The club checked out the 'no-tell motel' that they had tracked Kohn down to after his first appearance in town. After a little 'pocket padding' and a few Diosa 'freebies' for the owner, desk clerk, maintenance and cleaning crew, each person asked all gave the Sons the same information; Kohn had gotten tight with a pimp named 'Greensleeves' who ran the rougher side of Lodi. Kohn had had girls in and out of his room over the last few weeks. He looked like he was going to be one of those 'extended stay' guests until one morning the cleaning crew went in and found all of his things gone. Kohn had slithered out of town like the nasty snake he was.
Lyla was in the middle of the newest Redwoody production when Opie asked her if she knew 'Greensleeves.'
"I have a fucked up question," Opie admitted sheepishly. Because nothing was more awkward than asking your porn star turned porn producer wife if she knew of an asshole pimp.
"Not many things in our lives aren't fucked up Op," she smiled at him tenderly looking up at him.
He chuckled, "I suppose that's true. Ugh have you heard of a pimp named Greensleeves?"
Shuddering, "He's bad news. Roughs up his girls. Fills them full of blow." Seeing Opie tensing up, "I've never met him, but some of the girls have mentioned him. He works out of the Riverdale area."
"Okay, thanks baby," Opie bent down and kissed her quickly, "We've got to…" he said as he looked around for Tig and Happy, whom he realized where in the corner getting blow jobs from two of the girls who thought they could 'work their way up the ladder.' He sighed out, "I guess I'm going to go call Jax and tell him what's up, and catch a smoke…"
Smiling coyly she let her fingers walk up his kutte to his beard, "We could…"
"I've never been much for voyeurism…" he smiled softly down at her.
"Can't blame a girl for trying," she smiled coyly, before going up on her tip toes to kiss him.
Opie called Jax, filling him in on what he had learned.
"I'll let you know what we learn," Opie promised over the phone.
Looking out the window, he felt antsy, anxious. Like he wanted to get on his bike and just ride. But he wasn't dumb enough now not to know where his priorities should lie. If his wife and child was going to be stuck here, so would he, "Thanks Op..."
"Come get him Op!" Tara spoke loudly enough for Opie to hear over the phone but not loud enough to wake the baby. Samantha Rose Teller was nestled comfortably on her mother's bare chest, her hospital gown and blanket covering enough to still keep it private. Tara was in pain, but it was worth it.
Turning his head to look over his shoulder to his wife, "Yep, I guess she's kicking me out. See you in a few," he flipped the phone shut and walked over to the bed, running his finger softly over his daughters delicate back, the gentle fall and rise of her back as she took in oxygen filling him full of love. "I should be here with you, babe…."
"And you have been, baby," Tara pointed out, smiling softly up at him, "But you are getting restless cooped up in here. Hell, I'm getting restless cooped up in here. And I know you want to look for…." She hesitated on saying the name.
Leaning down enough so he could rest his forehead against hers, "I love you, babe."
"I know. I love you too, baby," she whispered.
"You don't have to worry or even think about that ….." he stopped biting back the anger, "Just please don't worry about that. I need you to just focus on getting yourself better, and taking care of our girl here," he kissed her gently on the forehead then moved down to kiss her lips, then moved to lay a delicate kiss on the back of his daughters head, "Daddy loves you princess, be a good girl."
He stood and walked over to the reclining chair he had claimed, pulled his kutte off the back and slid it over his shoulders and back, "I'll see if I can sweet talk Kathleen into bringing the kids up from daycare. I'll be back soon."
"Be careful baby," Tara almost pleaded, a sudden wave of emotion over taking her.
"Always," he smiled, "Love you," he said before walking out the door.
The beast of a man that was Quinn stood from the seat he sat in outside the door, "Anyone you've never seen before shows up, they don't get near her. That twisted piece of shit has the balls to show up…." He growled, "You take him down THEN call me."
"Yes sir."
Opie called Nero to find out if he knew anything about the guy, and if he could ID him. Nero said he could. They meet up a few blocks from the neighborhood Greensleeves ran. Nero led them through the neighborhood and stopped around the corner from where he saw the pimp. He was roughing up one of his girls.
Opie, Jax and Chibbs pulled up alongside him, "The guy being friendly to the girl back there," he gestured to the scene they just passed, "That's him. No one's life would be ruined if he suddenly disappeared."
The guys rode around to the back side of the alley, Nero following at a reasonable distance. Dismounting their bikes, Jax, Opie and Chibbs approached the scene. Jax reached inside his leather kutte and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Pulling one of the sticks out, he placed it between his lips and passed it to Opie, then to Chibbs. Digging into his jeans pocket he dug out his reaper zippo, flicked it open, stuck the wick and brought the flame to the end of the cigarette. He took a long drag, and blew the smoke out.
