New By Laws
Chapter 36- Condolences
Hope everyone is doing well. I want to thank everyone for reading my story. Today's my birthday (August 19) and I am so happy for the blessing of seeing another year. I started my senior year yesterday for my Social Work degree and with being a mom to a teenager, doing an internship, schoolwork and working at my job I don't know how often I will be able to update. I will try my best to keep the story coming as often as I can. Again thank you to everyone…smiles.
"She did what?!" Jax shouted. He paced the bedroom floor back and forth, as he tried to calm himself down. Jade had told Jax about her encounter in the elevator with Tara. She was not going to tell him but he needed to know how psycho his 'first love' was. Jax face started to slowly turn red as Jade relayed how Tara attacked her, called her a racial slur and then spit in her face.
Jax shook his head as she crawled into the bed next to his fiancée. Why couldn't Tara leave his family alone?
"She knew about Frankie."
"What?!" Jax sat up in bed.
"She told me she ought to finish off what Frankie started…how would she know that Jax?"
Jax scratched his beard as he pondered how she would know anything about Frankie. Her knowing what happen was not good for him or the club.
"Someone has to be talking to her. I will find out what the fuck is going on. Don't worry about it love. I will take care of it."
"She said you will always go back to her." Jade's voice was laced with hurt as she remembered Jax's betrayal.
"You know that is not true! I'm not marrying her. I am marrying you. You and my family are my heart….you know this. Don't let her put any doubt in your mind."
Jax leaned over and nibbled on Jade's ear and she began to shudder with desire. He was right. He loved her and was with her at this very moment. She smiled as Jax pulled up her nightgown and found his way between her legs. If only Tara could see them now.
Jade almost dropped her wine glass as she looked at the six o'clock news. The top news was the death of Damon Pope. Jade felt tears rushed to her eyes. She had mixed emotions about Damon. When her and Marks were together she got along great with him and he even had called to check on her once in a while when her and Marks no longer communicate. Since both of their association with the Sons and her father continue representation of Jax and his club, the relationship needless to say was a little strained. She never did tell Jax that Damon had visited her when she was attacked by Frankie. A chill coursed through Jade's body as she realized that this may have been at the hands of Jax.
Jade studied Jax as she sat his dinner plate in front of him. She looked for any signs that he committed cold-blooded murder earlier in the day. He looked up at her, smiled and thanked her for his food. She sat across from him and looked at him. Sensing something was on her mind he put his fork down and looked back at her.
"Something on your mind?" he asked his blue eyes staring into her brown eyes.
Jade swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, "Did you kill him Jax?"
Jax sat back in his seat.
"Do you really want to know Jade?"
"Oh my God! Jax you didn't." Jade jumped up from the table.
"Sit down Jade." His voice calm yet demanding.
Jade sat back down waiting to hear what he had to say.
"I told you Pope wanted Tig dead and I could not let that happen."
"So what did you do Jax?"
"It is taken care of. The less you know is better."
"Will this come back on you? I told you before I won't be able to handle you going back to jail. You can't leave me and the boys Jax." Jade started to panic as she thought of how everything could go wrong in a blink of an eye. She grieved for Pope but the fear of Jax going back to jail engulfed her. Jax seeing her start to panic got up from the kitchen table and pulled her up to him in an embrace.
"Jade my love….don't worry. I got this…you have to trust me." He planted a soft kiss on her lips. She did trust him but she was so scared this would blow up in their face. What if August finds out? He would do everything in his power to destroy Jax and The Sons. Jade shuddered at the thought. She squeezed her eyes shut and sent a silent prayer to God to please keep her family safe.
Jade had a feeling it would be a bad idea but she had to reach out to Marks and offer her condolences. His best friend just died and what kind of person would she be not to reach out to him. She parked her car in front of Popes and Associates and looked up at the building. She shook her head as guilt washed over her. She knew what really happen to Pope and that information getting out would jeopardize everything she held near and dear to her heart.
The receptionist took Jade to Marks office and she found him sitting at his desk with pain written all over his face. Marks stood up upon her entrance and Jade went and gave Marks a tight hug. She hated to see people she cared about in pain. Regardless of what they had been through Jade did care about Marks. They had too much history between them.
"August I am so sorry." She whispered as he tighten his embrace around her.
"Thank you Jade," Marks pulled from Jade's embrace and looked at her. "Jax know you here?"
Jade shook her head no.
"Did he tell you it was Clay who killed Pope?"
Jade shook her head yes, as she just could not form any words. There was so much hurt and anguish in August's eyes that Jade found her hand caressing his cheek to comfort him. Before she even could register what was happening August had leaned over and kissed her softly on her lips. Jade found herself kissing him back for a few seconds before she realized what she was doing. She pulled away, pushed him away and covered her mouth with her hand.
"I….I'm sorry Jade." He stammered. Jade stepped back further from him only to have Marks close the gap between them again. She put both her hands up to his chest to try to keep him at bay. Marks gathered her hands into his.
"Jade…I still love you."
"August don't…" she whispered she did not want to hear those words from him.
Marks squeezed her hands and felt a cold object against the palm of his hand. He looked down and saw Jade's engagement ring. His eyes grew big as he eyed the ring.
"Is that an engagement ring!" he practically shouted at her. Jade pulled her hands from his grasp.
