Hi friends! First things first. I am so, so sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. As I posted, I lost my dog, and as her name was Tess, it was very hard to write this story. The past few months have been….rough for my personally, and writing had to move to the back burner for awhile. There is really no excuse, and I am so sorry again. I am getting back into the swing of things and will try to update more regularly. Anyway, here is the latest chapter. I will admit that there is very little editing that happened here. I have just returned home from a trip and am very sleepy and my body is kind of confused about this whole time zone business.
Also, want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who have messaged and sent me encouragement lately. It means more to me than I can explain.
Anyway, thanks so much for reading and please let me know what you think! Reviews are love!
Opie would never, ever admit it, but he really hated going to the prison to meet with any of the guys. Though he was on the "freedom" side of the visitors table, he could never shake the sick, claustrophobic feeling that being inside prison walls gave him. He had spent five years on the inside of the very prison. Five years missing his children grown up, five years away from Donna, five years away from SAMCRO. Five years on the inside had been more than enough for him, and if he had a choice in the matter, he would never come back to this shit hole again. However, as much as Opie valued his freedom and peace of mind, he valued his brothers more.
This hadn't been an actual planned visit to the prison. Work at the shop had been surprisingly light. Chibs had insisted that Opie get away from TM for awhile. Both Chibs and Kozik had taken some time off recently, and Chibs was quick to point out that Opie hadn't. It was probably widely assumed that Op would head home, but the kids were in school and Lila was filming today, a fact that Opie was far from pleased with.
Things between the two of them had been so unsettled lately. One minute, things were great and they were laughing and having family dinners and going at it like rabbits. The next minute, Lila was stressed with the kids and insistent that she needed to be working, even though they didn't strictly need the money. It was enough to drive him insane. He had been too busy lately to think too hard on it. The way Opie figured, he could either sit at home and think and seethe on it, or he could ride out and visit Jax. The choice wasn't all that difficult.
"Op!" Jax called out with a wide grin as he entered the visitation area. He seemed to be in a good mood today, so Opie couldn't help but smile back as he stood to offer a hug. "Didn't expect to see you today."
Opie shrugged as he sat down across from Jax. "Didn't expect to be here. Things were slow at the garage and Chibs and Kozik said they could cover and sent me home."
"Does this look like home to you?" Jax asked, an easy smile resting on his face. "And what do you mean things are slow at the garage? You're not destroying the family business while I'm gone, are you?"
"No," Opie scoffed. "Not doing any worse than you would be. We had a huge run of customers over the weekend. People are probably just putting off their oil changes until later, which is fine with me. They put it off long enough, then they will destroy their engines. We'll really be in business then."
"Yeah," Jax nodded in agreement. "Things settling down alright? Did our visitors leave?"
"Everything is fine. They left a few days ago. Made arrangements for the first care package to be delivered. Everything is set," Opie informed the VP.
"How is Kozik handling everything?" Jax asked, the corners of his mouth tipping down. "After the shit his girl went through with those red bastards, he can't be too happy with the deal."
"He seems to be alright," Opie guessed. He and Kozik didn't have long, conversations, but he knew that if there was a problem, he would bring it up. "He's a good brother, and he knows what position we are in. He isn't thrilled that we are dealing with the Russians, but he knows that it had to be done."
"You're keeping an eye on him?" Jax questioned, concern clear on his face.
"Yeah, I will," Opie assured him, before continuing. "You think it's going to be a problem?"
"I hope not," Jax breathed out. "You said he and the girl Tess, they're close right?" Opie nodded. "I can't imagine somebody doing that to Tara and me not going crazy for revenge, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Opie agreed, not wanting to imagine himself in Kozik's place. "I think she is keeping him in check, whether she knows it or not. I mean, most Old Ladies would be pushing for revenge. Tess isn't like that. I don't even think it's occurred to her that Kozik could and would find that guy and cut his head off for what he did."
Jax's eyebrows knit together and he shook his head. "You really think she's going to make it as an Old Lady? Girls like that sometimes don't last too long around SAMCRO."
"Tess is hanging in alright," Opie told him. "She's tough as nails. She got through what happened to her and it didn't send her running. Brought her closer instead. Most women would have run fast, in the opposite direction."
"That's true," Jax chuckled. "Just talk to Koz. Make sure he's alright with the way things are going. We need him strong. There are many brothers left on the outside, and we need him with us on this."
"I will," Opie assured him. "But don't worry about out numbers on the outside. Shit, if things get desperate, I imagine we could just patch in Gemma and Lila and Fiona and Tara. They would scare the fuck out of anybody with half a brain."
"That's a terrifying thought," Jax breathed. Cracking a smile again, he asked, "How's Tara doing?"
"She's alright. Pretty much giant now," Opie reported, none too delicately.
"I'm going to tell her you said that," Jax laughed.
