Blended Chapter 17
Quick update. Hope you enjoy.
Cortney fiddled with her fingers as her and Steven sat outside waiting to see Jax in prison. Agent Chilton walked up and sat at an empty spot next to Cortney.
"How are you holding up Ms. Holmes?" she asked. Cortney looked over at Chilton and frowned.
"I'm sorry have we met?"
"No we haven't. I am Agent Chilton." Chilton stuck out her hand and Cortney reluctantly took it to shake.
"Who are you?" Steven asked protective of his mother.
"It's alright honey." Cortney patted Steven hand. "Have you had any luck with Tara's case?"
"No we haven't. It is hard to get people to cooperate and the one person who can help us the most refuses to talk to anyone except your son and Gemma. Why do you come here every day knowing he refuses to see you time and time again?
"Jax found his wife the woman he loves dead…what do you want him to say? As for me coming to see him every day he needs to know he has support and I am here for him…why am I explaining myself to you?" Cortney did not have to explain her actions when it came to Jax to know one. It was her prerogative.
"You are a better woman than me." Chilton said getting up. Cortney rolled her eyes as Chilton walked away to see Jax.
The first few visits to Jax he would not see Steven as he had told Steven he did not want him to visit him in prison but Steven would not give up and Jax finally reluctantly gave in. He however held steadfast that he did not want to see Cortney. It hurt Cortney but she still went with Steven to visit just in case he changed his mind.
Cortney and Steven waited patiently for their turn to see Jax and Cortney hoped today he would want to see her. They looked up when they heard a loud door buzz go off and Jax emerged from behind the door.
The man walking out of prison was a different man. He was not the Jax that left her house over a week ago. She knew he would not be the same as his wife was dead and for real this time. She could not imagine the pain he was in. Jax stopped in his tracks when he saw Cortney. He felt bad that he refused to see her every day but he did not want her to see him in those conditions. Cortney sighed and walked up and hugged the man she fell in love with even though it was obvious he had changed. He hugged her back tight and then hugged Steven.
"Come on let's get out of here." Steven said. They walked in silence to Cortney's car and as she pressed the button on her key ring to unlock the car Jax asked if he could drive
"Sure." Cortney handed him the keys. Jax walked around to the passenger side and open the door for Cortney
"Thank you." She mumbled as she got into the car.
"Did the feds come and grill you and Steven." Jax asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Yes they did. I think they questioned everyone." Jax sighed as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Cortney rolled the window down a little to not breathe his second hand smoke.
"Everything went ok with the funeral?"
"Yeah. We had it two days ago. It was quiet and respectful. Abel does not know what happen. He just knows that his mommy is an angel in heaven now." Cortney said looking over at his profile. She really wish she knew what was going through his mind. "It's good you are out Jax. They boys really need you." I need you.
"Cort I want to thank you for everything you have done for my mom and the boys. Especially for helping with the funeral. What you are doing for the club and my boys means a lot to me. Mom and I could not have done it without you." Jax finally looked over at Cortney, grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"No problem Jax. You know I would be there for you and your family."
"Mom had got Tara a new tombstone and had another tombstone made that said 'unknown' to put over the original gravesite since no one knows whose body the feds used." Steven informed Jax. Jax nodded not responding as he was deep in thought as he drove. Steven did notice that he did not let go of his mom's hand.
Jax pulled into Teller Morrow and parked the car.
"I'll stop by later." Jax told her as he got out of the car.
"The boys aren't at my house they are with your mom right now." Cortney told him getting out of the car to take the driver's seat.
"I know. I'll see you later tonight." He told her planting a kiss on her cheek. Cortney stood and watch him head into the clubhouse.
Later that afternoon as Cortney was pulling out some chicken to thaw out for dinner Gemma called her.
"Hey Gem what's up?" Cortney answered as she filled her sink up with hot water.
"How was Jax when you saw him?"
