Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter. Sorry it's super short but I wanted to leave it with a cliffhanger. If you've read my other stories you'll notice they are my specialty. Anyway, hope you all enjoy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: The Jackpot

Lacey laid on the picnic blanket she'd brought with them to the creek. Her head was resting on Jax's shoulder. Jax was holding her left hand against his chest. She could feel his heart beating under her hand. They'd been at the creek enjoying each others company, neither of them feeling the need to say much. But Lacey sensed someone was watching them. She'd had the feeling since they left Charming PD. She didn't know who it could be but she knew there was someone. She wanted to tell Jax about the awful feeling she had in the pit of her stomach but didn't want to come off more paranoid than she already was.

She laced her fingers through his and moved her head to look at him. He turned his head after she did. There faces were barely an inch apart. "Thanks for bringing me out here."

He smiled. "We haven't been out here in a long time, thought it would be a good idea."

She leaned in, her lips meeting his as she closed the small gap between them. They'd been coming to the creek since Jax got his license just after he turned sixteen.

The ringing of Jax's phone broke them apart. He let out a frustrated sigh as he answered. Lacey leaned in closer to hear who it was. "This better be good."

"Aye it is. Clay told me to call you. It seems our computer savvy prospect found something." Chibs voice came through the other end.

"What did he find?"

"The sooner you get here the sooner you'll find out."

"Alright, we're on our way." He sighed before hanging up. He looked at Lacey. "Sorry babe, we gotta cut this short."

"Let's hope whatever Juice has found leads to something." She stood up holding her hands out to him. He held her hands as she helped him up. They walked back to her car, leaving the creek.

"What's going on?" Jax asked as he and Lacey walked up to Chibs, who was sitting outside when they pulled into the lot. The whole ride back to the clubhouse, Lacey was nervously biting her fingernails and holding Jax's hand as he drove. She could tell he was just as nervous as she was. She laced her fingers through his as they stood there.

"Clay thinks we hit the jackpot." Chibs told him before looking at Lacey. "He wants you to go through what the prospect found."

Lacey nodded. "Does that mean this could be it?"

"Could be."

"I'll go talk to Clay, you go see Juice," Jax told Lacey. She nodded again. He placed a quick peck on her lips before letting her hand go and walked towards the garage.

"You okay, Lass?" Chibs asked when Jax was out far enough not to hear them. She looked down at the ground and gave him a slight nod of her head. Chibs let out a small scoff. "You're a terrible liar, Sweetheart. What's going on in that head of yours?"

She sighed looking up as she ran a hand through her hair. She couldn't keep anything from Chibs. He knew when something was going on. He had a sixth sense when it came to her. Sometimes she hated it and other times she was grateful for it. She avoided looking at him. "I don't know but I have this feeling something bad is going to happen. Ever since I left the station I've had the feeling someone's been watching me and Jax."

"Have you told Jackie-Boy?"

She shook her head. "I don't want to come off even more paranoid than I already am. Especially if it could be nothing."

"With the shit going on lately, it's more than likely something."

"I know," she sighed again.

"Then tell him."

"I will." she nodded then kissed his cheek before walking inside. She walked over to where Juan 'Juice' Ortiz, the newest prospect who was proving himself worthy, was sitting in front of a computer. "What did Clay want me to look at, Newbie?" she asked using the nickname she'd given him. He was the same age as her and originally from New York, the place Lacey always wanted to visit. The two already formed a brother & sister bond even with his awkward social skills.

Juice gave her one of his big smiles that could light up any room. Seeing that smile told her he stumbled onto something big. He stood up walking to the printer that was hooked up to the computer and walked back to her, handing her the pieces of paper. "I managed to print it off. Clay wants me to look further into see what else I can find."

She started to scan the pieces of paper. There was all sorts of information about the three people, a violent criminal record, something about someone being an informant for the Feds, specifically the ATF department. She looked at the last piece of paper to see three photo I.D's. Her eyes went wide in shock and her heart started beating against her chest. She didn't know what to think. She was feeling a whole mixture of feelings - Anger, stupidity, shame and frightened were to name a few. She had no idea of how this could happen.

"Excuse me, I'm gonna... I'll be right back," she mumbled, quickly standing up from her seat. She dropped the pieces of paper, rushing to the bathroom to empty her stomach.