Sorry so short...but a massive upload is coming. Thanks for the reviews!
Juice pulled out the flyer and laid it on the table. The group looked it over, wide-eyed. Happy finally picked it up and announced-
"You mean the fucking the Outlanders are gonna hold a bike rally in Novato?"
The Sons was outraged. At this point, this half-bit "club," as it were, had already pushed enough buttons, but this was like rubbing salt in the wound. As the group of men exchanged their sentiments, Jax raised his voice to bring back the focus. "The rally is two weeks away, we can't risk going in there just blowin' guys away. We gotta figure out a way to take this shit down without any fall back."
"Why not? I'm done fucking around with these guys. Clearly, they don't get the hint so why not just go in and shoot any mother fucker with an Outlander cut? This sounds completely reasonable to me," Tig interjected throwing in his two cents.
"That's your problem Tig, you shoot first and think later-we can't do that with these guys. We can't risk anymore negative attention on the club-the fewer eyes on us, the better."
"Well, Jacky Boy, what do you suggest we do? We cannae continue to take their shyte." Chibs said.
"Not when they're taking our guns and killing our prospects-you think they were thinking much when they did that, Jax? They did it to us-why can't we do it to them?"
"Because we're fucking better than they are, Tig, we can't bring any more heat onto us-we got enough shit going on." Jax had felt that, these days, there needed to be more thinking and less violence. Granted, the Outlanders knew what they wanted, and would take it by any means necessary. That being said, Jax felt they had the advantage, especially if they planned out their attack.
"Alright, Jax, what do you suggest we do?" Tig asked through his teeth. Tig felt completely opposite to Jax, thinking that it was because they spent too much time thinking that they were always unable to make the first move. He felt it showed they were vulnerable, which, as the Sergeant At Arms, they were not.
Before Jax could answer, Clay spoke.
"It's clear this rally needs to be shut down. They can't try to steal our guns and flaunt their bullshit MC anywhere within our radius like they're hot shit. Until then, we'll need extra security for the runs. Jax, contact the other charters-we need more guys for the time being." Jax nodded. "Find a weakness, we'll meet again tomorrow. Bobby-contact Otto, see if there's any word on the inside about these guys."
And the gavel fell.
….
Tig watched Damien ride off as he took a smoke from his cut. Bobby walked out and patted him on the shoulder before leaving. The minor exchange of small talk reminded him. "Bobby, is Mina still around?" Bobby shook his head. "No, she said she'd had to get to the shop, but she'd be back later to touch up my arms. Why?" Tig pulled his phone from his cut and dialed Johnny Boy's. "Nothing, it's cool." It was now a little after 8, so the shop should still be open. Maybe he could stop in after hours.
"Johnny Boys," she answered.
"Hey, Sugar tits," he smiled into the phone but he heard a click and silence. Pulling his phone away from his ear, he observed the screen and saw the duration time of the call flashing. You know, the more he dealt with her, the more Tig found he liked her. She was like Gemma, she didn't take shit from anyone. When she didn't like something, a nickname, a look-she let you know. When she answered again, she seemed agitated.
"Johnny Boys," she answered again. This time, however, Tig threw her for a loop, and using his best British accent, he tried his best to sound regal.
"Yes, this is Alexander Trager and I was wondering if I could please speak with Miss Mina. This is regarding the getting of le tattoo."
"What?" Mina laughed as she stared at the phone cord. She knew what he was going for but he slipped between British and Redneck. It was kinda cute.
"It's Tig!"
"No! I thought the King of England was calling me."
"I thought they just had a Queen."
"Ah, see I knew you weren't as stupid as you looked."
"Ha Ha. Well, are you available tonight? I want a tattoo!" Mina rolled her eyes as she pictured him saying this like a two year old. She had a very active imagination. She had left the clubhouse for an appointment but, upon arrival, was told they had to cancel so she was free. She figured she could use the practice but she wasn't too sure if she was ready to be alone with Tig just yet. "I'll pay you double!" Tig shouted and immediately, Mina's mind changed. Part of the arrangement was the Sons didn't pay for tattoos, but who was she to turn down profit? Perhaps, should Bobby question, she could tell him it was a tip and he was very persistent.
"Yeah, alright," Mina said, "You can come by in about an hour. Johnny Boy's leaving for a date, so I'll leave the door open."
"Sounds good, see ya then."
Mina heard Tig click his phone shut and hung up the shop's phone.
Johnny Boy walked out from the back with his jacket. He stopped in the door frame behind Mina and stared at her. She hadn't expected him to be standing there staring at her when she turned around, so her body jerked. "Jesus, you scared me to death." Mina thought Johnny Boy looked a bit pale or sickly, but thought it may be his nerves. "Hey, you ok," she asked him. Johnny Boy nodded as he walked to the opposite side of the counter and adjusted his collar. "Yeah, I'm good," he said staring at her again. Mina could see little beads of sweat above his brow. "Wow, this girl must be really special."
Johnny Boy looked to Mina confused, "What?"
Mina laughed, "this girl. She's got you so nervous you're sweating bullets. Here-" Mina left the room really quick to grab a paper towel. When she returned to the room, she saw Johnny Boy looking outside. She walked over to him by the window and used the paper towel to dab the sweat. Johnny Boy looked at her.
Mina didn't know how to take the look, but it was almost as if he was looking at her like it would be the last time, like if he were leaving town. Mina looked up at him, "Hey, you sure you ok? Like for real? You're not gonna take this gal and run to Vegas, are you?"
"What? No," Johnny Boy said and gave a nervous chuckle. Then, he hugged Mina, "Mina, you're an amazing artist and-"
"And, what is this John?" Now, Mina felt uneasy. What the hell was his problem?
"Nothing, I just-I don't think I tell you enough. I wanted to tell you-you're gonna go far, kid."
"Um, okay, John, enough with the creep factor-Go on your date." Mina was practically pushing him out the door. Finally, Johnny Boy walked to his car, got in, and gave the place one last look.
….
Tig walked back into the clubhouse and saw Juice sitting in front of his laptop.
"Hey, Juice- get me a picture."
"Ah, Tig, you're gonna need to be more specific."
"I'm getting a tattoo and I want something old school, like an anchor." Juice began to type some stuff into google and clicked on the first picture he saw, which was a Sailor Jerry tattoo. Tig didn't even look, instead he just said, "Yep, great-print it out. I gotta go."
"You're going now," Juice asked, "you're not even gonna, like, think about if you want this or not?"
"You my mother, Juice? Eh?" Tig got up in Juice's face. Juice backed down, as he didn't mean to start trouble. "Just print out the fucking picture, ok?"
"Yep," Juice said, and asked nothing further.
….
Mina was in the back of the shop setting up her station when she heard the bell on the front door go off. "Be there in a second Tig," she shouted. She got up and checked the station over once more before meeting him in the front. She could see the curly mop of black curls and his Sons cut from down the hall. "You're really…early."
This wasn't Tig.