"Do that, and you really might need to start worrying about numbers on the outside, because she would have me dead and buried in no time."
"That's my girl," Jax boasted, before shooting Opie a curious look. "Speaking of girls….why aren't you at home getting your dick sucked?"
Opie groaned, but knew that there was no point in not answering the question. He had nothing to hide from Jax. They had always know each other's secrets. He steadied his expression. "Because Lila is at work today."
"At the garage?" Jax asked.
"No," Opie clarified, remaining as stoic as possible.
"Ah," Jax finally caught on. "And, uh, how's that working for you?"
"It's not," came Opie's stony response.
Jax was quiet for a few moments, letting things settle. They had definitely entered territory that Opie hadn't planned on touching today. In fact, if he was honest, he had come here today to avoid dealing with this particular subject. He should have know it wouldn't work.
"You know, Op," Jax finally spoke up. "I really like Lila. When Donna died...I thought that I had lost you. I thought my best friend was gone forever, and I hated that. I hated seeing you like that. Then you met Lila, and she was exactly what you needed to pull you back." Opie nodded and Jax continued. "The thing is, Op, she is exactly who she has always been. Her job? It's nothing new. She's the same person she was when you first hooked up. She's the same person she was when you asked her to marry you. Lila hasn't changed. Did you expect her to?"
"Yes," Opie answered immediately, completely honest. "I didn't expect the woman raising my kids to be a porn star."
"I get that," Jax told him. "You never expected anybody but Donna to be raising your kids. But you've got Donna, and you're damn lucky. She's a good Old Lady, Op."
"So you think I shouldn't give a fuck that the woman who I am marrying is a porn star?" Opie asked.
"I think that if it bothers you that much, you should talk to Lila. But don't expect her to agree with you Op," Jax advised, shrugging his shoulders. "Look, if I decided one day that I didn't like Tara being a doctor, I could ask her to be something different, but I couldn't expect her to agree with me. Not that doctors and porn stars are the same thing…."
Opie thought about what Jax was saying. As much as he hated to admit it, his friend had a point. He had been fine with Lila before, known exactly who she was and what she did for a living right from the start. Hell, the reason he met her in the first place was because she was one of Luanne's girls. He just couldn't stand the thought of her being with some other dick, even if it was just for work. Jax was right, though. He could either talk to her and hope that she saw things his way, or he could fucking kill every guy who put his hands on her.
Just then, the notice sounded for the end of visitation. "You know," Opie said as he stood up to hug Jax. "I am pretty sure Lila played a doctor in one of her movies. I'll have to see if I can find it for you, just so you have a better idea of what Tara is doing while she is at work."
"Oh, fuck you, Op," Jax groaned.
"Alright," Tara spoke up as she, Fiona, Tess, and Lila entered the lingerie shop that Lila had recommended. "We need to find something awesome for Tess, for when she and Kozik seal the deal, and something for Fi that will have Chibs sending flowers much, much more often."
Tess groaned and covered her face with her hands while Fiona laughed. "Trust me, Filip has already been rewarded for the flowers a time or….four. But I won't say no if something catches my eye. Let's focus on our girl Tess, though."
"Jesus, Fiona!" Lila managed a laugh. "Four times?"
Fiona shrugged, and impish smile lighting up her features. "What can I say? I really like flowers."
"Good to know in case I get desperate while Jax is in lock up," Tara joked. "Oh, Tess! This is pretty!"
Tess eyed the see through, lacy red number Tara was holding up. Her face paled. "What!? No! I wouldn't even begin to know how to even put that on, much less let somebody see me in it!"
"It laces up," Lila advised. "Looks amazing on, but it's a bitch to get off. Nobody wants to take the time in the heat of the moment. Trust me, go for something easier."
"You're no fun," Tara complained. She put back the red lace up and instead pulled out a shiny black thong that came with a lace push up demi bra. "What about this?"
"I don't think I have the boobs for that," Tess mumbled, blushing a scarlet red. "Or the ass."
"Maybe not, but I do," Fiona cut in, taking it from Tara's hands.
Tess glanced around the shop. Half of the things on display shocked her. She couldn't in a million years imagine wearing any of this stuff in front of Kozik. "Don't they have anything more...modest?"
"Honey, you are in a lingerie shop owned by a former porn star," Lila pointed out. "I don't think they do 'modest' here."
"I...I don't think I can do this," Tess blurted out. The more she had thought about sex lately, the more appeal it had. Each and every time Kozik kissed her, she felt had wall crumbling a bit more. However, everything in the store intimidated the hell out of her, and she could feel a nervous sweat coming on.
"Yes, you can," Lila was quick to assure her with a warm smile. "Come on. Not all of these things are bad. We can find you something, I promise. Now, what color do you like?"
"I don't know, really," Tess thought about it. "Maybe...purple?"
"Great, over here," Lila took her hand and lead her to the back of the store, Tara and Fiona following.
