Chapter 48

Angels and Outlaws

Part 12 of 16

We all made choices in life. We all decided what some of our fate would be. We all went down the path we felt was best. We all came to the conclusion of how our lives should turn out. When I started this journey I had no fucking idea just how hard it would get. I had to let my children go and let them go because of choices I had made.

Ellie knew something was wrong, she had questioned me many times this morning. But, I played it out just like it was suppose to go down; everything was sunshine, kittens and rainbows. Obviously I hadn't fooled her yet maybe just soothed the situation enough to get them gone before it blew up in my face.

Although, my sons were old enough this time, they weren't exactly fooled by going on a vacation either. Abel was at the wall of glass while he watched the airplanes takeoff and land. He had said nothing but a mother always knew when something was wrong with their children.

You couldn't simply control everything no matter how hard you tried. That much I was convinced of from the years I watched Gemma try. Yet, you could help the situation along. So, I joined my son. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I know you are still mad at your father. You should forgive him."

"Why should I?"

"Until you do, you will never get past this. Do it for yourself, not him. Once you have everything else will fall in place." What I said hadn't changed my son's mind. Although, down the road I hoped it would bridge the gap between them. I had to make certain just in case the worst happened and I went to prison or was gone from this earth. "Take care of your brothers and sisters while you are gone." I kissed him on the cheek and went to give the others their send off.

"Mom."

"Yes, baby."

"Do you still miss Kyle and wish he was here?"

"Everyday."

Kenny listened to most of our conversation and never said a word. He was my quiet child. Then again so was Opie when he was about that age. As I looked at them stand side by side, they could have been Jax and Opie all those years ago. It took me a minute to gather myself. Sometimes you were completely blind to what was right in front of you.

"Take care of your brothers and sisters."

"I will, Tara." I knew I could count on Kenny to keep his word too. He even made the first move to hug me goodbye. This went against his norm. There weren't many emotions he showed freely. Just another trait of his father.

When I turned around Ellie had joined us. She was the one I had the most difficulty actually doing this to. We had faced danger and leaned on each other over the years. "Take care of your brothers and sister." Only it didn't reach her this time. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then you have to trust I know what's best for you guys." Ellie caved, I could see it in her eyes. She hugged me back with the same love she always had.

My youngest babies were playing a game together, Thomas and Sissy only grew closer to each other after the surgery. He wasn't as quick to get annoyed by her and she wasn't as whinny when she didn't get her way with him. Life and love worked in mysterious ways.

"I need you guys to be good and listen to Kyle's aunt. Make sure you take your medicine and don't over do it. Can you do that for me?" Sure they agreed while I was setting here with them. When they both hugged me tightly at the same time, I actually wanted to believed them. They gathered up their things to join the others.

"Thomas, you watch over your little sister."

"I will. Bye, Dad." He hugged Jax as tightly as he had me before he went to the others.

"Bye, son." It was always the little things which meant so much. Thomas didn't just call him dad but truly felt he was his father for the first time in his life he actually felt he had a father. It didn't make just Jax tear up either. .

"I'm going to wait outside for you."

"Okay." I didn't make it a big deal about Thomas and neither did Jax. You could tell he needed to get away from everyone.

"Wait." Sissy's little legs ran to Jax. She extended her bear up as high as she could to him. "Keep Jax bear so you don't get lonely while I'm gone."

"Thanks, kid. Be good." With the bear, which had a black leather jacket on in hand, Jax went to get some air. On one of the days he watched them. They got to do fun stuff, Alex went to Build a Bear and Thomas went to Lego Land.

Children held no grudges. They could be the maddest they ever been at you. Then by morning they forgot all about it and moved on with life. You never had to beg for forgiveness from them, just love them with all your might. It made everything almost perfect in their little lives.

What wasn't perfect however, was the standing around while we waited for her flight to arrive. As the doors opened I recognized her kind face as she had aged. The only difference I noticed with her, she moved a little slower. The kids remembered her too except for Thomas. He was only a baby back then.

"You look like your father." Kyle's aunt hadn't ever seen his daughter until now. Sissy smiled back but had nothing to say. Which was a switch for her.

