Chapter One

Stockton State Prison

Jaycee

I hate Stockton. You would think with the amount of time I've had to come up here I'd be used to it by now. I guess that's the price we pay in order to be a family.

Why am I here? My cousin is behind these walls for a crime he didn't commit. Since he's the club's president and we're all a team, I have to come up here once a month with a status on TM and other club-related things. I know what you're thinking, how is it that a woman is this deep into an MC's business?

No, technically speaking I'm not a patched member of SAMCRO. It isn't allowed for women and that's a rule that won't ever be broken. Let's just say that I'm a decent gunner and hacker. Working closely with the guys gives me an unofficial title within the MC. I even have my own set of rules to follow. It's a mess.

Getting off of my bike,

I make sure I don't have anything in my pockets and that my two Baretta's are safely locked in my secret compartment. Call me crazy but I was not driving all the way up here by myself without them. Not with the enemies we have.

Heading inside, I go through the whole process of going through metal detectors and even a quick pat down. I then get my visitor's pass which I clip on the bottom of my shirt. As we walk to the designated visitation area. It's really just a bunch of tables with chairs on either side but it's efficient enough to be watched the entire time by the crooked guards.

There are a few people in here already but I pay them no mind. I'm here to see Jax after all. I only have to wait a few minutes when he's escorted in. They watch him like a hawk until he's seated across from me.

" Jesus Jax, what happened? " I ask noting the shiner under his left eye.

He just shurgs it off. " It's nothing I can't handle. How's TM? "

" Business is booming. " I say proudly. " We've been getting more work than we can handle as of late. "

He nods as he lights a cigarette. " And the drop offs? "

" Been running smoothly. No drama, no blood shed. " I promise. " You know how we do. Chibs has been handling things pretty well in you absence. "

He doesn't speak, but I know what's going through his head. " I know it's hard because of what happened, but I need you to look at the silver lining. Your boys are fine all things considering. Just keep that close to the surface when you're feeling lost. "

" You lose the one person that means the most to you and tell me how easy it is to find a silver lining. " He mutters.

Rolling my eyes I say, " I'm thirty three. I've never been married, I don't have anyone special, any more that is " I say narrowing my eyes. " And I don't have children. So yeah, I guess you're right. "

" I see you're still mad. " He says simply.

I steel myself at that remark. " Why would I be mad? You only took the best part of my life away. "

" It shouldn't have ever happened. Clay should have never bent that rule for you. " He says with the nerve to not even look me in the eyes.

Yeah, I was telling the truth when I said I have my own set of rules. The main one being? No fraternizing with patched member of SAMCRO. And that includes all of the sister charters as well. That's a story for another time though.

" Whatever, Jax. I'm not having this argument right now. " I tell him with a bitter tone.

He sighs and at least looks a bit guilty. Even if he'll never say it out loud. " Tell me about what my boys have been up to. "

Smiling, I begin telling him everything. At this point, those boys are the only reason I haven't gone ahead and run out into traffic.

Tully

" Teller! Visitation! "

Looking up I see my new friend being cuffed. What do we have here? Blondie has a vistor? Teller gets led out of the mess hall with a guard following.

Nodding to Norman, a guard I pay very well, I look in the direction of where they went. He nods back like a good little boy and comes up to cuff my wrists together. It's then that we head into the visitation area. I like to monitor visitation when it comes to people I do business with.

Imagine my surprise when I lay eyes on his little visitor. A raven-haired, pale-skinned, beauty. Don't get me wrong, I can definitely see how someone like Jax got a girl like her, but he did say his wife was brutally murdered. Was this his side piece?

I can't help but watch the entire half-hour interaction with interest. Of course from where I'm sitting in the corner, I can't hear what they're talking about. It won't take much pushing to get him to talk though.

When the guards come to take him back to the block, I give Norman, the " nod " again and look her way. This is the part of the job I truly enjoy. Getting shit done with just a nod and a few hundred bucks. It's a powerful feeling.

