CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN

The guys help put everything away and head towards TM with my truck, Jax staying at the house. We retreat to the living room, as silence descends broken only by the occasional squeak from Doj's ball Jax looks at me "You okay babe?"

I shake my head and burrow into his arms, curling into a ball on his lap "No Jackson, I'm not."

Jax chuckles and runs his hand over my hair "What can I do?"

I shrug "I don't know, really I don't. Zobelle sent white supremacists after me cause of a store I wouldn't let him buy, what's wrong with him."

Jax shrugs, his fingers tangling in my hair "I don't think it was to do with the store Sarah. It was to send a message to us. It's because of what's going on."

I look up at him and lift my eyebrows "Tell me."

Jax sighs and examines my face for a long time "Are you sure?"

I nod, resting my head on his shoulder "If I'm in danger I have a right to know why."

Jax sighs and nods, handing me his beer bottle and leaning back "This is gonna take a while, can I get a refill?"

I snicker and get to my feet, heading to the kitchen for another beer for him and to close the back door, Doj had picked up his ball and trotted upstairs, meaning he's in bed for the night.

Returning to the living room Jax lifts his arm up and waits while I curl into his chest, both of us lying on the couch. "You know about the guns being moved to different charters?"

I shrug "I know the basics, you're still handing the import but assembly and distribution are being split in half to other charters, once the Kings have approved the set up."

Jax laughs and kisses my forehead "That's it summed up in one sentence. You wouldn't have noticed being stuck here but the guys all left for the two selected charters right after the Taste of Charming. Most of the setup is done, dummy corps and buildings prepped. We're waiting on the Kings to let us know who's coming to inspect and when they'll be here."

I nod "Okay, so that doesn't explain Zobelle and his hard on for the club."

Jax chokes as he inhales; coughing for a couple of breaths before kissing me again "That's equal parts brilliant and revolting."

I tilt my head back and kiss his chin, the only part I can reach, "That's what I'm here for, to entertain and disturb."

"Zobelle has been trying to get a foot hold in Oakland, but with our supply of weapons it's not working. You know he tried to warn us about selling to colour?" I nod "I think that's probably why you were targeted today. The last shipment was delivered two days ago and Zobelle's goons were forcibly ejected from the bar they were trying to set up shop in. Every time he thinks he's making head way Laroy and his crew pop in and eliminate them, and their stock vanishes."

"Stock of what?" I ask, frowning.

"Guns, heroin, crack, cocaine, pot, booze, porn. Everything, the 9er's are managing to keep their sales at the same level, increasing some places with the disappearing white guys. Zobelle is not happy about it and showed up at TM again during the week."

"Why?"

"To ask if we knew where his business 'associates' merchandise is." Jax says with a chuckle.

"And do you?"

Smirking at me he nods once "Of course we do. The spoils of war are being split. The hard drugs are being kept by the 9ers, we're splitting the weed and weapons, those that make the grade anyway, the porn and booze are all coming to us. The club won't have to buy liquor for about a year. Bobby's a very happy man, so's Clay, they found a couple of boxes of Cuban cigars in the last lot which he claimed."

I shake my head as I giggle "So Zobelle is not managing to get anything set up in Oakland and is targeting SAMCRO?"

Jax nods "He knows that we're the source of the guns that are stopping him setting up shop, he knows we have something to do with how fast the locations are getting back to the 9ers but he can't do shit and he's trying to keep his connection to the happenings as far away from his white collar business partners and fellow LOAN members as he can. We keep sticking spanners in the works." Sighing he kisses my forehead again "I talked with the guys about sending you and the rest of the girls to New York till he's dealt with. Today just makes me think it was a good idea."

I stiffen in his arms, a feeling of unexpected rejection coursing through my veins. "Clay thought it was a good idea, and wondered if Derek could house you all." I bite down on my lip, for some reason feeling hot tears welling in my eyes. Holding my eyes open so they don't fall onto Jax's arm which is under my head I wonder how far into planning they are when a tear hangs off my lashes. Reaching up I swat them away angrily, curling my arm between us, instead of returning it to where it was thrown over Jax's waist.

He blinks rapidly and looks down at me "Babe I couldn't do it even if Clay wanted me to. I'm far too selfish. I need you here; regardless of if it would be better if all of SAMCRO's Old Ladies went to New York on an extended shopping trip. Besides that, Clay mentioned it to Ma and she completely flipped out." Kissing my wet eyelashes he snickers "But that was after I'd already decided you weren't going anywhere."

Jax sighs as his lips brush my forehead, his eyes clouding with concern "Sarah, you're really hot, are you okay?"

I shrug sleepily, closing my eyes "Still not at full health baby, but I'm fine. Your mom still has Abel so it's not like I have early morning wake up call."

Jax pushes me lightly till I roll to my feet, frowning "What. I was comfortable."

Jax pulls me towards the stairs and points upstairs "I know you were you were starting to go to sleep while you were talking. Go upstairs; I'll be there once I've finished locking up. And don't let the hairball on the bed."

I snicker as I climb the stairs slowly, calling softly "He doesn't sleep on the bed unless you tell him he can."

Jax catches up with me at the bedroom door, casting a quick look around, finding Doj watching us from his sofa on the landing. "Told you so."

Jax shakes his head and pushes me to the bed "I'll run you a bath, where's that bath stuff Ma brought you?"

"On the vanity." I reply, following him moving just as slowly as I did going up the stairs before shaking my head at the doorway "Don't bother baby. I'm too tired. I just want to go to sleep."

Jax turns around and nods once "Okay. Bed then."