There wasn't much time for reminiscing. I made certain once she landed, they took off on another flight. They got as far away from this damn place as possible.

"Everything you need is in the file folder; tickets, hotel reservations, cash, a copy of their birth certificates and blood types."

"Blood types?"

"Just in case." There was a method to my madness. I just didn't have time to explain it nor would I anyway to anyone.

"I love you guys." From a far I watched them board the plane. I stayed until they were out of sight. Yet they were never out of my mind or heart.

The doors slide opened for me to exist automatically. With the bright sun, I pulled out my shades and put them on. It was now time to set it all in motion. It was now time for me to step up and handle my shit. It was now time to put all this finally to rest.

A laugh came out of me from nowhere. Jax had tied that damn bear to his bike seat. I snapped a photo of him to send to Sissy later. "I'll see you at home."

He didn't want me or Nicole to be alone until we got through this shit. I was grateful for it if I was on the honest side. Even more so my children would be safe from harm and not have to witness any of this. They had enough bad stuff over their life times.

Nicole had a rougher experience to get away from David after they dropped off the kids. She called me and had a one sided conversation of all the reason she had to come over to my house. But before she came there was something which needed to be done.

"This is for you."

"What is it?"

"Everything I have. I signed it over to you and Nicole. So you have money to raise the kids."

"Nothing is gonna happen to you." Jax tossed the envelope back to me again. He refused to even open it.

"You don't know that, Jax. Please, keep it." He wouldn't open it yet he didn't toss it back to me. So it was start anyway.

While we waited for her, I made three glasses of ice tea. Today was sweltering already, then again, it could have been nerves as I sweated bullets. It took me from a familiar realm to a place of danger and chaos. None of this was normal or easy for me either.

Yet, none of this seemed to faze Jax at all. He acted as though this was just a typical day with another normal situation. It made me worry for him. If this sent him backwards to the man he used to be. It was one more thing which would be my fault.

When Nicole came through the door, I jumped when I heard it shut. She announced herself but still I was on edge of everything around me. "Are you okay?" I nodded to Jax and he let it go.

In exchange for his help we had to agree to one simple rule. He was in charge and we done exactly what he asked. First, he wanted every single minor and major detail of the heist. I told him my version of the story. Then Nicole told hers. Both were the same except for a couple of details.

"Tell me again."

"Jax, I've told you twenty times how we robbed the grocery store step by step."

"If there is a witness you've not told me something. It's always in the smallest details. Nobody thinks they will get caught until they do. So, tell me again." Jax went through three cigarettes while I went back through everything we done several more times.

"Where did you park the car? Did you cover the license plate up or take it off?"

"We went out the back door through the alley way. I parked three blocks over and I took off the license plate until we made it a few miles down the road before I put it back on."

Once he was satisfied there wouldn't be any surprises coming. The three of us loaded up to meet Rio at the park. It was a huge surprise for Rio to have Jax with us.

"This ain't part of our deal."

"It is now." Reluctantly Rio decided it was in his best interest along with ours for us to proceed forward. I made it perfectly clear to him it would only happen if Jax was involved from here forward.

"They are moving the witness to this address tomorrow night. He is scheduled to testify Friday. That shit can't happen. I expect you to handle this and cleanup your mess."

It gave us two days to come up the plan. Of how and when to handle it. Just do what we knew had to get done. Jax insisted on seeing how well we could handle a weapon. The only secluded area I could think of was around the old abandoned factory we delivered the funny money at.

Jax was good with it. Besides he wanted as much Intel on Rio as he could get. We couldn't exactly just pull up and ask them to give us a tour of their illegal operations. Which brought up another point Jax probably should become aware of. "By the way. You said you didn't want any surprises. We drove boxes of counterfeit money across the Canadian boarder for Rio."

"Did you say counterfeit money?"

"Sort of, Jax. What we stole from the store was fake money too." Nicole went on to fill him in while I drove. I guessed in some ways, going over things made you think about the shit we forgot to tell him.

