CHAPTER FIFTY

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The discussion in Church last night about how to deal with LOAN being in Charming is obviously being taken more seriously than I thought, instead of just the four Redwood sons and three from Fresno carrying backpacks almost the entire charter is packed and ready to go, the bare bones of members not making the journey, 3 prospects and two of the patched members are the only ones from the fairly large charter staying behind.

The fact that not only are 6 patched members reading themselves for the ride to Charming, but both the President and the VP of the charter are as well makes me wonder just how bad it actually is, my brain starts trying to figure out the absolute worst case scenario when Jax throws his arm around my shoulder, our bag hanging from his other hand.

"Relax Darlin', they're mainly coming for the pussy and booze. Clay just wanted a strong presence to show the white trash that we're not intimidated by them." His words make me relax but the thing that completely settles me is that none of the Sons in the lot look at all concerned. They're all laughing and joking with each other as they strap their bags to their bikes.

I lean against his shoulder "I'm trying not to worry, but it's ingrained in me. You guys are all my family."

Jax pulls me around so I'm standing in front of him and puts his hands on either side of my face, tilting my head so our eyes meet "Trust us?"

I nod "I do baby, but I'm Gemma's niece."

Jax shudders "Not by blood thank god."

I giggle "No, not by blood but I learnt to worry about all you guys from her."

Jax pulls me close and wraps his arms around me, his forearms resting right across the back of my waist "Just do what you do best, be my Old Lady, love me, love Abel, love the club and let us sort out the rest."

I nod against his chest "Well if they want pussy and booze someone needs to let Gem know we're leaving now."

Opie walks up as I say that and chuckles "Already done S."

I smile at him and slide out of Jax's arms "Better hit the road then."

Jax nods and looks around, the rest of the guys are all patiently waiting by their bikes, Vince grins at us "You guys finally ready?"

I poke my tongue out at him and pull my helmet out of Jax's hand "Sorry Vinny."

He scowls at me while Maggie laughs spluttering out "Now I'm not the only one that calls you that."

He mutters under his breath while she kisses him and several whispered sentences are passed between the pair while everyone else scrambles to get bags strapped properly and helmets on. Maggie finally steps backwards and he starts his bike. The rumble of the single engine a cue for the rest of the Sons to get in gear, the morning peace is shattered completely by the sounds of the other 10 Harleys that are making the trip being started and revved.

I look over at Donna and roll my eyes, mouthing 'Kids' to her, but that doesn't stop the grin that stretches across my face as the bikes slowly start moving, twin lines forming behind Vince.

The ride out of town is an odd one, when in Charming most of the people we pass smile or half-wave; the people in Fresno seem to be a strange mixture of those that appreciate the Sons, and those that think they are below pond scum. We get more smiles and waves than anything else, but I'm stunned at the amount of people who shake their heads or scowl at the line of bikes as they pull through the streets.

Though the ride from Fresno to Charming isn't long at the halfway point the guys all follow some completely unseen signal and pull into a gas station that proudly boasts having both hot and iced coffee, like it's some new thing.

While the guys putter around topping up tanks and buying smokes I wander out to the street and pull out my phone and check for messages. There aren't any yet and I silently hope it's not a bad thing. Tucking my phone back into my pocket I cross back to the bikes, shaking my head at Donna's raised eyebrow.

I get within ear shot "No news is good news?"

Donna nods "Maybe she's busy with details."

I shrug and slide my arm under Jax's, suddenly feeling a little chilled in the air "I just hope the other deal isn't already finalised."

Jax cocks an eyebrow at me "Wanna share?"

I shake my head and pluck my helmet off the seat where I'd set it "Nope."

He shrugs and swings his leg over the bike again "Okay. About another hour and we'll be home, unless you require a longer than normal route."

I swat his arm as I settle behind him, fastening my helmet again before sliding my arms around his waist. "You really are a smart ass."

"Yep, but I'm your smart ass." Jax grins over his shoulder as the collection of bikes start again.

I lean closer to his ear and whisper "Damn straight you are baby, and don't forget it, otherwise the only way I'll be cumming with you is like this."

Jax's breath catches in his throat and he twists his head, spotting the grin on my face, reaching back he squeezes my thigh "And you called me a smart ass."

I shrug, the movement almost lost against his back as we start pulling away, Jax's hand going back to the handlebars. "But you love it."

Jax nods and then falls silent as the noise of almost a dozen Harley's makes any talking impossible. It's hard enough to talk over one, let alone 11 travelling in fairly close proximity.

The remaining part of the trip back is completely quite, the differences plainly obvious to everyone when we start into the built up part of Charming, everyone we pass either waves or smiles. The only sour face we see is JJ as he comes out of his office, but that could be related to several things. Losing a commercial building sale in Sherman's, being one-upped on a building he's been trying to get onto the market for ages with my completely off the radar purchasing of Simon's building. It may just be the sight of motorbikes though.

His glare follows us down the street and I giggle thinking of one of the real reasons he hates the Sons so much. As a 16 year old he'd discovered that while money could buy him a motorcycle licence, it couldn't buy him the strength to control one, or the level of bravery it takes to get on two wheels with nothing but clothes between skin and road. He'd forced Uncle Jacob to buy him a motorbike for his 16th birthday and 2 days after passing the test it'd been parked in the back of the garage and forgotten about.

Rolling to a stop at a traffic light Jax turns his neck "What are you giggling about?"

I smile "JJ and his bike envy."

Jax grins, he'd almost fallen over with laughter when I'd told him and Opie about JJ and his failed attempt at keeping up with the pair of them. I'm sure that it's part of the reason things are still so tense between the three of them, Jax and Ope find it incredibly hard to look at him without laughing.

Pulling into the lot at Teller-Morrow several minutes later I almost want to double check my watch, but I know that it's not quite 1pm, we still have about 2 hours before Clay wanted to be at the table but every Redwood Son is in the lot, the line of bikes that have just arrived are quietly parked and the sudden silence as 11 Harley engines are stopped seems startling.