Chapter 11

Jax stood in his kitchen waiting for Thomas' bottle to heat up. He couldn't stop thinking about last night. About Tig. But he needed to get right with it.

Tig was Clay's guy, he endangered his club, killed Popes daughter, acted outside of the club orders. And if he hadn't given him up then Nicole and Tara could have felt the backlash that Dawn had faced. So when August ordered that it was time to hand Tig over Jax knew he had to do it.

Jax was drawn away from his thoughts when he heard a motorcycle approaching. Grabbing the now done bottle he headed for the door confused at who this early guest could be. He looked through the peephole and froze. It was the last person that he expected, but regaining his composure Jax opened the door.

"You're up early brutha."

"Yeah, can I come in?" Jax nodded and moved aside letting Tig enter. "Got quite a surprise last night. Marks showed up with a few of Pope's guys. Shit I thought it was going to go down."

"What happened?" Jax asked playing along to keep his innocence.

"He was looking for you." There was something in Tig's eyes that led Jax to believe that he knew, or at least suspected. "Clay's in Gen pop guessing he made a deal. Marks needs to speak to you about it, first thing this morning."

Jax looked over his shoulder when he heard Thomas start to cry.

"Ok, I'll sort it. Look I better..."

"Yeah sure." They headed back to the door and Tig was almost out when he turned back to Jax. "Funny thing, the Prospects, they never showed with that truck last night."

"Shit, that's my mistake brutha. I've got so much shit going on here."

"That's ok." Again Tig made his way to the door but paused again. "Am I good with you Jax?"

"Yeah, course."

"Okay." Jax reached out and embraced his brother.

"We're good." Or at least Jax hoped so, he needed to speak to August now.


"You're up early." Nicole looked over her shoulder at Happy who was still lying in their bed, before returning to the mirror.

"Yeah Gemma needs me to pop to the garage, sort out some paperwork. " Nicole had received a very cryptic text from Gemma, but Nicole didn't want to say anything to Happy because she wondered if this was something to do with Wendy and given their history with the speedball incident Nicole didn't really want to get into it.

"You shouldn't be over doin' it." Happy spoke as he got out of the bed and walked over to her. Nicole couldn't help but admire his naked body in the mirror. He really did look good.

"It's just some paperwork Hap." Nicole justified turning to face him.

"Hmm." Happy didn't believe her but he guessed sitting at a desk would at least keep her out of trouble. "I swear these are getting bigger by the day." He rasped as he stood in front of her, his finger trailing over her full breasts.

"Yeah we'll unfortunately so is this." He watched as her hands went to her growing stomach. "Not sure how much longer we're going to be able to keep this a secret, I'm running out of tops to hide it."

Happy nodded as he pulled open one of the drawers behind her in the dresser. The action moved her so she was flush against him. When he closed the draw he didn't let her move away from him. "Wear this."

"You want me to wear your shirt?"

"You got a better idea?" She laughed and shook her head.

"Guess not." She pressed her lips to his and kissed him. "Thank you." He slapped her ass causing a squeal to escape her lips.

Happy headed back to bed where he continued to watch her dress. She looked good in his clothes. And if it kept their secret he was pleased. He knew he couldn't hide her pregnancy forever but less of his enemies and the club enemies that knew for now then the better.

Once she was dressed Happy watched her walk over to him before she captured his lips once again. She went to pull away but he kept her close.

"Be careful today, Phil isn't with you today."

"I'll be careful."

"Good." He captured her lips again kissing her deeply. "You gonna fuck your old man or not?"

"Yeah i'm gonna fuck you." Happy Lowman was always going to be the reason she was late.


Parking up in TM Nicole saw Unser's door open. He had been living on TM ever since Clay was excommunicated and arrested according to Happy.

Nicole stared at the door for a while. Last time she had spoken to him he had confirmed that Clay had tried to kill her Uncle. She didn't blame Unser for telling her but it felt weird, it wasn't his fault and Nicole liked the Old Man, but she would be lying if she hadn't been avoiding him but she couldn't avoid him forever, and what a better time than now given that the lot was quiet, no Sons present according to the parking lot. So with that thought Nicole started walking towards his trailer.

She knocked on the open door but there was no answer. Popping her head inside it didn't take her long to realise it was empty, it was weird but Nicole came to do a job so she continued to the office. Walking inside she dropped her bag on the desk and frowned at the amount of paperwork that rested there, this was going to be a long day.

