Disclaimer – The characters of this fanfiction, as well as the 'Sons of Anarchy' world belong to Kurt Sutter, with the exception of Nadia and Brad Cohen, who are original characters created by me. I make no profit from this work.
Reviews are welcomed! Write me what you think, what/if you expect to read about these characters further, etc. Thank you!
Premises: Nadia Cohen is playing a dangerous game. She is by far more dangerous that she initially appeared, but she presents an interesting business opportunity the new president smells, but hasn' t yet grasped. Although or even perhaps he is sexually and sentimentally attracted to her, Tig wants her out in a way or another. In this respect he confronts with Jax who needs to reinforce his authority.
Ashes and Burns (Follow up in Colour of Darkness)
The news of the arson came as a surprise to everyone besides Jax, Tig, Juice and Chibs. They were in this together and Jax hated it. He thought sooner or later it would come to Clay's notice. In this respect a meeting was imminent. Juice's call regarding the incident between Nadia and Tig forced Jax to demand explanations, which he disliked. Deep down he saw Tig as a thorn in his side, an agent placed by Clay to undermine his efforts. As for the fate of this mysterious and beautiful defector, he should have already said this way or the other, but he simply couldn't. Not after that confession of hers. Refreshed, after a good sleep, chewing up a cheese sandwich, she just sat there serene, telling them who she was and what happened. As if she didn't give a shit about her own life. Her words were reverberating in his mind, like a distant fucked up song:
"My name is Nadia Cohen. I'm the sister of Eram Brad Cohen also known as Brad King, the porn star. I did work for the Natsuki family. I came to Charming accompanying my brother who wanted to invest in real estate developments and other such legit ventures under the umbrella of Jacob Hale. Brad is a selfish idiot. I had no choice but to put up with his bollocks, after all, he is family. He tried to scam Hale and unsurprisingly got him really pissed. I had to pay the bill. I've been Hale's bitch for a while. One day I've had it. Mind you, Hale was a scumbag and treated me like crap. I killed him in cold blood. I set the place on fire to cover my tracks. Unfortunately I got followed on the way out. Childish mistake really. That's why I crashed. If the cops put it together I stand no chance. I don't want to go to prison over this. I'm not Snow White and I don't expect you to sympathise with me. I'm only saying I mean no harm upon this club, I came here because I had no other choice. I don't trust my brother at this stage."
Jax knew everybody suspected the Sons for what happened to Hale and his business. He also knew that sooner or later the cops will get a warrant and will storm in. This could turn ugly in relation to the CIA deal. He wondered how long they were eager to cover his club's shady deals. The fact that the Sons had the culprit was not necessarily playing in their advantage. On the other hand, it wasn't moral to turn down a woman in need of help. Jax could never renounce his principles, he could never get rid of someone who went through similar things his mother once did. Perhaps Tig was more pragmatic, but he was also crazy and crazy meant wrong.
"Sons should not be afraid of taking on their enemies!" Jax concluded somewhat vaguely.
But most of all, he feared Tig's reaction. "She's a lying whore. We need to take her out," Tig told him. Jax needed to squash his desire and ability to respond beyond his presidential authority if he wanted to lead the club. Tig had to be put on a tighter leash. Little did he know, but the wheels were already set in motion.
As for Tig, he also woke up with a clear head. The whore he slept with the night before was still cuddling in bed, perhaps confused by his lovable mood. He lay his eyes on her and instantly felt dirty. "Get away from me. You stink," he said kicking her out of the bed. The woman, surprised, but not new to the treatment, began looking for her clothes in a hurry, mumbling something. "Shut the fuck up, I'm trying to think!" he hushed her abruptly, hurrying into the shower. He wanted to find Nadia cuddled in his arms, not that slut; he couldn't even remember her name. But who was Nadia, if not another tart set to destroy him? Them? Things didn't add up, her composure, her rage, her trauma, nothing felt real and all of the sudden Tig got to the point. He felt relieved knowing what needed to be done. Shit! Jax would never approve, he said to himself. And he was right.
Xxx
The diner is empty. It recently gets empty when the Sons walk in. This is yet another thing Jax hates about how things run since he took over. That entire story with the Mexicans and the drug lords scares people off. Damn Clay and his legacy, it was his fault after all, he started on this path.