"Jesus Christ. Are you sure there is nothing else the two of you need to tell me?" We both shook our heads no to his question. We also looked straight ahead because he seemed a little agitated we left that out of the details earlier.

Although when we pulled up, no one greeted us this time. There were no vehicles nearby either. When Jax got out and headed to the building. I rolled the window down. "Where are you going?"

"Inside."

Hell, he was already through the door before we got our seat belts off. She and I went too. Only to find nothing, absolutely nothing inside. Not a scrap of paper or a table even. "He's a rolling factory."

"He's a what?" Nicole asked Jax what I wanted to find out as well.

"Rio stays on the move. Today here, tomorrow somewhere else and so on. There is less chance they can pin him down for a sting if you never know where he will be."

"Is it like flipping your game? Rio told Nicole and I he done it." There was a lot I could learn from Jax. He possessed useful and fucking scary stuff. It was what I remembered the most from the meeting with Rio without much meaning to it.

"It means he changes what he does often; a gang banger counterfeiter, then a pimp the next day. Which means he's got some loyal fuckers under him. Or someone high up is looking out for him." Inside Jax's head he contained knowledge of something the rest of us knew little about. If he used the same principal in the real world nothing could hold him back.

But we had a purpose of coming here and needed to get to it before dark. Jax put us through the paces with weapons. "The gun is just a tool for you to use. You are the weapon." He changed our thought process on them or at least mine. The knowledge he contained of them was dangerous and insightful.

Nicole was better at handling them and shooting them as well. Jax found it easier to coach her than me.

"Don't stop. Reload on the go, Nicole." Every time she came to the same part, it messed her up. She moved and fired well at the same time. She couldn't reload without stopping to get it done. "Let me show you again."

With ease Jax kept walking forward. Dropped the empty clip on the ground and had the loaded new one ready to fire. He never missed a step, never hesitated once and never had to think it through what to do next. It came to him as a second nature. "You only got seconds. You live or die in those seconds. Do it again." Nicole nodded as she readied herself to try it.

"Come here, Tara." Jax motioned for me to watch him and try it myself. One more time I failed the test he gave me. "You gotta stay focused. Don't hesitate when you pull the trigger. Walk up and blow them away, don't think about it."

"I'm not like you, I don't have the experience. I can't just shoot someone without a reason." Protecting myself was one thing. The thought of killing a person, taking a human life, still made me ill.

"You're a criminal now just like me. You got no friends. You can't trust anyone and you got nobody to rely on but yourself. Out here, you do exactly what I say. If you do it, you might not go to prison or die. Get your head straight."

Jax put my life in perspective for me. He and I were on the same level, the same path and on the same highway to hell. We were just plain ass criminals with nowhere to run to or hide at.

Those words from him schooled me a bit. Until now I had only been a mom who wanted to care for her children the best way I could. A doctor who wanted to heal the world. An old lady once upon a time that loved her man more than he had loved me. Really I hadn't done to much wrong to not come back from it yet. Now, I could have taught Gemma Teller a thing or two. She was the woman I hated and loved. The one I couldn't wait to become and the one I couldn't stand to be.

"Show me again, Jax." As he approached me I had to set the record straight. "You're right. Maybe, we're not that different."

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Maybe, I'm not that different.

Jax Teller

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We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare

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Let us not love in words and talk. But in actions and truth .

John 3:18

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From the moment I walked into the house, I felt alone. It was so damn quiet I could hear each gush of wind and every car which passed by. The silence was deafening because my babies were nowhere to be found. They were better off away from me and I knew I caused it. It was a mother's job to keep them safe and to recognize your faults when it came to them. Then I recognized another one, perhaps, this was the same way Jax felt after we left.

Humans suffered daily in silence. My suffering was self made just like Jax's had been. In the end, it was about the memories you held on to and those which plagued you. It was the sources of those and the magnitude of effects on lives around you. Then came those ole dreaded consequences we suffered from it.

As much as I tried to justify it all in my head, I really couldn't. Other than my son would live on because of it. When I opened the door to Thomas' room, I instantly smiled. My little soccer player would be back on the field again once more on a better day. A picture of them all at the beach set on his nightstand. It was what I held on to.

