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General trigger warnings for this story: Language, smut, mentions of rape, abuse, drug use/overdose, violence/death.

CHAPTER 12: A WOMAN'S JOB

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"She said what?" Clay screeched at Gemma after finding out that Sydney wasn't at work because of 'club business' - shooting Tig a look across the garage where he was working with Jax, Happy and Half-Sack.

"Don't look at me brother, she didn't tell me shit." He held his hands up, shifting Clay's gaze to the others.

"Shit..." Jax groaned. "I got pissed at her last night... Told her to find the guns herself." He hung his head when he realized that this had been his doing.

Tig chuckled, but a louder chuckle overpowered his where everybody turned to see Happy with a rare smile on his face.

"Get used to it. Cali Queen can be worse than Gem." He winked at the matriarch.

Clay's brow creased at the mention of the familiar name. He'd heard a thing or two on the streets about The Cali Queen, but he hadn't had the slightest clue that Sydney was the one behind the ominous moniker. And by the slightly confused look on Jax and Tig's faces - he could tell that they were thinking the same thing as all three men began to piece together the meaning of the crown tattooed on her chest. Clay just hung his head and went back inside the office. If she really was the Cali Queen, then he had truly struck gold.

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"Billy's bringin by a whole load of new boys today; Mexicans - says they're his new clients and we gotta make em real happy." Sydney sat at the Pope Trucker's Diner dressed in a skin tight baby blue mini dress and a pair of cheap black stilettos with her hair and makeup done up to the nines - listening to the group of local prostitutes sharing business their prospects.

"You guys ever make house calls? You know... Parties, hotels... I'm on my own now, lookin to make ends meet, you know." She asked with her head down in despair, topping off the act with a charming southern accent to help tug on their heartstrings.

"Oh yeah, sweetie." An exotic looking middle-aged woman nodded. "They're having one on Sunday; the Mexicans andthe white boys, Pres says that they're celebrating a 'new opportunity for expansion' - wants everyone there."

"You mind if I join?" Sydney glanced up through her eyelashes.

"Those boys will take all the pussy that they can get, they'd be happy to have a sweet little thing like you around." An older redheaded woman laughed around her cigarette.

"Where's it at?"

"Some farmhouse not far from here - says it's real remote but the pay is good. I'll give ya the address, sweet cheeks."

"I wonder what this opportunity is... Gotta be somethin big if we gonna get paid this type of cash." Sydney mused in an attempt to gain more intel on if this little gathering was about exactly what she thought it was about.

"Ay chickita." The dark haired latina nodded. "They doin some new stuff with guns - big ones. Started with smaller ones a couple weeks back, good shit I guess. Protecting their new drug trade - that's what I hear from my papi anyways."

"Wow, it's a new world... To new opportunities!" Sydney raised her glass, clinking cups with the women who had just inadvertently told her exactly where she could find their guns.

After excusing herself from the table to 'meet with a new client', Sydney headed to her car - which she had been sure to park out of sight. She was finally able to pull out her real phone where she saw a montage of missed calls. She snorted, shaking her head and dialling Tig who picked up after the first ring.

"Babe? Where the hell are you at? Clay's pissed." Tig ducked out of the garage to take the call.

"Tell him to call church. What was that farmhouse you checked out with Trammel?" She completely ignored his question, relieved to hear the relatively casual tone in his voice.

"Turner road? Looks like a cook lab." He squinted, rubbing the back of his neck in confusion while he racked his brain for the reasoning behind her inquisition - the options that he came up with not serving to ease his mind. "Why?" He urged.

Sydney looked down at the napkin in her lap where the address that the redhead had given her was scribbled in red crayon. '620 Turner Road, Sunday 9PM.'

"I'll see you soon." She smiled an evil smile as she ended the call and hit the gas - her tires screeching as she sped back to the clubhouse. She had truly outdone herself.

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Sydney waltzed into the bar where Gemma was waiting for her with a hand on her hip, scowling as her eyes raked over her outfit. "You got some explainin to do." She pointed towards the chapel - clearly just as displeased as everybody else was with her little stunt.

Sydney just smirked in response, heading towards the chapel where she swung the doors open to see a full table as every head in the room turned to look at her - a couple of eyes widening and jaws dropping at her attire.

"What the hell is this?" Clay's voice boomed. "You're runnin off callin your own shots, and now you're callin my church?"