"You're not eating, girl?" asks Chibs looking at the untouched hamburger.
"Not very kosher," she replies.
"You're religious," he concludes.
"Where's Tig?" she changes the subject.
"You miss him already?" retorts the Scottish bloke grinning.
"Not at all, was just curious. Is it my impression or he's kind of avoiding me?"
"After all that shit between the two of you yesterday…"
She leans forward, picking up some French fries:
"That's none of your concern, buddy."
"Be a bitch, but one thing's for certain: bitches should watch out for guys like Tiggy," he retorts mockingly standing up and walking to the counter past Juice and Jax.
Nadia smiles licking her fingers:
"I have no particular interest in that twat, anyway."
Judging by what she was seeing, Nadia could already make a few points. First of all, this was a divided club with a young president who set morals higher than business and yet failed to see these going through. Secondly, Tig was too volatile to be of any good, she needed someone softer, easier to manipulate, someone like Juice for example. Last but not least, she liked Chibs for the simple reason he reminded her own father and for the very same reason she needed to be extra careful around him.
"You're not excited to go back to your brother?" says Jax sitting at the table.
"Not really," responds Nadia quickly. "Jax, I knew a man like you once," she adds softly. "He was a man of his word, a man with a vision. I loved him."
"Now you sound like my mother," smiles Jax rather indifferently.
"Men with principles either die young or they get all chewed up by this society we live in. I wonder which kind are you," she says looking over his shoulder. He finds her glance rather creepy, as if he should turn his head, but resists the temptation.
"How about you, Nadia? What kind of person are you?"
"I know lots of things about your club, but I can't afford to be judgemental. For example I know you sell guns to all sorts of people. Once you've even tried dealing with the Palestinians. Hell, we sold guns to the Palestinians as well. Just for fun. That has little to do with morality, has it?"
Jax is amazed with her boldness.
"You're wrong about this MC."
"You have no idea what I know, Jax. And because you're not sure just what I know, you'd better keep me alive. I'll watch your back."
The president is infuriated with her proposal. He finds her uncomfortable and downright dangerous. Perhaps Tig knew better after all. He can't wait to get rid of her, to surrender her to the protective or not arms of her brother. He didn't care, he simply wanted her gone.
"Oh yeah, I've met bitches like you and you know what? I've got my brothers to watch my back for me."
"Like now?"
Before she finishes the sentence, a gun is fired. The same instance, Nadia pulls Jax aside, pushing his head down, under the table. In a split second she gets hold of Juice's gun and blasts the shooter's brains out. She rests the gun on the table and stretches with a satisfied grin painted all over her face. The body of a large Mexican lay in the door. The waitress trembles in shock, pissing the floor, still holding on to the coffee mug.
"All right, who the fuck are you really?" asks Jax trying to retain a certain degree of composure.
"Ask Romeo. We work together every now and again," she replies coldly.
Back at the club, behind closed doors, Jax brings the news to an impatient Tig.
"I told ya, that bitch was lying. Shit! I knew it, all those faces she was pulling! All fake, man, all fake. We should have taken her down as I said," goes Tig dancing up and down the room like a maniac.
"Just shut the fuck up, Tig! That bitch saved my life today," screams Jax out of his wits. "Okay, I'm not sure why she did it, but she did. We don't know what we're getting ourselves into, man."
"Yeah, yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying, bro. Ever since you're in power we don't know anymore where we're heading and what we're we getting ourselves into!" explodes Tig.
"Well you know what, bro? If you don't like it, why don't you leave?" retorts Jax firmly.
Chibs tries to separate them, he fears a fist fight is about to begin.
"I'm going to," claims Tig all of the sudden stripping off his jacket. "I'm going to."
xxx
Brad is searching the Internet for references of himself. He's recently obsessed with Google, although he tries not to take it too seriously. It's just something fun to do between having sex with models, directing porn scenes and attending boring meetings. Despite having cultivated a rock star look, Brad still sensed he lacked some of that glamour his sister naturally possessed. Fuck her! Oh he would if only she wasn't family. Finding what he was after he giggles in delight, touching his penis just to make sure it's not standing up too visibly.
The door opens unexpectedly.