"Really sad Gemma It broke my heart."
"You just continue to be there for him. He is really going to need you now."
"I know." Cortney whispered as she fiddled with the facet handle.
"I'm going to need your help honey."
"Sure. Are the boys alright?"
"They are fine. The club is throwing Jax a welcome home party and I'm going to need you to pick up a few things and help me get the party ready."
"Ok. Who will have the boys?"
"I called Neeta she will watch them."
Cortney went to grab a pen and paper.
"What do you need me to pick up?"
Gemma gave Cortney a decent size list and Cortney sighed as she thought of all the shopping she had ahead of her.
"You want me to meet you at Teller Morrow?"
"No. Red Woody." Gemma answered.
"Red what?"
"It's a porn studio down by the docks Here is the address."
Cortney mouth fell open as she wrote down the address. A porn studio? What the hell else was Jax and his club involved in?
Cortney pulled up to a warehouse at the docks after she was done shopping. She knew she had the right place as a few questionable looking women were standing outside.
"You Cortney?" One yelled to her as Cortney got out of the car.
"Yeah." She answered as she popped open her trunk.
"Gemma sent us out to help you." The young lady told Cortney as they helped her unload her car. Cortney tried to keep her eyes from becoming the size of saucers as she looked around the warehouse. Yep this was a porn studio alright. Gemma sighed with relief when she saw Cortney and grabbed the bags from her hands. She stopped and looked at Cortney's face.
"Don't worry. Steven was never around this." She assured Cortney. Thank God! Cortney thought as she went to grab more bags. The warehouse started to fill up with people and somehow Cortney got stuck being the bartender.
"How are you doing?" a deep voice said breaking Cortney's train of thought.
Cortney looked up from making a whiskey sour and smiled at the handsome black man grinning at her. She looked at his cut and noticed it said president on one side and Lodi on the other. She quickly glanced and saw other guys with the same cut and the back said Grim Bastards.
'Hi. What can I get for you?" she asked handing the whiskey sour to Lyla to take to a guest.
"I'm T.O." he extended his hand to shake. Cortney grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Nice to meet you T.O. What can I get you?" she asked again.
"Just a shot of whiskey would be fine. I didn't know Red Woody had black actresses."
"Oh no. I'm not an actress. I'm friends with Jax and Gemma." She corrected.
T.O. raised his eyebrow in interest. Jax and the crew finally walked in and Jax noticed Cortney at a table surrounded by liquor bottles laughing with T.O. Anger and jealously stabbed at Jax heart as he watched Cortney twirl her hair with her fingers and smiling. Was she flirting? Cortney handed T.O. his drink when she saw Jax walk up to the table. Cortney noticed right away the frown that displayed on Jax's face when he saw Cortney.
"What are you doing here?" he asked a little perturbed.
"I called her I needed her help." Gemma came to her rescue.
"Brooke can help you. Cort you need to go home."
Cortney was about to say something when Jax and T.O. walked off.
"Jax who is she? She says she is a friend of you and your moms."
"She's not on the menu T.O." Jax snapped at his friend. T.O. stepped back and looked at Jax. Something was going on there and T.O. figured it was best to let it go. He looked back at Cortney as she was making another drink. Damn she was hella fine though!
Cortney fixed herself a martini and gulped it down.
"You go ahead and go home sweetheart. Brooke will help me." Gemma stopped Cortney from making another martini.
"What the fuck is the big deal if I am here?" Cortney questioned.
"He has a lot on his mind and he has club business to take care of tonight. He just doesn't want to have to worry about you if anything goes down is all."
"You're here." Cortney pointed out "As well as all these girls."
"I can take care of myself. These other girls aren't family except Lyla and she can take care of herself also. Go home Cortney. He said he was staying with you tonight. Be there when he gets there ok."
Jax staying over was news to her. She was pleasantly surprised.