Sydney raised her eyebrows expectantly. "You're all here, aren't you?" She scoffed smugly as she walked over to her empty chair, each step echoing as she did so.

"Nah." Clay stopped her. "You tell me what the hell you're playing at before you sit at my table."

Sydney's lips curled up before she shrugged her shoulders - changing course and moving to sit on top of the table instead where she crossed her legs.

Clay slammed his hands down and pushed his chair back - ready to stand off with the little blonde who dared to challenge him in front of his club, and at his own table, nonetheless.

Everybody around the room looked terrified for her - watching the scene unfold in slow motion as Clay began to rise from his chair.

"Just taking orders from my VP." She sneered, shooting Jax an icy glare. "And my President." Her eyes shifted to Clay as she cocked her head and smiled smugly, throwing the napkin down onto the table. "This is where the rest of our AKs will be - Glocks are long gone. Darby and the Mayans are having a little get together to celebrate their new partnership."

"This where you met with Trammel?" Clay asked Tig as he studied the napkin, his Sergeant nodding slowly in awe. "How the hell did you get this?"

"Simple - you don't send a man to do a woman's job." She smirked as the room full of clueless men looked at each other, trying to decode her answer. "Women gossip." She began to explain. "Truck stop just before the Marina in Pope - couple of local prostitutes were happy to share their business tactics with the new whore in town... Tactics, contacts, information..." She mused slowly while examining her manicure, the dramatic display only adding insult to injury.

Clay was absolutely blown away by not only her boldness, but also her initiative and seeming success - but he wasn't going to let up easily for making him look like a weak leader.

"And what happens when the Nords and Mayans hear about how you were up there askin questions, huh?" Jax pressed, a little too cockily for Sydney's liking.

"A perky blonde with big tits looking for a connection to a gang?" She scoffed dramatically. Chibs and Happy snickered at the deadpan in her voice - she didn't even need to finish, everyone knew that Jax was grasping at straws.

Sydney cocked her eyebrows and shrugged, satisfied that her explanation had appeased her President as she slid off of the table and into her chair. But the moment of pride was short lived when Clay got up and walked around to her chair when she stopped and stared down at her. She stood to face him - not breaking her stare or expression.

Tig stiffened - clenching his fists in anticipation as his nails dug into his palms when Clay reached out and put his hand on her shoulder.

"You understand that if this is right, this is a huge deal." Sydney didn't flinch while everyone shifted in their seats, not knowing how to handle however the unprecedented scene would unfold. "And if this is wrong, we are going to have some big problems." He sneered in a low voice as his face scrunched into a menacing scowl - his grip getting significantlytighter.

Tig pushed his chair back and Happy stood up when they saw Clay's knuckles going white around her tanned skin, ready to defend her against the much larger man if needed.

Sydney was absolutely terrified as she felt her muscles tensing under his grip, but she refused to entertain it as she tilted her head to the side. "Promise?" She cooed sweetly.

The sound of a pin dropping in the room could've been heard at that moment. Clay's expression softened as he chuckled at her fearlessness, looking back at Jax who was really to blame - not Sydney.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Piney leaned over and whispered into Bobby's ear.

"The list is too long, my friend." He replied in awe.

"Out." Clay finally released her, everyone standing to clear shortly after.

Sydney stormed out of the room. She had known that this meeting wasn't going to be easy, but she hadn't expected the doubt that she received after she'd proven herself - having gone above and beyond every single patched member at that fucking table. She grew even more frustrated on her stalk to her car as she realized that her outing was a result of Jax bringing his personal problems to the club - which of course he received no scolding for.

"That wasn't cool, man." Half-Sack said quietly from his outcast seat at the back of the room. Jax whipped his head around, glaring at the prospect who dared to open his mouth in the chapel - and for a critique, nonetheless.

"This shit is on you." Clay turned to Jax with a pointed finger while Tig sat with his eyes closed, still trying to calm himself.

"For fuck's sake..." Jax shook his head, knowing that his brothers were right - that Half-Sack wouldn't have compromised his position in the club for nothing.

"She was just doing what we were all told - what none of us had the balls to do." Opie stated. "Took that load of bullshit you just gave her much better than any of us would've."

The truth to Opies statement had Clay quickly realizing that being a stupid leader was much worse than being weak one. "God dammit! Sack, get her back in here!" He bellowed, sending Half-Sack jumping to his feet and running out after her.