"Hello, Nadia!" he squeals happily as she walks in followed by Jax, Chibs and Juice. "Where the hell have you been, you bitch? Oh, hang on, hon, who are the hillbillies?"
Jax can't believe his eyes. What's up with this clown? If he didn't do porn he could successfully pass as Jesus mixed up with the Goth movement and a tinge of Bono.
"Don't do that long face, blondie, you look lovely in that outfit, by the way, I'd rather see you stripped, but never mind, I'm a crazy chap, you see," Brad continues joyfully emitting a high pitch irritating laughter.
"Cut the crap!" retorts Jax outraged.
"How silly of me, boys! Of course I know who you are; I'm a big fan, by the way. So did you actually set that bastard on fire?"
"I did," retorts Nadia distantly.
A bit puzzled, Brad opens a can of fizzy drink and chuckles once more:
"You're really fucked up, sis. Care to snog, love?"
"Oh, blow me!" she responds tired crushing on the red, velvety couch.
"We're taking over your porn business here in Charming," says Jax scornfully, but definitely.
"You're what?" Brad questions slightly amused.
"You can continue to work for us, you'll get a share of the profits. Fair enough."
Brad is so surprised he needs some kind of confirmation from his sister:
"Nadia, love, what the hell is this?"
"Meet our new business partners, honey," she replies massaging her forehead.
"My word! I'm not going to put up with this!" he yells at the bikers.
Jax's punch to the stomach already makes him see things are just as serious as they look. There's no need for the guns pointing in his direction.
"All right, all right, now these are indeed very bad reviews, fellows," he begs ridiculously pushing the air between them with his open palms. "No need to emphasize. But I want at least 60%."
"30," agrees Jax generously.
"45?" the porn star tries.
"30."
"35?"
"Deal," Jax cuts the negotiation slightly disgusted, then turns to the Sons. "Let's get the hell outta here."
Xxx
The cool of the night refreshes Tig's mind. Shit, did he actually give up his club? It's like breaking up with the family, it can't be. A sinister thought seeps into his brain. He needs to get that bitch, nothing else matters. They'll thank him for it when he's gone. They'll remember Tig as the one who protected the club no matter what, even when they refused to see it. Clay gives him one of those intense looks. He fears for Tig, he's a loyal friend, perhaps the most loyal, one of his few remaining friends. He doesn't want to see him go.
"I need to get that woman, Clay!"
"You need to get your head straight, go to Jax say you're sorry, play the game," answers the old man firmly.
"She… she's… she's nothing but trouble."
"You're shaking for her," Clay observes in despair.
"I'm gonna fuck her dead body and when I'm done, gonna fuck it some more!" boasts the mechanic breathing erratically.
"That is a very sick thing to say, Tiggy."
Walking in, Jax feels instantly uneasy to find Tig and Clay together. It looks like the old times. Paranoia and perhaps repressed fury make Jax react outside any calculations. He heads straight for them and commences yelling:
"What are you doing here, Tig? You wanted out, you are out!"
"Call a meeting first, I want to have my say before I go," responds the mechanic somewhat looking to pacify the new President.
"Give me your vest!"
"Fine, burn it!" Tig throws it back at Jax who in turn, throws it on the pavement.
"Easy, son," intervenes Clay.
"How many times have I told you, I'm not your son!" responds Jax furiously so close to his face, Clay feels the eagerness of throwing in a punch or two, just to make space, but he confines himself to backing down. "And you, Tig, I hope you'll have those tattoos removed. I'll check you. If I find out you've been showing up wearing them, you're in big trouble and you know I mean it!"
The scandal draws Gemma out. She was already concerned about Tig and his issues with Jax and now this! Gemma had feelings for the mechanic: he's been a good friend, a confident and a potential lover. She wanted him there in the club; she knew a lone Tig was an even bigger problem.
"You want my tattoos, come and get them, boy!" the mechanic provokes him directly. "Go get a blow torch and burn them out of my skin."
"I'm not a maniac like you, Tig." Looking at the horrified face of his mother, Jax has another thing to say and although he tries very hard to fight himself not to speak it loud, he can't help himself: "I know, mom, he's another favourite!"
Gemma picks up Tig's vest and holds it to her chest. This is a dangerous turn of events. She'll keep it just in case.
Follow up in Colour of Darkness