"Yes." She answered just below a whisper. She could feel the anger radiating off Marks when she said yes.
"You cannot marry him Jade!"
"August I can marry who I please. I love him." She told him as calmly as she could. Marks eyes were shooting fire as he grabbed her by her right upper arm so tight it made Jade cry out in pain. She tried to pull away from his angry grip but he held onto her tight.
"August…please….you are hurting me." She whimpered as she tried to remove his death grip on her arm. Marks did not release his grip it got tighter as he shook her. He was so angry at her. Why could she not see that Jax was not a good man for her? What kind of hold did that white man have over her?
"He will get you killed Jade. His club will be the death of you. Can't you see that?" Marks all but roared at her. Jade started to get angry as well. How dare he come at her like this?
"Let go of me August." Jade tried to pull away again to no avail. She hated to get drastic with him but he looked so angry and his grip was not letting up.
"You're not marrying him Jade!" Marks suddenly let her go and Jade stumbled back. Marks started pacing the floor he was so upset.
"I can't believe you would be so naïve! What does he have that I don't? I wanted to marry you Jade! I wanted you to have my kids. You dump me to get with this thug to give him everything I wanted!"
Jade did not need to hear this and started to walk out the door to only have Marks swiftly walk up behind her, grab her around waist and spun her around to face him. Jade used the opportunity to slap the shit out of him. For good measure she used the back of her left hand and her engagement ring left a small scratch on his cheek that instantly began to bleed a little. Hurt spread across his face and for a split second Jade felt immense guilt for what she did. Her anger at him had quickly overridden the guilt she had felt. While Marks gathered his wits, Jade used the opportunity to rush out the door. She saw out of the corner of her eye the receptionist stand up at her desk alarmed as Jade rushed pass. Jade did not wait for the elevator and took a beeline to the stairs. She looked back to make sure Marks was not following her. When she did not see him exit his office, she flew the exit door open and hauled ass down the stairs.
Jade knew it was only a matter of time before her phone would blow up with calls from August. She knew she should have followed her instincts and not went to see him. She did not want to be a bad friend and not offer her condolences. She realized he would find out about the engagement but she never would have guessed he would have reacted the way he did. Jade tried to grasp that August still had feelings for her but she had no idea that they still ran so deep. He confessed he still loved her. What was she supposed to do with that information when she was about to marry the man of her dreams and the father of her child. Jade rubbed her upper arm. It was still sore from when August grabbed it. She pulled her shirtsleeve up and looked down at her arm. She gasped as she saw a bruise in the shape of August's fingers began to form on her dark skin. Why did she bruise so easily? Yes, he had a tight grip on her but to bruise like this was insane. She hope she was not anemic. Maybe she needed to take some iron pills. Jax will have a fit if he found out she went to see August and that he put his hands on her. She will have to pull out her quarter sleeve t-shirts to hide the bruise. She could tell it was going to get worse before it would fade.
Jade looked down at her phone as August had called again and Jade hit the decline button.
"Momma." She heard Abel call for her. Jade went to Abel's room to pick him up from his nap and check on Nathan. She needed to get started on lunch. She picked up her phone to see if Jax was coming home for lunch to make sure she made enough to eat for everyone.
After lunch Jax put back on his cut to head back out. He hugged Jade tight and felt her winch a little.
"What's wrong love?" He asked her. Jade shook her head.
"Nothing sweetheart." She kissed his cheek and he looked at her. Her hair was freshly twisted and she as always looked stunning. He could tell something was wrong because she had a worry look on his face.
"Did you hurt yourself?" he asked putting his arms around her waist. "Do you need me to kiss it to make it better?"
Jade chuckled. He was so sweet. She lifted up her fingers to play in his beard and lightly kissed his lips.
"I'm fine honey."
Jax eyed her and decided he would have to find out what was wrong with her later. He needed to get back to the clubhouse and head out to meet Marks. Hugging her again, he felt tense as she tried not to express the pain she was feeling. He stepped back and looked at her and then it hit him that she was wearing long sleeves. All the time they have been together she always wore tank tops when she was in the house.
"Why are you wearing long sleeves? It is like one hundred degrees outside."
"I'm just a little chilly." She lied.
"Take off your shirt." Jax told her.
"Jax….I'm just cold," She backed up a little as Jax moved towards her. "You better go before you are late."
"Do I have to take it off myself? If nothing is wrong then what is the problem with taking it off?"
Jax grabbed at the hem of her t-shirt and Jade pulled away.
"Alright…alright." She knew he would not let up so with hesitation she slowly took off her shirt. She heard him gasped as he saw her right upper arm.
"What the fuck happen to you? Who did this?!" Jax yelled startling the boys who were sitting at the table finishing lunch.
"Baby calm down…it's nothing." She tried to soothe him.
"Who did this Jade? Was it Tara?"
Jade looked at Jax like he was nuts. Tara would never again get the jump on her like she did the other day in the elevator.
"No it wasn't Tara," She told him as she put her shirt back on. She might as well go ahead and tell him. "I went to see August today and he was a little upset when he saw my engagement ring." Jade could have sworn she saw smoke come out of Jax's ears.
"That motherfucker!" Jax scowled.
Without a goodbye, Jax stormed out the house leaving Jade standing in the kitchen bewildered. She better call August to let him know that all hell was about to break lose in the form of Jackson Teller.