"Are you okay?" Jax got in the house and I didn't even notice. I would make a hell of criminal with no sense of my surrounds most of the time. "You didn't answer your phone so I got worried." He tried to justify letting himself in, but, he didn't need to.

"Do you want to eat dinner with me?" He seemed stunned I asked him. It made me smile too. A some point he and I had to get right with each other if we were going to make this work. Maybe not so comfortable where we considered the other a best friend or anything. Just civil and could stand to be around the other.

"Uh...sure."

"Lets go." Again, he wasn't certain how to respond. He thought we would eat in the house. "Anywhere but here."

It was funny because all the years Jax and I were a couple, we never once went out to eat in public with each other. Even as teenagers we hadn't. The more I thought back we didn't go out in public at all unless you counted riding around on his bike. Or a club event.

It was true with age came wisdom, mostly you changed with the times. What bothered you during your youth, just didn't matter anymore. Or maybe you were just too fucking tired to care about it. Either way, what once drove me crazy, was what calmed me on certain occasions.

When you thought life made no sense at all and all was lost. It started to come together again. A wise person once said to me; A fool with a heart and no sense is just as happy as a fool with sense and no heart. Today, I sure could of used more of his wisdom.

"Where do you want to eat at?"

"Where ever you want to."

Jax had gained his weight back since he'd been with us. Along with some of his muscle definition. He looked better and a lot healthier. He reminded me of Abel, they both had the same appetite. If I ate the way they had been, I would have packed on the pounds. Point taken, Jax ordered two burgers to my one.

He also had a problem when I went to pay for it. Which, he wouldn't allow. It was another reminder too. When we were together he had a problem because I made more money than him. To me, it meant nothing but to him, it meant everything.

"Thanks, Jax."

"You're welcome. It's kinda nice to have someone to eat with."

His comment made me smile which I hadn't much as of lately. It was a rather unique experience for me as well. I frequented McDonalds and the pizza place because they had a play area for kids. Other than that, I didn't get to many set down adult meals. Actually, this was somewhere I'd never went to before.

The theme was the sixties with hoop skirts, old time music on the jukebox and burgers along with milkshakes. "Do you want some ice cream?" Jax was ready for desert.

It took me to another time, what seemed like a lifetime ago. "No thanks." You always heard about how the small things were what you remembered the most, those were the things which haunted me the most. It was a reflex, unconsciously I spun the ring on my finger. Until Jax got my attention.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." I clasped my hands together and placed them on the table in front of me.

"You know, we gotta trust each other. When were out there, we gotta trust each other with our lives." I nodded because I understood the meaning of his statement. The truth was, I trusted him with my life. I knew for certain he would die to defend me or save me. When it came to matters of the heart, not so much.

After he finished his ice cream we headed home. There was a mission we had once the sun went down. To watch the target, get familiar with the surroundings and find the best way to take him down. Nicole was on the porch when we got back.

"I left David a note. If he asks, I was with you." She had a harder time because she had someone at home. The easier time for her was, she had someone at home who loved her and was there for her.

"We need a car." I looked over at Jax, we were in a car. "A car not registered to one of us. There's cameras everywhere."

"Pull over, girlfriend." We stopped at a drugstore. Nicole got out and disappeared for a few minutes. A car barreled through the parking lot with it's headlights flashing.

"I think she got a car."

We followed her to outskirts of town. I parked mine and the two of us got in the stolen vehicle with her. The plan was simple. We went to the area they kept the witness. We only watched and not to engage them.

"Don't park near any entrances or houses. Don't use your cellphones either." Jax gave us a run down a list of don't s for criminals.

While we watched a cop came outside to smoke. "Stay here don't get out of the car. If you see cops come, drive away." The instructions he gave us was very simple. We weren't sure what the hell he was doing but we done as he asked us.

Nicole left the car running so if we needed a quick get away. Jax had been gone a long time and I was getting nerves. "Do you think we should go look for him?"

"Fuck." When Nicole said it I looked around immediately to see what she was talking about. She took her cell out of her pocket. David was calling her. She hit the ignore button and turn it off then put it back.