"Ok." Cortney sighed and grabbed her purse and headed out the door. She stopped at the door for a second to search for Jax. She found him at a table smoking a cigarette surrounded by people. His ice blue eyes were trained on her as he looked her up and down. Cortney turned around and left.
The doorbell rang well after midnight. Cortney was on her third glass of wine as she waited up for Jax. She opened the door to find him looking exhausted on her door step holding a gym bag. As he walked into the house she notice specks of what look like blood on his neck.
"Jax there is blood on your neck." She said as she shut and locked the front door.
"It's nothing." He lied. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Are you hungry? I had made dinner. I can heat you up some."
"Yeah…that would be good. Thanks." Jax took off upstairs to take a shower.
Jax finished his shower and walked into the kitchen wearing lounge pants and a white t-shirt. Cortney had to stifle her gasp as he looked so handsome and she missed having him around. She quickly looked away and remove the pots from the fridge to make Jax a plate. She decided to make herself a small helping to soak up some of the wine she had drunk.
"You want a beer?" Cortney asked avoiding eye contact.
"Yes please." Jax said sitting at the kitchen table. "Where's Steven?"
"Upstairs playing GTA online." Cortney placed the beer on the table in front of him.
"GTA?"
"Grand Theft Auto." Jax watched Cortney closely as she set the table for him.
"When are you going to see the boys?" Cortney asked as she sat a plate of hot food in front of him on the table.
"I can't right now Cort."
Cortney said nothing else on the subject as she knew he would have his reasons. Cortney sat at the table and they both ate in silence as they stole glances at one another.
"Cort…do you mind if I stay for a few days? I can't bring myself to go back to the house right now."
"Of course you can Jax." She said taking the last bite off her plate.
There was a soft knock on Steven's door and Jax walked in. Steven paused the game and got up to hug Jax.
"What's wrong Jax?" Steven asked seeing his face. Jax sat beside Steven on the bed and sighed as he rubbed his hands through his hair.
"The Chinese killed Tara."
"What?!" Steven shouted.
"Shhhh." Jax did not want Cortney to hear.
"Mom saw one of them leave the house the night of Tara's murder. She got a good look at him when they drove off."
"Why didn't she go inside?" Steven asked.
"She didn't know Tara was inside. The guy was at the party tonight."
"Did you get him?"
Jax nodded his head yes.
"You don't look relieved Jax."
"I know. I thought I would feel relief but it doesn't bring her back." Tears welled in Jax's eyes. Steven grabbed Jax and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm sorry Jax."
"Thanks Steven." Jax pulled from their embrace." Now what is this GTA? You think I would like it." Jax asked hoping to find a distraction to get his mind off of his situation even if for a few minutes.
"Oh yeah…this is right up your alley." Steven handed Jax a remote.
"Cortney." A voice whispered.
Cortney sat up, rubbed her eyes, cut on the lamp on the nightstand and focused on the figure that was standing at her bedroom door.
"Jax?"
Jax walked in the bedroom.
"Do you mind if I lay down with you? I don't want to be alone right now." He croaked out.
"Yeah sure." Cortney pulled the sheets back for him. Jax crawled in beside her and Cortney cut off the light. She laid back down and closed her eyes hoping she could fall asleep with him so close to her.
"Come here." Jax whispered. Cortney open her eyes and looked over at Jax. "Come here." He repeated. Cortney scooted over, Jax pulled her to him, and she put her head on his chest and snuggled close to him. She let out a long sigh as she inhaled his scent and listened to his steady heartbeat. Jax fingers caressed her arm as he closed his eyes to try to get some sleep. He needed to be near Cortney. He wanted her in his arms again. After everything that happened between him and her, she had really stepped up for him.
"I'm sorry Jax." Cortney whispered as she looked up at him. She never got a chance to offer her sympathy. Jax opened his eyes and looked down at her sad brown eyes. Jax kissed her forehead as she buried her head in his neck and they fell asleep holding each other tight.
