giving them the location and time that they were going to be meeting the Irish kings. Mounting his bike Juice hoped to god that he was doing the right thing but deep down he knew he wasn't, even more so now after his talk to Nicole.
When they returned to Clubhouse Jax pulled Bobby and Clay aside so that he could talk them. He knew that Clay had divulged to Bobby about his plans in leaving which is why he wanted him there, this included him. Jax lead them into the empty garage so they could talk in private as there were still a few hangaround's and sweetbutts around.
"After this deal goes down tomorrow we put a ticking clock on the blow. Tell Romeo we still run his guns but he's got to find someone else to mule. Blame it on the Irish. Tell Gallindo their gonna bail if we keep trucking powder."
"It's too soon to push for that." Clay expressed as he looked out over the lot his eyes landing on his niece who had just stumbled out the clubhouse with a hangaround.
"No it's too late." Jax snapped back at his President. "We're gonna make more in the next two shipments than we normally make in two years. I'm taking my piece and I'm out." Jax turned to Clay. "When you step down gavel should go to Bobby." Jax turned back to Bobby. "Chibs is your VP." Ignoring the exchange of looks between Bobby and Clay Jax continued. "Tig ain't gonna carry it, I think the Sergeant patch should go to Happy."
"Your really going to do this?" Bobby asked.
"I love this club Bobby but I love my family more." Bobby shook his head. He looked over at Clay and noticed that he was staring across the lot. Following his line of sight Bobby saw Nicole sat on top of the picnic table a couple of hangarounds and sweetbutts around her. Even from where he was standing Bobby could tell that she was drunk. He had noticed a change in the girl since she had got back, she was hiding something that was for sure and Bobby knew that she probably needed Jax now more than ever but here he was telling him that he was leaving.
"Family, putting them first I get that. But what about her?" Bobby cocked his head in Nicole's direction. Jax looked over his shoulder. His eyes landed on her straight away and he cursed under his breath. She looked a mess and he hated seeing her like that. He'd had this argument with himself a 100 times, gone over the pro and cons of leaving her and up until Tara's attempted kidnapping Jax was having serious doubts about leaving Nicole behind, but now he had made a decision that he had to leave which is why he had asked Opie to look after her, and finally today he had agreed to that. She was going to be okay, even if she didn't look like it now.
"She'll be fine." Jax said over his shoulder. He knew he was trying to convince himself more than Bobby. As he continued to watch Nicole Jax saw Chibs walk out of the clubhouse. It set him a little more at ease to see Chibs give one of the guys that was sniffing around her a look that made him back off her instantly, all the guys would keep eyes on her. He turned back to Bobby and Clay. "Look we've gotta close this deal before I tell the rest of the club. Nicole to. I don't want my exit pulling focus."
Chibs joined them and handed the phone he was holding to Clay. "Galen." Clay nodded and accepted the phone as he stepped away from the three of them. Chibs turned his attention to Jax. "Think Nic might need ta go home." Jax looked back over to where she was just in time to see her disappear inside with one of the guys. "Guy's gettin' a little to close."
"A'right I'll sort it." Jax didn't miss the I told you so look from Bobby.
"Otto reached out I'm gonna head up to Stockton." Jax nodded knowing that Bobby had to be the one to tell Otto about Georgie, it was for his own piece of mind. He owed it to Otto.
"Galen needs some back up. I've gotta connect with Romeo." Clay announced as he rejoined the group.
"I've got it. I'll take Chibs with me translate the Cathlic." Jax mocked as he playfully hit Chibs in the chest.
"Take Tig and Happy with you just in case." Jax nodded at Clay's order.
Jax and Chibs started making their way across the lot. "We got time to take er' home?"
"Yeah we'll drop her off on the way."
"She ain't handlin' dis shite."
"I know. It's just been one thing after another lately she'll be a'right though." Again Jax was trying to convince himself more than Chibs.
Nicole could feel their eyes on her and it was just pissing her off. Everyone seemed to be looking down at her and she knew exactly what they were thinking. Poor fucked up little Nicole. She hated it. They may have just lost a bother but she had just lost a friend she was more than entitled to blow off some steam get drunk and cry if she wanted to. She didn't need their fucking permission and she didn't need their approval. Even if Chibs insisted on giving it to Dan..Darren..Davis...whatever his name was.
As she went to take a swig of her drink she realised that she was empty. Turning to face the nameless guy she slid off the table and slid up next to him. She may not know his name but she did know that he was cute and he was willing even after Chibs' little warning.
"I'm empty." The nameless guy smiled at her and took her hand leading her inside.
Nicole stumbled as he entered but the guy caught her and they both started to laugh. She felt his arm wrap around her waist. She knew that she should back away but for some reason she didn't instead she let him lead her towards the bar.