Sydney heard light jogging behind her, turning around to find Half-Sack. "Clay wants you back in there." She swallowed her anger - not wanting to lash out at the gentle man who had been the least deserving.

"Hmm." She hummed, unamused. "Well, it seems that I've already made a reputation of 'recklessly going off on my own'." She retorted dramatically before turning back away.

"What happened wasn't right... I told them that."

Sydney felt her stomach drop. "Kip..." She turned around in horror. "They could kick you out for that!" She pushed him in the chest for being so stupid; sticking his neck out to defend her when he was already in such a vulnerable position. "They could exile you!" She exclaimed to the poor kid who just looked to the ground awkwardly, unsure of what to say before she yanked him into a hug. "Don't ever do that again." She said firmly as she pulled away.

"Sydn-" She put her hand in the air, cutting him off.

"Not now." She continued her stride - she wasn't about to let her emotions get the better of her on the premises.

Clay raised his eyebrows when Half-Sack returned empty handed, shaking his head. "Said that she has to 'maintain her reputation of recklessly going off on her own'." He quoted her exactly - hoping that it would save him from any kind of repercussions.

Clay and a couple of other guys laughed while Tig just put his face in his palms - pinching his nose and inhaling sharply.

"Of course she did..." Clay looked to Happy for guidance where the bald man shook his head, signifying that she likely wouldn't listen to him. He looked to Tig next, figuring that the club's enforcer was the best shot at getting her back. "Tigger, this is you." He nodded toward the door.

"This is why I beat hookers." Tig exhaled as he pushed himself up from his chair before running out the door - catching up to Sydney just as she was about to start her car.

"Out." He ordered firmly as he opened her door and pointed to the clubhouse.

Sydney crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him intensely, refusing to crack under his command - no matter how badly she wanted to.

Tig smirked as her dynamics poked through; one second, she was a loose cannon - her attitude pissing him off but turning him on all at once - the next, she was willingly submissive and getting off from it. The reaper and the old lady, all wrapped in one perfect package.

"Fine." He shrugged.

Before Sydney knew it, she was being lifted out of her seat by her arms. "Tig!" She whined in protest - her feet barely even hitting the ground before she was being thrown over his shoulder.

"Keep screamin my name, baby." He had a huge grin on his face as he kicked her car door shut and carried her back to the chapel.

Sydney refused to let him hear her laugh as she tried to contain herself. Luckily, her giggles were concealed by the light chuckling that arose when they entered the chapel with her still slung over his shoulder. He stood at the table by her seat, not showing any signs that he had the intention of putting her down.

"Okay, I'm here. You can put me down now." She told him impatiently where he only adjusted his grip in response.

Before anyone could start talking, she managed to raise her leg enough to kick a heel off over his shoulder - catching it with one hand and smacking him in the back of the knee with it. When his knees buckled, she took the opportunity to swing her legs down as hard as she could - gravity pulling her to the ground. The men roared with laughter while she smiled and flipped her hair tauntingly - rubbing Tig's shoulder in consolation as he tried to hide his bashful smirk.

"That was our bad, sweetheart. You did good - better than my surveillance team." Clay shot Juice a pointed glance. "You were just trying to do your part - what you're good at - for the good of this club."

"You bring me back here to tell me shit I already know?" She crossed her arms in front of her as she raised a brow.

"Look, Sydney - I'm sorry. I'm just fucked up with this shit with Abel... You did what we told you to do and you did a damn good job." Jax interjected.

"Yeah. Already know that too." She snapped, moving her hands to her hips. "I also know that when you're a member, the club comes first. When you're at this table, your emotions get tabled. If I can understand that, I damn well expect the VP of the mother chapter to as well." Jax bit his tongue and nodded - he knew she was right, but getting called out by a woman in front of his club was not on his list of things that he wanted to do today.

Sydney's gaze shifted to Clay who sucked in a deep breath - knowing that the verbal gunfire was about to rain bullets through him. "And you, boss." She sneered. "Did you not tell us to 'keep our ears open on the street for word about where the rest of our guns are.'?" She spat his own words at him. He closed his eyes and inhaled, it was his turn to bite his tongue now.

"Tell me boys." She addressed them both this time. "If it was Juice or Chibs that went out to gather intel, would they have gotten the same slap on the wrist? Or is that my special treatment?" Her voice was firm but calm as they sat motionless, struggling to find the words but they couldn't - they knew they were being completely biased.