"Let's get outta here." Jax made us both jump when he opened the car door. Then climbed inside.

"Um..."

"What?" He was curious what she meant. But I wasn't when I seen Nicole's playlist flash across the radio.

"I think we have a problem."

"Jesus Christ, I told you not to use your cellphone."

"Technically, I didn't. I'll pull over and stop. Then start the car up again to reset it." Of course it didn't work like she thought it would.

"You can't reset the car. You gotta reset the computer on the car."

"Can you do it, Jax?"

"Fuck no I can't. We gotta get rid of the car. All your info and contacts are synced to the car now."

"Well, we can always burn it. I saw it in a movie once."

Jax didn't seem to appreciate her suggestion as he abruptly existed the car. "How the fuck did I get myself in this bullshit." We couldn't hear what else he was saying because he slammed the door shut as he roamed around outside.

"Do you think he's done, girlfriend?"

So, I rolled down the window. "Fuck shit to hell. Blow up a fucking car, why not send a red flag to the fucking cops. Fucking beg them to arrest us." So, I rolled it back up.

"I don't think so."

We both remained very quiet when Jax got back in the car. "Is there a lake near here?" We nodded to his question in unison but never uttered another word.

Actually, I was happy I drove when she dropped me off at the car. I followed behind them until we arrived at the lake. It was a beautiful setting but not such a beautiful thing which had to be done still.

Jax started up the stolen car. Then put a large heavy rock on the accelerator. We were in place behind it to push as soon as he put in drive. The three of us pushed it together off the side of the cliff. It made a big splash down until began to sink in the water.

"Jax, I'm sorry..."

"Nope." He lit up a smoke and obviously didn't wish to discuss it any farther with Nicole.

"Seriously, I didn't..." I turned my head slightly so they couldn't see me hide my laugh. Nicole wasn't going to let it go. Bless her.

"Not happening." Once more he objected. As he went to the edge to see it sink as we followed after him.

A light came on through the bubbling water then we heard a ringing noise. "Shit, it's David." She tried to answer her phone only it went through the car speaker.

"Where the hell are you? I've been calling you for hours." At this point I was happy I decided to turn my phone off because I was certain he tried it too. Which meant I didn't have to purposely lie to him tonight.

"I'm on my way. We had a little...car trouble." She put her hands around her mouth to use it as a megaphone to yell down to the car off the cliff. "Do you think he heard me?"

Once the car sank out of sight we hauled ass home. I'd say David didn't hear her because he was on my front porch not looking happy at all. Especially when he seen Jax get out of the car.

"Where the hell were you?"

"We went to...get something to eat."

"It's five o'clock in the morning. There is nothing open." Nicole had the deer in the headlight look on her face. So I intervened.

"It's my fault. We had car trouble and my cellphone died."

He wasn't buying what I tried to sell him. They were loudly talking about it as they crossed my yard. When I turned on my cell and checked the time, he was right. It was almost time to get up for work.

"Want some coffee?"

"Sure."

We consumed two pots by the time I had to get in the shower and get going. I felt bad for Jax. I could at least go in my office, shut the door and take a nap if I had to. He wouldn't get the luxury.

"I made you a lunch." I put something quickly together for me and him. He didn't take it when I offered. I noticed he took a couple of steps back from me. "What?"

"Thanks." He finally took the bag from me. Then placed a kiss on my cheek. Now, I had to take a step back. "I'll follow you to work and I'll be there when's time to leave."

"Okay."

Jax waved as I went inside the office and took off for his job. The first thing I done was check the scheduled appointments. It was going to be a long day. But let me tell you, I perked right up when they said an agent was here to speak with me. The witness hadn't given his deposition yet so I knew he wasn't here to arrest, not now anyway.

"What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to stop by to see if you remembered anything since we talked last."

"No."

This was another obstacle in front of my path to freedom. If the agent already knew about the witness, he was just baiting me. Possibly to taunt me until I cracked. Only this wasn't the path I intended to take, I had to make my way back to my children. So, I kept my answers extremely brief and to the point, I knew nothing to assist him.