"A beer and a Vodka."
"Uh..." Phil who happened to be behind the bar took one look at the state of Nicole and knew she shouldn't have anymore. "I think she's had enough..."
"The girl wants a drink man..." The hangaround snapped.
"Yeah...come..on..." Nicole lent across the bar. "Plllleeeeaassseee." The guy started laughing but Phil didn't see anything funny about this. "Fine." Nicole turned in the hangarounds arm. "I know where we can get a drink."
"Yeah." Nicole nodded her head. Taking his hand in hers she started leading him back towards Jax's dorm room.
His hands rested on her hips as Nicole fumbled with the door. She had just gotten the key in the lock when she heard the door slam shut down the hall. "Fuck." She mumbled under her breath. She didn't even need to look who it was how bad her luck was lately it could only be one person. However as she reluctantly looked down the hall she was surprised to see not only Happy but Tig. "Great." Looking away Nicole returned her focus on getting the door in front of her open.
Tig knew that this was not about to end well. He knew that Hap had been tapping Nic before they'd gone inside, he wasn't sure where they stood now but either way Tig knew that the killer beside him was pissed. His shoulders were tense his jaw was flexing and he hadn't stop staring at her since he stepped out from his dorm. Tig knew he had to step in and handle this shit before they were burying another body today. Happy did not like to share what was his.
"Doll..." Tig started walking down the hall towards her. Nicole rolled her eyes before looking up at Tig. "What ya doin'?" She watched as he cocked his head to the guy that was behind her before his eyes they moved down her body as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Tig's eye snapped back to hers. She was up shit creek and she defiantly did not have a paddle.
"What do you think?" Nicole snapped as she unlocked the door. Tig jumped into action, he heard movement from behind him and he knew he needed to reach the pair before Happy did.
Tig reached her in three big strides and roughly grabbed the guy by the collar of his shirt dragging him from Nicole.
"Woah dude..."
"Shut it asshole."
"Jesus Tigger." Nicole shouted as she tried to prise the hangaround from Tig's vice grip. Tig shot her a look daring herto keep going, it was a look she had seen on Tig many times before but never once had that look been directed at her. She was relived when he turned his attention back to the hangaround as he dragged him further down the hall.
Nicole turned and went to open the door to Jax's dorm but as soon as she had it open a hand wrapped over the top of her hand that was on the doorknob and the door came slamming shut and her back was slammed against the now shut door. Happy's hand roughly gripping her jaw, forcing her to look at him. Nicole tried to move away from him but he pressed his body against her trapping her even more. She watched his eyes dart over her face before finally resting on her eyes.
He shouldn't have left her, he had made a promise and less than 12 hours later he had already fucked it up. When Kozik had asked him rather begged him to keep her safe Happy barely had to think about it. But at the first chance he got he bailed on her, all because she pissed him and now he had to look into hers eyes knowing he had let down a brother as well as her. She was smashed but she had been that way when he stormed out of her room-he still didn't know why he let her drunken comment affect him so much-but now as he looked into her dilated pupils he knew that because of him she had fallen into old habits. Well he might have been the cause but that didn't mean that he was going allow her to do this even if she was a stubborn bitch...
"What have you taken...what?"
Jax and Chibs walked into the clubhouse just in time to see Tig hauling the guy that been sniffing around Nicole through the bar.
"What's goin' on?"
"Ah..." Tig looked over his shoulder towards the hall. Jax slapped the back of his hand against Chibs' chest and the two of them headed for the hall, however they both stopped in their tracks when they rounded the corner. Jax knew he had been a little vacant when it came to Nicole lately, it wasn't intentional but with the pile of shit mounting around him and the club and the way Tara was at the moment he had let his big cousin duties slide a little and obviously he had missed something, because he could not understand for the life of him why his brother, Happy, had his baby cousin pinned against the door to his dorm room. Jax was already pissed off and witnessing this wasn't helping.
"Hey..." Jax shouted as he made his way to his cousin defense.
Nicole looked out the corner of her eye to see Jax striding towards them looking pissed, Chibs not far behind him. She felt herself start to panic and her eyes shot back to Happy's who's eyes hadn't seem to move from her. She gave him a pleading look silently begging him not to say anything but she got nothing back.
"Hey..." Happy felt a hand on his arm pulling his hand off of Nicole. Finally tearing his eyes from her Happy looked at Jax who still had hold of him before looking over his shoulder at Chibs. Both men looked mad but right now Happy was finding it very hard to care. He glanced back at Nicole and he could see her shaking and under any other circumstance he would feel bad for scaring her but again he found it hard to care right now. He had made a promise to brother and he was going to keep that promise no matter what.
"Sorry..." Happy said looking back at his VP before striding past the two men. Jax watched Happy leave before turning his attention back to Nicole.