"That's what I thought." She scoffed. "I followed orders from my superiors. If that's not the way that shit works around here, I'd suggest that somebody let me know."

Clay nodded slowly. "Won't happen again."

"Good." Sydney cocked her head. "Learning some respect might do you boys some good. Now, do I have permission to go home?"

Clay laughed and nodded as the angry blonde slipped her shoe back on, flipped her hair, and waltzed out. "That gash makes us look like goddamn boy scouts." He groaned with a hand over his face once she was out of earshot.

"Did we really just let a little girl show us the fuck up like that?" Jax asked in amusement.

"That's the shite you missed at her first church." Chibs laughed, hitting a speechless Tig in the shoulder.

"May god be with you on the day that you make that woman angry." Bobby joked to Tig.

"Juice. Call the gangster hotline, set a meet." The guys all snickered as Clay hit the gavel.

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Sydney finally arrived home where she stomped directly to the shower where she scrubbed off her makeup and her frustration over the next half an hour - pulling on some black pyjama shorts and a grey tank top when she got out before taking a deep breath and heading downstairs where she poured herself a glass of wine and took it out to the back patio.

The warm rays of the early summer sun on her skin washed away the remainder of her bad mood as she relaxed, subscribing to the gentle humming of the sprinkler when her ears perked up at the familiar sound of a Harley pulling onto her street and eventually into her driveway. Her senses started to tingle - knowing that it was Tig from the deliciously breathy roar of his custom exhaust. She made no effort to move, deciding that after the events of the day, she would let him come find her.

Sure enough, after a few minutes he emerged from the open patio door. "Hey, doll." He greeted her softly.

"Come to haul me back? You could strap me over your bike this time." She mused as he sat down in the chair next to her - half expecting that he'd come to chastise her for her behaviour.

"Don't tempt me." He mock-scolded with a laugh.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, looking out over the glistening grass in her backyard which faced the rolling California hills. "Pretty good view you have." He nodded.

"It would be better if I could see the sunset." She chuckled softly before a few more minutes of silence.

"You okay? After today?" He finally asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She responded somewhat distantly, flicking her necklace between her fingers.

Tig nodded, having enough understanding to know that talking about vulnerability wasn't her strong suit.

"I find it hard to believe that the Sergeant at Arms is making house calls to damsels in distress." She mused.

"Nah, wanted to talk to you about somethin..." He laughed, watching her stiffen nervously. "The fair is comin tomorrow... Gemma wants to shut down for the day and have us all there - you know, look good for the town and shit."

Sydney's face lit up at his relieving proposal. She loved everything about the county fair; the atmosphere, the food, the games, the dancing, the music.

"Yeah, I figured you'd be excited about it." He chuckled. "I'll pick you up at 2:30 P.M."

"You came all the way here to tell me that?" Her voice was full of a light sincerity that hit him directly in the heart.

"Yeah... I did." He said through his smile. "Gotta get back - set this shit up with Laroy." He told her as he got up and leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek before disappearing around the corner.

A wave of emotion hit Sydney as her chest bubbled - wondering what the fuck this man was doing to her. She yearned for him every second of the day - even when she had him, her craving was never satisfied. Her body psychically ached for more.

She sprang to her feet and ran after him. "Tiggy, wait!" Her bare feet slapped against the stone walkway as she caught up, half-way down the side of her house.

Tig turned around as she ran up, his heart skipping a beat when she said his name so innocently before jumping into his arms and pressing her lips to his.

Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck as he spun her around, supporting her weight with his hands under her thighs as she kissed him passionately - letting the butterflies fly free from her stomach as she poured all of her emotion into the embrace. "Now I'm okay." She said quietly against his lips before kissing him again.

Tig smiled against her kiss, leaning up against the side of her house where things quickly began to heat up. She was pushing her tongue into his mouth as she moved a hand to his face, caressing his jaw while his hands moved to her ass, sliding under the loose shorts that she wore.

"Mm, why you gotta do this to me babygirl." He hummed when she pulled away for air, his pants tightening and his balls aching as he begrudgingly lowered her back to the ground.

"Good luck." She smiled devilishly, cocking an eyebrow with a mischievous glint in her eye as she slowly retreated, disappearing behind the gate as quickly as she'd come running through it.

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Songs for this chapter

Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve

Give Em Hell - Everybody Loves an Outlaw