After work I compared notes with Nicole and Jax. He had payed them a friendly little visit as well. The agent had ran Jax and tried to use his past against him to get to me. The past always came around to bite you in the ass, as mine had numerous times.

"End this shit."

"How, Jax?"

"Play the doctor card. Tell him you are a good girl who went for a bad boy, it was a mistake. Sell it to the agent. Or he's not going away anytime soon."

"This criminal shit is tiring." It was easier said than done. I had to speak with the agent, convince him of a lie I made up, watch the witness to get down a routine, not get myself incriminated in the mean while, not get killed by gang boss and at some point sneaking in some damn sleep.

"Yeah, it is." Jax wore the Teller smile on his face. How the hell he had pulled it off for years, I had no clue.

On the way to the agents office, I almost talked myself out of it. Then Ellie influenced my decision. I got a text from her with Thomas, Holly and Sissy in Mickey Mouse Ears. This would have to be my major performance, one the agent found believable.

Before he met with me. I was jittery, I crossed my legs and then crossed them. Checked my phone several times. I drank two cups of coffee and really had to pee now.

"I'm surprised to see you. What can I do for you?"

"I lied to you before. I am here to tell you truth. Is there some place we can talk?"

"Of course." The agent took me to his office. Then took out my file, which I couldn't mistake because it had my name on it. "Go ahead." He was ready to write down everything I had to say. I was ready to bolt out the door but knew I couldn't because my babies were counting on me.

"I lied to you. I had an affair with him and I'm ashamed, I really didn't want anyone to find out about it."

"Oh." He acted surprised about my omission. Hell, I was surprised the words came out of mouth too. "Well, I wouldn't have guessed you for a guy like him, doctor." I done my best girl scout innocent smile. Now that was over I headed towards the door. "How did you meet him? Where did you meet? Does he remind you of your ex husband? What does he drive?"

"I met him at bar, it served food too. It was a bad day for me. He drove a black Cadillac I believe. I know it was black and expensive."

The agent dropped his head down over the paper and wrote for what seemed like forever. "I'll be in touch."

He wasn't going to let it end here. The lie wasn't good enough for him to let this go, he made it very apparent. From the corner of my eye, I seen what I had missed before. A picture of his daughter set proudly on his desk, one of my patients no less. Her mother had been concerned of how their divorce had effected the little girl. Even more so, how it effected their daughter, mom's boyfriend moved in as soon as the agent moved out. Now, I understood all to well why the agent had thrown himself into his work. Why it was so important to him to follow every lead and right the wrongs.

"My life has been a series of mistakes. You mentioned my ex husband, Jax Teller. I ran way from that kind of life many years ago. Then I let him move in with me and my children because he had no place to go. Yet, I never forgot the hurt of his betrayals. You don't know what it does to you when your spouse cheats on you. You question your own worth and sexuality because of it. You always are guarded because you don't want to ever feel the pain again. When I met the guy, I don't even know his name and I don't want to. I had a moment of weakness. He made me feel attractive and sexy like I'd never felt before. I invited him back to the house. I drove my car and he drove his. When we went inside, we drank and drank some more. He took me in muscular arms and kissed me. I kissed him back without hesitation or any restrictions. Before I knew it he had me bent over my kitchen table while he pulled my panties down. The same table where my children had just ate breakfast. It was chocolate chip pancakes if you want to write it down. I let him take me as he wanted, numerous times. Our bodies drenched in sweat and syrup. Once we were done, he put his pants back on and left. I went to shower and wash off my shame from it. He has approached me several times to do it again. I'm not interested in him nor do I want to do it again. I am a doctor in this community and I am held to a certain stature. Of course, I don't want anyone to find out about it. Especially my children or ex husband. Do you have any other questions for me?"

"No I...I don't." Since he was done with the questioning and had nothing else wrote on my file. It was a good time for me to exist this place. "Mrs. Brandon." I was so close to walking out of here a free woman. Then he called my name. I gathered my emotion before I turned around to face him. "You should be careful who you invite in your home and in your life. Not everyone are as they appear to be. He is a very dangerous man, if it should get out of hand with him, call me." With a final nod to him and a brief smile, I found my way out of there.