They spent the next hour coming through several rack. Lila had found a section that at least was a measure more classy, and less slutty. Tess ended up with several silky slips and babydoll halters with matching panties. She was reasonably sure that she could pull off wearing them without embarassing the hell out of herself. Fiona ended up with enough things to ensure that Chibs would be a very, very happy man for quite some time.
"Lila, what about you? Don't you want to pick out a few things to impress Opie?" Tess asked as they headed towards the cashier.
Lila laughed bitterly. "No, I really don't think so?"
"Things not going well?" Tara asked sympathetically. She had known Opie for a long time, and despite her early quarrels with Lila, she considered the woman a good friend. The idea that things might not be going well for them saddened her.
"No, things are fine, I guess," Lila sighed. "It's just that I think Opie would like to see less of me in lingerie and more of me in aprons."
"Yeah, because that's going to happen," Fiona scoffed.
"He wishes it would," Lila told them. "He's not exactly thrilled with my...career choice."
"Still?" Tara asked. "I thought that he was over that."
"He's never going to be over that," Lila rolled her eyes.
"Well, I mean, I guess I can see his point, a little," Fiona spoke up. "I mean, you guys saw me punch that Crow Eater in the face just for flirting with my Filip. I would probably explode if I had to deal with him being with other women, even if it was for work."
"I know that," Lila agreed. "I know it's hard for him, but what am I supposed to do, just quit? Whether or not he likes it, it's how I earn money, and it's not like I am going to be able to do this forever. I need to earn while I still can! You know what he told me a few weeks ago? That he wants to have a baby!"
"A baby?" all three women said simultaneously.
"A baby," Lila confirmed. "And it's not even because he wants another kid. It's only because he knows that if I get pregnant, I can't work."
"Do you want to have a baby?" Fiona asked gently, taking her hand.
"Someday, maybe," Lila admitted, catching Tara's eye. The secret that they kept between them was something they never talked about, but they both were thinking of it now. "But...now? WIth everything that is going on? Just because he is uncomfortable with my job?"
"Hell no," Tara shook her head.
"I wish he would just be logical and talk about it," Lila admitted sadly. "I don't know how I can make him understand, but I know I don't have a shot if he won't even talk to me about it."
"Logical isn't exactly a word that applies to our men, unfortunately," Fiona smiled. "But isn't that why we love them?"
Lila laughed. "Wanna trade guys for a day or two? Then we'll see how much you love him."
"Not a chance in hell," Fiona smirked. "Come on, let's pay for these. Then, we can head to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and see if we can find you a nice apron."
Kozik was finishing up a basic tune up when he noticed a woman standing outside the office, looking about as far out of place as anybody had ever looked. She was older, but her age isn't what set her apart from the standard customers at TM. Her refined looks, pristine makeup, and cothing that cost more than the car he had just finished working on is what set her apart. The Mercedes she had driven up in looked to be in perfect working condition. He couldn't figure out what she might want, but as Chibs was elbow deep in an SUV, cursing up a storm, and Chucky was babysitting, it was his job to find out.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" he called out as he approached her.
"I don't know, can you?" came her response. The sound of her snotty, high strung voice instantly aggrevated the piss out of him.
Kozik plastered a fake smile and asked again, "...Can I?"
The woman rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. "I am not sure I am in the right place."
"Well, if you tell me what you need, I could help you decide," he pointed out, rather rudely.
"I am looking for Tess," the woman informed him, her chin raised proudly, showing that she did not in any way appreciate his tone.
"Tess?" he repeated, his guard instantly raised. He didn't know who this woman was or why she was asking about Tess, but he consdered it his job to find out.
"Yes, Tess," the woman told him again. "Young woman, dirty blonde hair, quite pretty in a certain way. I had heard a rumor she was holed up here in your town."
"Never heard of her," he lied, instantly. He wasn't sure why he mislead her, but he wasn't sorry. Whoever this woman was, he had a feeling she wasn't any kind of good news.
"I'm sorry to hear that," the woman said. She reached into her designer leather purse and pulled a card from her wallet, handing it to him, making sure not not touch him in any way at all. "If she should show up, please be sure to let me know. I will be staying in own for a few days, in case she turns up. I am quite eager to get in touch with her."
"Sure thing," Kozik nodded, trying his best to give absolutely nothing away.
"Thank you for you….help," she offered him an equally tight smile before turning. Her heels clicked the pavement as she walked back to that Mercedes.
"Who the bejesus was that?" he heard Chibs call out as he watched the car leave the lot..
Kozik glanced down at the card, and only one thing stood out to him. The address printed in bold at the bottom of the card indicated that the older woman was from Garden Grove, California.
"Nobody good," Kozik called to Chibs as he slid the card in his back pocket, pulling gis cell out and dialing the familiar number for Tess. "Nobody good at all."