Norman remains emotionless while walking over to her. " Excuse me miss? "

She turns around and her ocean blue eyes hit me like a ton of bricks.

" Yes? " She asks looking a little confused as to why she's being stopped.

This brings a smile to my face.

" Tully would like a word. " He tells her motioning to me in the corner.

I'm nearly breathless when she finally looks directly at me.

Damn, she's beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. That's not just the ten-year bid speaking either. Norman escorts her over and she sits willingly across from me.

" Well, well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? "

Jaycee

The half an hour felt like five minutes. When Jax is led away I feel a heavy pit in my heart. No matter how angry I am at him, I could never wish what happened on anyone. Tara was a good woman and I know he had nothing to do with her murder.

As I'm heading back out I hear, " Excuse me miss? "

" Yes? " I say turning around to see a guard standing there.

He waves his arm over to a man sitting in the corner. " Tully would like a word. "

Tully? Jax just got done telling me about the AB shot caller. I had no idea he would be in the visitor's room this whole time. Did Jax know? The guard lightly grabs my arm and leads me over to the dark-haired man.

Taking the seat across from him I lazily give him a once over.

He's definitely the stereotypical skin head. Covered in tattoos and more specifically, Swastikas. One peaking out from under his shirt, and another blantly on his hand.

" Well, well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? " He says immediately giving me chills.

His stare pierces into me uncomfortably. " To what do I owe the " nod ", Mr. Tully? "

" Ronald. Ronald Tully. " He says holding his cuffed hands out for me to shake.

I put my hand in one of his and he brings it up to his lips before placing a kiss on my knuckles. " A woman as beautiful as you surely must have an equally beautiful name. "

I'm not really interested in this song and dance but I play along in favor of my own safety. " Jaycee. "

" Mmm, Jaycee. " He says like he's relishing the taste of my name on his tongue. " No last name, peaches? "

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes I say, " Teller ".

" Ooh. " He coos pleasantly surprised. " So you're kin to Jax? "

I nod. " My cousin. "

" Two beautiful polar opposites. " He says dreamily.

Oh, so he's one of those kind of prisoners. I believe the term is " gay for the stay ". Or maybe he just likes both, who knows? " Look, I know you have some deal with my cousin and the club... I'm not interested in getting tangled in this particular web. "

" I wouldn't dream of involving you in our business, Peaches. " He promises and I actually believe him. " I just can't seem to help myself when a beautiful woman is in my presence. "

Chuckling a little I can't stop myself from saying, " must be the bid talking ".

He laughs jovially shocking the hell out of me. As a matter of fact, everything about this man shocks me. Hearing all about the badass shot caller for the AB I was not expecting this.

" Maybe... " He says non chalantly. " Or maybe not. I still haven't decided. "

Over this game I cut to the chase. " So you just wanted to talk to me because you think I'm beautiful? "

" You have any idea how long it has been since I've talked face to face with a woman? " He baits me.

I shake my head not sure I want to know.

" Nearly ten years, Peaches. " He says with a dirty grin. " So you can see how I couldn't pass up speaking with you. "

Funnily enough, I do understand. " Is it everything you dreamed it would be? "

" Oh that and more, baby. " He winks while laying his southern accent on thickly.

I can't help the little jolt that goes through me at the pure honey tone. There's no fucking way for him to know my thing about accents. " I must say, you're nothing like I would have imagined you to be. "

" Tell me that's a good thing, Peaches. " He practically begs.

Baby, Peaches... This guy has a thing for pet names. " That's... To be determined. "

" I'll take it. " He says with the first genuine smile I've seen from him. " For now anyway. "

The guard come back up and put his hand on Tully's shoulder. " Times up Tully. "

He inclines his head toward the guard in an unhappy motion but nods anyway. " It was lovely chatting with you, Jaycee. I hope we get to do this again real soon. "

I watch him leave and sigh. Something tells me that he won't have to wait too long. Men like him have was of getting what they want.

Great.