It was one thing off a very long list I had actually accomplished. Then came the next by the time I made it home. We only had until tomorrow to plan the witnesses demise. He planned to give his full deposition then, I was sure get arrested along with Nicole.

Only this time there were no stolen vehicles involved. Jax planned to ride his bike there. We were to follow behind him in my car. This was when we learned something useful. The guy left the safe house to meet with someone. They put him in an unmarked car to take him to his destination. They made certain he was the unrecognizable witness dressed in a hoodie, sunglasses and a hat to hide who he was.

When the car stopped, we parked down the street to hang back. Jax didn't as he parked pretty close to them. He acted as though he belonged there. He took off his helmet and went in the restaurant across the street from them.

Soon another car entered the scene. A lady in a suit came out of it first as she opened the back door, it broke my heart. It was a little boy about Alex's age. You could tell it was his son even from a distance. The little one literally ran into his arms.

"Shit. He has a child."

"Girlfriend, we have seven children between us."

Nicole countered what I said. However, it still didn't change my feelings on the subject. We would take a little boy's father away from him. No matter if you were a good person or bad. Children were our weakness. You done things for them you swore you would never even think of doing. We contemplated evil doings in their well being. You robbed a grocery store to save their life.

The entire father and son reunion lasted maybe ten minuets. They got back in their cars and drove away. We done the same as we followed Jax back to the house. Now was the time to make those decision of how we handled it tomorrow.

"They are gonna meet there again, at ten in the morning. It's the only time we will get. We only get one shot at this." Jax watched and listened while they met earlier. "They are taking him to the court house from there. They will move him to another location afterwards. If we don't take him out then, he will testify against you."

"We do it before his son arrives. He shouldn't see it." It was my only requirement. The boy was innocent and shouldn't be held accountable for his father's sins. No more than my children should have been for mine and Jax's.

"Agreed."

Jax plotted it all out. Down to each minor detail of how, who would pull the trigger and when the precise moment would take place. Nicole would be the get away driver, she knew the exact spot to park even.

"You shouldn't be the one, Jax. It should be me." You had to take responsibility for your actions. I was willing to take mine for what I had done.

"Once you pull the trigger, there is no coming back from it. I'll do it."

Jax had probably killed a lot of people and I was certain he meant well. Yet, I could have kept my mouth shut and allowed him to take the wrap for this kill. There was a certain honor among thieves. You must trust your peeps even when they proved you wrong in the past. There had to be some common trust between us for this all to work. So, I done the honorable thing or the most stupidest. The outcome hadn't been determined.

"I shot Collette. She came at me and I killed her. It was a her or me decision." Needless to say Jax's eyes were wide open now. Maybe mine were as well. He'd probably wouldn't wouldn't ever look at me the same now. After this was over, I'd probably see myself differently.

"I'll be here in the morning." Nicole left for home. David had already been on her ass and she didn't need farther issues with her husband.

"We should get some sleep." Jax laid his pistol on the coffee table. He made my couch his home for the night.

In the hall closet I kept extra bedding for when the kids had friends sleep over. I got him a blanket, sheet and pillow. As I spread the sheet over the cushions he helped tuck it in the couch.

"Why didn't you tell me about Collette?"

"Would you have really listened to me back then? You said you were trying to be honest with me, Jax. I'm doing the same with you."

"Goodnight, Tara."

You had to learn to not hold a grudge. You had to learn the only way to move forward was let go of the past. You had to learn to trust the same person who violated it before. In the process you learned who you truly were. It made you hold on to what was truly important to you.

The picture from Thomas' nightstand moved to set on mine. They were what was truly important to me. The picture reminded me of a simpler time. It was the last thing on my mind when I closed my eyes. It was also the first thing I seen when they popped open.

Fresh coffee aroma filled the air. I inhaled it deeply in my lungs as I followed the smell. Jax set at the table with a cup in his hand. "Good morning." He gave me a smile but didn't say anything back.