Taking a sit behind the desk Nicole started grabbing some of the papers in front of her when she heard it. Stopping what she was doing she heard the noise again which caused her to get to her feet. It sounded like it was coming from the garage. Nicole suddenly felt her heart race. She was scared. Instinctively her hand went into her bag and she pulled out her gun.

She took a deep breath and slowly twisted the blinds so she could see into the garage and when she did she gasped.

The garage was destroyed, spray paint everywhere but in the middle of it all was Unser.

"Fuck." Nicole went back to her bag and grabbed her cell. Normally she would have ran straight in there but it wasn't just her now so she dialled Happy's number but it went straight to voicemail. "Fuck." She cursed again, when she heard Unser cry out again she knew she had to do something. Tucking her cell into her back pocket she took a breath and raised the gun. Slowly she opened the door. "I've got a gun." She shouted hoping if there was anyone in there she would scare them off.

"They've gone." Unser croaked.

Nicole lowered her gun knowing that Unser wouldn't let her go inside if there was a threat, she remembered the break-in at Gemma's house he had tried to warn her that she should get out.

So carefully she stepped into the garage, her eyes darting over every inch as she made her over to him. Turning her eyes to him Nicole saw the blood, saw the sign that had been carved into his chest. She felt sick but looking at Unser Nicole quickly started to untie him.

"It's okay, it's okay." She slowly lowered him to the ground before snagging her cell from her back pocket. She dialled his number.

"Nic."

"Jay you need to get to TM now. Bring Tara," That was all she said before hanging up. The was so much blood and Nicole tried to stop the bleeding the best she could, but she was quickly getting distracted by the ink scattering the garage walls.


After Tig had left, Jax called August to set up a meet. It had all been a test. August had wanted to see if Jax would hand Tig over and as he did August confirmed he past the test.

Jax was sick of being used like this, Pope tried to do the same thing and he ended up dead. Jax would love it to end the same way for August Marks but that couldn't happen right now.

"So what's happening with Clay?" Jax asked trying to move the conversation along.

"I've got him protection. But I couldn't control how that was earned." August explained. "Clay offed a Peckerwood shot caller. Guards didn't see but skinheads did."

"Jesus Christ." Jax ran a hand over his face. That history ran deep.

"Yeah. Our angry white friends are trying to rebound in San Joaquin. This could blow back on the MC."

"You have no idea."

"Of course." Jax raised his eyebrow silently asking a question. "I know a little of your history and families history lets say." Of course he did Jax thought. He was about to say something when his phone started ringing. Jax snaked it from his jeans and saw Nicole on the ID. She hadn't been calling him recently so he knew he had to answer.

"Give me a minute." Jax walked away and answered the phone. "Nic."

"You need to get to TM now. Bring Tara"

"Nic...Nic..." The phone went dead he looked back at August. "I've go to go. I'll dig around."

August nodded and Jax practically ran to his bike. He shot a quick text to Tara saying to go to TM and bring her kit, knowing from Nicoles call that something bad had happened and if they needed Tara someone was hurt. He hoped it wasn't her.


By the time Jax pulled up he could see that Tara was already there, aswell as some of his brothers as he had fired off another quick text to Chibs to get the guys to the clubhouse.

Parking his bike in line he headed into the garage, his eyes taking in the destruction and the ink. Someone had delivered a message. He tried to look for Nicole but he couldn't see her, but his eyes quickly found Unser who was lying on the sofa, Tara stitching up his belly.

"Holy shit." He words caught everyone's attention. Jax hugged his brothers as he walked over to Tara/ He dropped a kiss on to her head before kneeling beside Unser. "Who did this?"

"Three men in white ski masks." Unser started coughing.

"Wayne I need you to keep still." With the look Tara gave Jax he knew she needed him to back off from the questions. But he really needed to know the answers and Chibs must have known this because he placed his hand on his shoulder and walked away from Tara and Unser ushering Jax followed.

"This the Nords." It wasn't so much as a question rather than a statement

"Aye brutha. They carved dare mark in ta da old mans chest."

"Fuck. " Jax ran his hand over his face. "Nicole..."

"She's in da clubhouse wit Hap. Little shook up, she wasn't here for it but she found him."