"What the hell...you a'right." His hand came up to her face but Nicole avoided his touch. He looked over his shoulder at Chibs when he heard him clear his throat.
"I'll be outside Jackie boy..." Jax nodded and looked back at his clearly shaken cousin.
"Did you he hurt you?"
"NO..." Nicole snapped pushing away his hands. "He just...we...he didn't hurt me he wouldn't..."
"He had you pinned against my fuckin' door..."
"Just leave it Jay..."
"No..."
"Jackson just leave me alone..." Nicole opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. Jax slammed his hand against the now closed door. He knew he should go after her, force her to tell him what the hell was going on and explain what he had just witnessed but he just didn't have the time...again...it seemed to be the norm lately he just didn't have time for her and he wondered if that was why she was acting the way she was. Stepping back from the door he silently made a promise to himself that once he had dealt with whatever it was Galen needed them for he would take some time out reconnect with his little cousin.
Chibs came to his side his hand resting on his back as they both headed through the clubhouse.
"Lass good?"
"I don't know man." Jax shook his head. His words couldn't have been truer. He really had no idea what was going on not just with Nicole but this whole situation. Walking outside with the Scot Jax's eyes found Happy. He was standing with Tig near his bike the two seemed to be having a very cozy little conversation. Jax did not like it. When they reached the two Jax looked between Tig and Chibs. "Give us a minute." Both men didn't put up an argument. "Wanna tell me what the hell that was back there?" Jax snapped giving his full attention to Happy.
"Nothin'..."
"Don't give me that bullshit. You had my cousin pinned up against a fuckin' wall..." Jax seethed. He was sick of seeing the women he loved getting hurt. Happy rubbed the back of his neck. Trying to explain this shit to Jax was never going to be easy he wouldn't get it, his over protectiveness-a trait Happy admired when it was aimed in the right direction-of Nicole would blind him. Happy grabbed his helmet off the handle bars of bike.
"She ain't a kid man..." Happy tried to ignore the irony of his words. Saying she wasn't a kid even though he always called her that. "It's just gone 12 and she's already smashed lettin' a fuckin' hangaround get handsy with her. She was actin' outta line, she needed tellin'." Jax wanted to argue with Happy but he couldn't because Happy was bringing up some good fucking points. But even so he didn't need a brother pointing that out.
"Ain't your call to make brother." Happy just shrugged. "What you think it is?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Jackie boy we got ta go..." Jax broke his stare with Happy and turned to Chibs nodding his head before looking back at Happy.
"You in on this?"
"Absolutely."
Gemma lent back in her chair her feet resting on the desk as she let the effects of her last joint kick in. Today had been worse than she thought, of course she had kept the Gemma Teller Morrow façade up but now that she was alone in the garage office she finally let her guard down. It wasn't the reactions of all the sons that was getting to her, most of them apart from Tig kept their opinions to themselves even if their feelings were written all over their faces, no them she could handle it was being in the same room as Clay that got to her. She hadn't expected to feel the way she did, since he lay hands on her she had basically set the wheels in motion for his death but when she saw him today all that hate she had for him seemed to fade slightly and for the first time she understood what Nicole must have felt. It was strange feeling and Gemma did not like it. She liked to be in control and this new feeling was not something she could seem to control which is why she had locked herself away in the office.
She was enjoying her buzz when there was a knock on the door. She wanted to scream at whoever it was interrupting her down time but before she could open her mouth the door was already opening.
Swinging her legs off the desk Gemma straightened up in her chair as Lyla stepped inside. Gemma was a little surprised to see her, last she had heard Lyla had packed her bags and taken Piper and ran off to her sisters. So her appearance was a little surprising. Again Gemma got that out of control feeling.
"Hey Gemma..." Gemma stared at Lyla for a moment daring her to make a comment. Lyla wasn't exactly being subtle as she stared at the bruises covering her face, and considering Gemma was already pissed at the little cum star for bailing on Opie and that she wasn't in a very good mood to begin with Gemma was just itching to have a go at someone, but the little bitch ignored the obvious elephant it the room and placed a bigger smile on her face as she walked further into the small office.
"You decided to come back to your marriage then?" If Lyla wasn't willingly going to start an argument Gemma was defiantly going to try and provoke her.
"Yeah." Lyla spoke with embarrassment as her arms crossed over her chest.
"So..." Lyla had obviously come here for something and Gemma just wished she would kind of get to it so she would leave her alone.
