CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

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When I wake up in the morning the feeling of Jax's arms wrapped around me is welcome, but the tightness of his grip instantly makes me wonder if I should have stayed awake till he came back. I do remember him returning after about 45 minutes, the fog from my brain lifting long enough to note him undressing and climbing back into bed.

I wiggle in his embrace and turn to face him, his eyes are open and he's looking at me with obvious concern.

"What?"

Jax starts to shake his head then looks at me again "Ever heard of a group calling themselves LOAN?"

I groan and nod "Unfortunately. Nazi's in suits."

"Couple of them showed up at the garage last night, apparently the head Hitler has an interest in Charming and setting up some cigar shop."

I throw the blankets off and get up; any thought of an extended good morning forgotten in the arrival of well dressed, moneyed, brainless, racists twats in our tiny town. "Come tell me what happened while I shower. Are you aloud to tell me actually?"

Jax grins as he slides out of the opposite side "Darlin', I can tell you what I want. You ain't gonna talk to anyone."

I nod as I twist the shower controls and get into the cubical. "I know that, but does Uncle Clay?"

Jax shudders "Stop with the Uncle, please. The man is my step-father."

"So..."

"Some guy that missed the evolution of mankind showed up last night, under the guise of introducing themselves to the other businessmen in town. Unfortunately things did not go to plan and Ethan Zobelle, the primary Nazi, told Clay to stop selling guns to Niners. Of course Clay denied it, after all we're just mechanics and Harley enthusiasts."

I chuckle from in the shower cubicle. "Yes you are baby. Which store does he want?"

I see Jax shrug "Not sure, there's so many empty at the moment. Clay's talking to Unser today to see if he can find out. Why?"

I push the door open and grab the towel of the rail "Well, if the store front he wants becomes unavailable then he may leave."

Jax cocks an eyebrow "How would the space become unavailable?"

"Easy, we'll buy it." I reply drying off quickly.

"Sarah, you can't buy a store to stop someone moving into Charming."

"Why the fuck not? Do you really want that bunch of scum setting up shop in town? We'll buy every empty store in town if we have to." I spin to look at him and meet his eyes waiting while he thinks over what I said.

"You really would wouldn't you?" He says, stepping over and wrapping his arms around my damp shoulders.

I nod "I would do anything to keep Charming as it is. If I have to spend every cent making sure there is nowhere that they can worm their way in I will. Call Clay; let him know what's happened and how we're fixing it. I need to call Mandy."

I step past him and pick up my phone, dialling the agent and waiting. "Charming Real Estate, Mandy speaking."

"Hey Mandy, it's Sarah. Sorry for bothering you on a Saturday morning but I need a huge favour." I speak quickly silently hope she can do what I'm going to ask.

"Anything, what's up?" She sounds interested.

"I need you to find out what stores are up for sale, if any have offers and who they are from. If there is an offer on any of them from someone named Zobelle, Ethan Zobelle or anything to do with smokes, cigars, tobacco, I want you to make a better offer, an unconditional offer."

"Do I want to know why?" The curiousness has shot into her voice with the scratching of pen on paper.

"Easy, I'm trying to keep neo-Nazi shitheads from setting up shop in town."

"Okay Sarah. I'm on it. I'll ring you when I know. Any limit on offers?"

I pause for a second "If you find out their offer, beat it by 10%, make sure the vendor knows it's unconditional and settlement can be within 48 hours."

"Talk to you later."

"Thanks Mandy."

I hang up the phone as hear Jax finishing his conversation with a bye. "Filled Clay in, he's a little out of sorts that he didn't think of something like that, but then he also doesn't really know how much money you have does he?"

I stand up and cross the room, completely forgetting for a moment that I'm still not dressed, sliding my arms around Jax's waist and leaning my head onto his chest. "Clay has a very incorrect idea of what I'm worth, he knew in vague terms what my folks were worth and he also knows if he, or the Club, needs money for anything to ask me."

"You aren't worried about him using his connection to you?"

I shake my head, tilting it back so I can look up at Jax "Hell no. I know Clay wouldn't do that to me. The tough biker is a really good act he puts on. And if you tell him I said this I will kill you. My cat was run over and died when I was 8 and he cried just as much as I did."

Jax's eyes widen and he shakes his head "Never would have guessed."

I shrug "Clay brought the cat for me for my 5th birthday. He really isn't the monster that some people think him to be. He's made mistakes and he knows that, his recent complete fuck up with us is proof of that. But I also know that he has a tremendous ability to love people, it just takes a long time to get into his heart, but once you're there that's it you ain't going anywhere."

"Okay babe. But you better get dressed, Saint Clay wants us back at 2 for Church at 3 and it's already 11. Not to mention if you don't get dressed we won't be leaving here in a hurry."

I giggle and grab my clothes, jumping into underwear and sliding my legs into jeans and a long sleeved top on I pack all our stuff inside the 5 minutes Jax is in the shower. Grabbing his dirty clothes I jam them in the top of the bag and set it by the door with my jacket. "Ready."

Jax comes out of the bathroom and shakes his head "That was quick."

I nod "Clean clothes are on the bed, I'll be hunting coffee."

"Bring me back one." Jax calls as I step through the door.