"Ok. Thanks Brutha."

Jax started to walk across the lot, Chibs ,Tig and Juice following. When two more bikes entered the lot. Jax noted them as two of the Samdino crew. Just what he needed. "Tig, get Phil and V-Lin to the gun warehouse. No one rides alone."

"Got it." Tig pulled back and started to make the calls.

Jax, Chibs and Juice embraced their fellow brothers. "What brings ya North." Chibs asked

"Got a family thing with my cousin but thought we would stop by and get a little face time with Mother." Parker removed his helmet. "What happened here?" Parker could clearly see the disturbance in the garage.

"Morning visit from the Hitler youth. I'm going to get everyone to the table, you can join, but I just need a moment."

"Sure." Parker nodded to his guy to take a seat. "I thought you sorted out this Nord problem years ago?" Lee Parker had been around along time even before his crew had been patched into the Sons, he knew the history with the Nords and Jax's little cousin, most crews did. When she started dating Darby's kid and killed him it was almost war.

"I did. Look wait here make yourself at home I won't be long."


Nicole just stood there biting at her thumb nail as she stared at the mugshots on the wall. After Roosevelt smashed most of them up they had done their best to replace them but there were still some missing.

She had been surprised to see the Unser like that but she had been more surprised to see the markings. It brought back way to much history for her and it made her instantly think about the one person she had been trying her best to forget. Darby.

Nicole was brought from her thoughts as the doors crashed open. Jumping out of her skin she turned to face the door. When she saw him she couldn't stop the tears she had been fighting so hard to control.

"Hap." She croaked wiping at her tears. He was by her side in a second. His hands cupping her face.

"You hurt?" She never responded as she couldn't control her tears. But Happy needed an answer as she was standing in front of him covered in blood. He needed to know she was ok. He wiped at tears and asked the question again. "Nicole you hurt?"

"No. It's...it's Unsers blood." Happy felt a sense of relief. "Is this Darby?" She asked trying to compose herself.

"I don't know but ain't no one getting' to you." Nicole nodded. She trusted him.

Their moment was interrupted when the doors opened again. They both turned to see Jax enter. Nicole watched as his eyes went to her bloody shirt.

"Shit you ok?" His question was directed to Nicole but it was Happy who answered.

"No. We need to squash this shit." Jax could hear the anger in Happys voice, and he agreed with it.

"Is this Darby?" Nicole's voice gaining back both of their attention.

"No, this is just a new crew." Jax tried to reassure her as he moved further into the clubhouse. He could see her shaking. He looked at Happy. "Samdinos here. We need to sit down."

Happy nodded. "She stays here."

"Agreed."

Nicole would normally be pissed that they were discussing her like she wasn't standing there but to be honest this situation was freaking her out. It was way to close to home for her.

Happy looked back at Nicole. "Head to my dorm, there should be some spare clothes in there. Do not leave this clubhouse till I say." Nicole nodded.

Happy leant down and kissed her before leaving and heading to the chapel.

Jax watched his brother, leave the room, he could feel the anger radiating from and to be honest Jax wasn't far from that anger himself.

There was a lot of history between the Tellers and Darby and some quite recent, some that Jax would really like to forget about as he was sure his cousin would like to as well. He watched his others brothers head into the Chapel be he remained stood where he was as did Nicole. Once everyone was inside Jax closed the gap between them. He knew that there was distance between them but this was their history.

His hand came to rest on her arm. "I will sort this I promise."

"Is this because of me?" She knew it made her sound self centred but this was the Nords, normally it was because of her and she was scared right now. That could have been her today not Unser.

"No, Darby's done. He ain't bringing any of this heat." Nicole nodded but he could tell that she didn't believe him. "Nic."

"I just..." He watched the tears form in her eyes. "I just can't have that shit right now Jax." There was something there that Jax couldn't quite put his finger on. There was something else happening here.

"Nic, you okay?"

Nicole wanted to kick herself. Despite their current distance Jax knew her better than anyone. And she knew that right he was sensing that her upset was not just about Darby. But she just couldn't deal with him knowing or asking to many questions right now.

"I'm fine. Just a lot history with this Jay?"

"Yeah. I know. But you will be protected. I promise." Dropping a kiss onto her head he headed towards the chapel to meet with his brothers.