With a hot cup of it, I joined him at the table. There wasn't anything to talk about really between us. After I finished it, I went to get dressed to face what this day brought. In my head, I knew what had to be done. In my heart, I was broken because I knew what had to be done.

The three of us loaded up in the car. Then we borrowed another one. Us getting caught wasn't an option and we had to take every single precaution we could. Jax made certain we had no cellphones on us either.

"How can you eat at a time like this?" Nicole held on to her stomach as Jax continued to finish his big burrito.

"I'm going to hell anyway. What's one more reason. Want some?" He was willing to share with her. She made a face as she scooted back in her seat.

The car was on the mark, Nicole in the drivers seat as went to where we were suppose to stand. Then came the argument as we took our places. "I pull the trigger. If it comes down to it, you swear you had no idea it was going down. I kill the witness and the two guards with him." As soon as I opened my mouth to protest, Jax had more to say. "The kids need you, Tara. And you're right."

He took a turn out in left field somewhere in the conversation. "I'm right about what?"

"I probably wouldn't have listened to you back then. But I need you to listen to me now. You need to raise the kids and they need you as much. Please do as I asked and take care of our children."

There were times Jax made me speechless. It could have been he'd changed so much on his views in life. Or maybe it could have been I never once thought he and I would speak again much less be doing this kind of thing together. Perhaps, it was because time had ran out. It was handle it now or never as the same car from last night drove by us.

We entered the crosswalk on cue. Our hands were held together as a normal couple just out for a stroll on the streets. The car pulled up to exact same spot to park at. My hand were shaking as much as my body as went to carry out this act of violence. I kept repeating to myself this was for my children over and over. But it didn't help any.

Each step we took was a closer step to prison. The loud footsteps echoed in my head. The sweat had gathered at my sunglasses until they fogged up from the heat. We couldn't allow the witness to round the corner so his son would see his father fall to his death. This was it, I was ready for the unthinkable. I felt ill but I chocked it back.

Out of nowhere my back was pushed up against the wall. This wasn't part of the plan. Jax's lips were on mine. I already couldn't breathe well, now I was completely breathless. His arms came up around my face as the rested on the building to block my view. His sweaty body pressed into me. As he slowly released me from the kiss, his lips were so close to my ear I felt his warm breath as he spoke. "Don't move."

Hell my heart was about to beat out of my chest just waiting for Jax to make his move. As the guy was right in front of us. Jax once again gave me another kiss. It was softer and very gentle for him. By the time my head moved to see where the guy went, he was gone.

"What the hell, Jax? He got away."

"That guy is not a witness against you."

"How do you know for sure?"

"He has the same tatts as Rio. I couldn't see them last night, they are on his left forearm. There is no fucking way he would allow one of his guys to testify against you because he knows it would get him caught too. My guess, he is about to rat on Rio and this shit is a set up. You do his dirty work, then he pins this murder on you and he owns you."

Nicole was confused too. She didn't say a word when we went back to the car. Yet, she didn't have to because Jax ran through it again for her.

It took me sometime to process it. After I rationalized it out in my head, Jax was right. I buckled up my seat belt because it was going to become one hell of a bumpy ride from here. I surrender to the fact, Jax was in charge. I had to follow his lead no matter what happened from here forward.

"What do we need to do from here, Jax?"

"Take out Rio. It's the only way you'll ever be free from him."

"Alright, then we take out Rio together."

"I'm in too, girlfriend. We can't keep doing this forever."

It became unanimous what would happen next. A pact made between the three of us. We were all in and there was no turning back from here. Before I only thought I knew what the term mean old lady really meant, Gemma automatically came to mind. This was the breaking point I snapped and done whatever the fuck had to be done to protect my family.

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They'll patch him up. He'll do six months then be back on the streets to do this again.

Jax Teller

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I can't do this again.

Tara Knowles

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If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
if not this parting was well made.

William Shakespeare

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Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.

Mathew 20:5

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I hope you enjoyed reading me!

Seriously, if you haven't watched Good Girls. You are missing out. Rio and Beth are as hot as Jax and Tara with each other. Tara and Beth are both good girls in love with a bad boy.

The last three chapters will be posted together. It will be a long read.