"I was just wondering if you have seen Opie. When I came home he bolted saying he was going up to the cabin to his dad but he never came home last nigh...did...did he stay here, did he spend the night with someone..." Gemma just stared at the nervous girl in front of her. Gemma hadn't heard the last part of what Lyla had said all she heard was that Opie had gone up to the cabin. The thought that it might be a lie he spun to his wife just so he could leave never crossed her mind all she could think about was Piney on the floor with a gaping hole in his chest and Opie finding that. She remembered seeing him today at first she didn't think much of it but now...now the way he had been looking at her, the way he had stormed out of the clubhouse he knew that this was Clay. "Gemma." Hearing Lyla's delicate voice Gemma looked up at her. "Did he spend the night here with..."
"No baby he didn't." She actually saw the relief wash over the young girl. Gemma got to her feet. "You should go home, i'm sure he'll come back when he's ready. It's been a pretty rough day here. Kozik passed away."
"Shit sorry I didn't know."
"It's fine. But I've gotta go, got things to do."
"Of course." Gemma came to stand beside her.
"Go home baby, he'll come home when he's ready." Gemma almost ran out of the office. She looked around the lot before storming over to Bobby who was straddling his bike. "Where's Clay?"
"Got a meet with Romeo."
"Jackson?"
"Gone to help Galen with something. Everything alright?"
"No."
Gemma knew she would never find Clay so she headed to the Hospital to see Tara, keep an eye on her just in case her so called husband came to finish the job. As she started making her way to Tara's room she was surprised to see Phil walking towards her especially as he was supposed to be guarding Tara.
"Where are you goin?"
"Grab a soda, Clay's with Tara."
"He's alone with her?"
"Yeah."
Clay opened the door to Tara's room. As he closed it his hand tried to find the lock only to be let down, there wasn't one. As he came to stand at the end of her bed he realised she was asleep. She stirred as if she had felt his presence, she jumped when she saw him standing there.
"Where's Jax?"
"Finishing up some things. Wanted me to come by check on you."
"Uh thanks." Tara shifted up her bed as she rubbed her eyes. The last thing she had expected to see when she woke up was Clay standing over her bed.
"It's fine. We've got to get you better get you ready to go. You and Jax have a plan." Tara could hear the resentment in his voice. Her eyes followed him as he took a seat in the chair beside her bed. "Putting all this violence behind you, it's a smart move. I'd hate to see something get in the way of that."
"Really?"
"You know I can make sure that nothing or nobody gets in your way." Tara just looked at him as she got a sickening feeling in her stomach she knew where this was leading, but a small part of her was intrigued by what he was saying/offering.
"Even Gemma, Nicole?" Clay smirked at her and it sent a shiver down he spine.
"Don't worry about them. They won't cause you any trouble." Tara could only imagine what lengths Clay would go to. She had seen the mess he had made of Gemma's face although looking at Clay now it did seem that she managed to get in a few shots herself. "There is only one thing that could get in your way."
"What's that?"
"Those letters." Tara swallowed hard. She had suspicions that Gemma would have told Clay about the letters and although the thought did scare her she never thought Clay would approach her like this.
"Gemma told you about them didn't she?"
"She thought you were gonna show them to Jax, create a shit storm. But your a smart girl Tara, you know what happens if Jax reads those letters, that's the reason he doesn't have them already. It complicates your departure. You need to give me the letters."
"If your so sure I'm not going to give them to Jax why do you need them?"
"Piece of mind." He remarked giving her that smirk again as he got to his feet. "I wanna be able to sleep at night. You understand that? You give me the letters I destroy them, you and Jax leave with the boys everybody's happy...and safe."
"And if I don't give them to you?"
"I'm not sure you and Jax ever make it out of Charming."
Gemma's heels echoed in the hallway as she ran as quick as she could towards Tara's room. Rounding the corner to the hallway that led to her room Gemma stumbled to a stop when she saw Clay approaching her.
"She's fine." Clay assured Gemma as he continued down the hall. Gemma nodded as she to continued down the hall. Gemma wanted to walk straight pass him, wanted to ignore the voice in her head screaming at her to warn him but she couldn't and she found herself stopping in front of him as she removed her oversized sunglasses.
"Opie knows?"
"Knows?"
"About Piney. Lyla came to see me today said Ope never came home. He told her that he was heading up to the cabin to check on Piney." Clay nodded and Gemma felt herself take a step closer towards him. "He's gonna know this is you."
"How?" Clay pointed this shit at the Cartel there was noway Opie would believe this was him.
"History..." She motioned her hand to her face... "This. He was looking at me hard today, you saw him storm out the clubhouse. Opie won't let this slide like Donna, you won't be able to talk him round."
"Why are you tellin' me this?" Gemma's hands came up to cradle his face.
"I love you Clay." She kissed him softly on the cheek.
Clay watched his wife disappear into Tara's room. He thought he had gotten away with it all, thought he had just convinced Tara to give him the letters that there was finally going to be an end to all this but now Gemma had dropped this on him. At least she had given him warning at least now he would be prepared for when Opie came for him, because he would.
