A/N - Oh, I just couldn't help it, hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much I enjoyed writing it! Thank you so much for all the feedback, it's much appreciated. Always.

Gemma draped her arms around Nero's neck and closed her eyes as she leaned her forehead against his. Nero murmured contently, just her presence made him feel a little calmer. His mind had been racing, a constant mess since learning that Nina might be in some sort of trouble, but the second Gemma had arrived, he had somehow felt a semblance of control over his situation.

"Here," she murmured, leaning up and kissing his lips tenderly. "I know this is hard, baby, but I'm sure she's fine."

Nero gave her a sad smile. "She's my little girl, Gemma." He sighed. "I've let her down too many times, and I still can't take care of her the way she needs."

"You're trying," Gemma assured him, caressing his cheek and leaning against him. "You're a good father, Nero, all you can do is try for her."

They looked up towards the door of the office as someone knocked. Nero took a step back, giving Gemma a little space, and called for entry. Fiasco slipped in the door, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot as he looked between them.

"Am I interrupting?"

Gemma waved, she knew that Nero had been waiting for news. "Go ahead, sweetheart."

"Did you find something?" Nero asked, his eyes desperate. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know," Fiasco said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Found she's been playing a lot of cards, couple of joints out of Vegas, couple inside."

Nero swallowed and glanced at Gemma. He tapped his temple. "Nina, she's, uh, she's smart. Counts cards." He turned his attention back to Fiasco. "She been winning?"

"Ledgers are good," Fiasco nodded. "I couldn't get a lot more than that, it would be one bad beat and she could have lost the lot."

Nero nodded, that was perfectly possible. "We know what she was playing?"

Fiasco looked at Gemma awkwardly and lowered his voice as he said, "Fifty k tables. She was spending it, Nero, if she's in trouble, the money's gonna be big."

"I'll find a way to cover her," Nero said quickly. "However much, I'll get her out. I just need to know who she was spending it for."

Fiasco nodded. "I'm working on it."

"There's a guy in the club," Gemma volunteered. "Juice. He's good with computers. He can find out where she was playing, what she won. Or lost." She swallowed. "We can track her down, find some answers."

"Appreciate that," Nero nodded. "But I don't think your club want to help me out right now."

Gemma smiled as she patted his shoulder. "That's where I come in, don't you worry. I'll get Juice on it, we'll work it all out. Just flash these puppies at that goofball, he'll do anything you ask of him," she joked, zipping her jacket a little lower. Nero laughed and squeezed her hand.

"You're holding me together, mama." He kissed her knuckles. "Thank you."

The drive out to the strip club was an easy one, one Tig was only too happy to make knowing what he would get in return for it. Romero wanted a new meet location for cash exchanges, and Jax wanted to take it further out of Charming. The California-Nevada border sure seemed like the right place, it was just enough out of the way that it didn't take too long to ride out but it was close enough not to be a problem.

Tig parked up and spent a good few minutes smoothing out his hair as he looked in the rearview. Feeling he looked a little tamer, he tossed a mint into his mouth and climbed out of the car, pulling his cut straight on his shoulders.

"Come here, babies," he murmured, rubbing his hands together in glee. He swung into the club, looking around as he walked in. There were women everywhere, hanging off every single space in the place. Tig whistled, it was his idea of heaven. Perfect pussy against every single wall.

He slunk along, studying the tables and winking at a couple of the girls as he passed them. He could make a goddamn list of the ones he wanted to sample, he didn't intend to leave until he'd had a go with every single one.

"Oh, yes, baby," he grinned, sitting at the end of a walkway as he watched one pretty little blonde wrap her legs around a pole and hang upside down, her breasts in his face as he salivated over her. "That's it, you can work me like that."

He couldn't stop himself from licking his lips, these women were gorgeous. This was hours of entertainment, alone and with company, he was just waiting for the chance.

"You."

He froze as he felt hands clap on his shoulders. Turning, he looked awkwardly at a small, screwy little bald guy, covered in tattoos. He grinned, his gold teeth glittering in the fluorescent lights of the club.

"You, I know you." He slapped the cut with enthusiasm. "I know your friend. Your friend Jax."

Tig swallowed, that meant he was either dead or in for one hell of a ride. Trying to play it down the line, he stood up, giving himself at least the option to fight if he had to.

"Oh yeah?"

Piggy extended his hand and shook Tig's warmly. "You want to see her? Fuck, you've got to want to see her. Come on."

He yanked Tig down the corridor to a private room. Tig didn't say a word, not sure what was going in, but he followed. This guy was too drunk and enthusiastic to deny.

Piggy held the door open and ushered Tig into the room. It was lit with red lamplight, it couldn't have been sleazier if it tried but at least it didn't smell so badly of beer and sweat in here. There was the scent of some sort of incense, Tig sniffed the air.

"Sit down, sit down, let me get her for you," Piggy insisted. "First hour's on me, to thank your friend. Girl's a money spinner."

Tig stood up the second he left, his hands on his chain as he paced the room. Nobody had taken his weapon, nobody had stopped him coming in here. When the door opened again, Piggy shoved a girl into the room and gave Tig a thumbs up before he slammed it shut.

"Oh yeah, now this is what I'm talking about."

Tig grinned as he looked at her. She was leaning forward, her dark hair in her eyes. She swayed unevenly on her feet, dancing to the music she could hear pulsing from the other room, she was clearly out of her mind on something strong.

"You want to play, baby?" he asked. He ran his hands up the back of her thighs, groaning contently as his fingers slipped beneath her panties to feel the curve of her ass. He gave her a tug and she landed on his lap on the bed. "Let me see that pretty little mouth before you suck me dry."

He put one arm firmly around her tiny waist, holding her still as he ground up against her, rubbing his hard-on up between her legs. He used the other hand to sweep her hair back from her face, flicking it back over her shoulder. Tig swallowed as Nina gazed back at him, barely even recognising him as she moved to kiss him. He paused, pressing his hand against her to hold her back.

"Jesus Christ. Is this where you are?" His thumb rubbed carefully over her lips, she was sore, bruised all over. He took her hand, stretching out her arm, he could see the dark marks on her arm where someone had jabbed a needle in her arm. "Fuck, we need to get you out of here."

"I... I gotta work," she whispered dreamily as she pushed up against him, her torso tight to his. "I'm a good girl, I swear, I'll do whatever you want."

She had no idea who he was, whatever she was on was too strong. Tig groaned as her lips worked along his neck and jaw, he wanted her but not like this.

"Nina, baby, it's okay." He lay her down on the bed, running his hand along her side to assure her. "I'm your friend. Do you remember me? I'm Tig." She looked blank. "I'm Alex."

"Yes you are," she purred, tangling her legs with his and pulling him on top of her. Tig would have done anything in that moment to give in to her but he drew himself back.

"What have they given you? What are you on?" Her eyes were so wide and starry, it had to be some sort of hallucinogen, LSD maybe. "You don't have to do this."

"I want to," she pleaded, crawling onto his lap. "Please, let me dance for you."

Tig could feel his damn pants twitching as she started to move, her back and body curling and shaking to the beat. She looked like she was in ecstasy, the way she danced on him drove him wild.

"Just... lie with me, that's all I want," he murmured, pulling her down on top of him. Her lips pushed up against his as her hand snaked down to his pants and Tig grunted as he held her wrist to stop her. "Let me just hug you? Is that okay? Nobody ever hugs me."

She pouted, her eyes wide as she looked at him. "Ever?" She wrapped her arms around him eagerly and crushed him against her with way more strength than Tig had expected, murmuring happily. He closed his eyes, kissing her forehead as she held him possessively. "I'll hug you," she said, smoothing his hair lovingly. "You seem like a good man, I promise I'll always take care of you."