"Who puts the 'o' in hoe?" they heard him ask the woman he was talking to.
"I do," they heard the woman respond timidly, then heard her yelp in pain as he twisted her arm back.
"Now stop you're fucking whining and go make my money, bitch," he growled, as he shoved her.
"I don't think I'd make much of a profit if I talked to my employees like that," Jax spoke up as he walked around the huge white hummer Greensleeves and his prostitute stood in front of.
Greensleeves turned to look at the intruders, "What the hell do you care how I speak to my hoes?" he snarled.
"Frankly I don't care, but I've heard you have some information I'm looking for," Jax walked closer to him, "I've had a long couple of weeks, so I'd really appreciate it if you'd make this easy."
"What? You gonna try threaten me with that butter knife you have on your side? Whatever…" Greensleeves scoffed, "Why don't you bitches get back on your little scooters and get the hell off my block," he turned around as if he was dismissing them.
"Hard way it is," Opie muttered.
Jax laughed darkly, before lunging at him from behind, wrapping his arm tightly around Greensleeves neck and dragging him into the alley, Greensleeves reacted as quickly as he could, flailing his arms for any purchase he could find. Jax tightened his arm around his neck and dropped him a bit lower to the ground.
"I'm a bit rusty at this, but I can do this all fucking day long," Jax grunted out between gritted teeth, "Unless you are ready to answer my question."
"What the…" Chibbs yelped. He and Opie had been watching the entry way to the alley, but obviously not close enough. He and Opie had suddenly been swarmed by a group of purse wielding hookers.
"Get the hell off me, lady," Opie yelped at the woman who had jumped on his back, she clawed at his face with her nails.
The commotion and yelling distracted Jax long enough that he loosened his grip on Greensleeves, who immediately took advantage of the situation. He used the leverage of his feet being so close to the ground and just pushed off the ground as hard as he could ramming Jax into the brick wall behind them. He swung his elbow back to break the hold Jax had on him catching Jax in the eye.
Nero watched the scene unfold in front of him, but wasn't really sure what he could do to help the situation. By the time he had gotten out of his car, Greensleeves had already scrambled to his Hummer had it started and in reverse, speeding toward Nero at a pretty good pace after running over Jax's bike.
"GOD DAMMIT!" Jax bellowed, punching the brick wall with his fist.
Opie had finally managed to get the woman off his back, and Chibbs stood there dumbfounded as to what just happened to them.
Nero ran to them, "Shit! You guys okay?"
"Yeah, just a little stunned," Opie admitted.
"What the hell was that?" Chibbs demanded.
"Back to square one…" Jax sighed out in frustration, digging his hands deep into his hair. How had this one piece of shit been able to stay hidden for this long? Just like the fucking rat he was…. Hiding in the deep dark crevices.
"Maybe not…." Opie said softly, nudging his head in the direction of the prostitute Greensleeves was talking to when they got there. She looked scared and small, like she had shrunk into the corner of the alley as best as she could.
Taking a few deep cleansing breaths to calm his nerves down, he had to change gears from 'pissed off husband' to 'charming flirt'. He needed to get this girl to give him the information he needed about this Greensleeves. What she knew about him. Where Jax could find him.
Turning his attention to her, he walked gently towards her, hands where she could see them, not making any sudden movements.
"Hey darlin'," he grinned at her softly dipping his head down enough so that he could get her to make eye contact with her, " I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. What's your name?"
She looked up at him timidly. He was gorgeous. Long blonde hair. Twinkling blue eyes. A sexy smirk behind a bearded face. He had a bit of blood coming from a cut and bruise above his eyebrow, but she didn't feel intimidated by him. Or the guys that stood a few feet away from them.
"Winsome," she said shyly, her body trembling with fear.
"Really? That's a pretty unique name," Jax chuckles, trying to lighten her up a little. He needed to get Greensleeves address or at least more information on him out of her. He hadn't outright flirted with a stranger in years, but he knew the affect he had on woman. In reality this woman meant nothing to him, a means to an end. Everything he did now was for his wife and family.
"My parents hoped I lived up to the name, I guess," she said.
"If it helps any, I find you winsome so far," he kept his cheek lifted in a grin, flirted with her. 'Careful, Jackie boy,' he warned himself, 'You don't want your dick in a vice after this.'
"Thanks," she ducked her head shyly.
Opie cleared his throat to get Jax's attention giving a nod of his head to get this thing moving on. Jax understood and picked up the conversation.
"I think your boss has some information I need. It's very important to my family. Is there any way you could maybe tell me anything about him?"
"Uhm I'm not so sure…." She bit her lip in worry.
"Maybe she'd appreciate working indoors…." Nero spoke up, "We could always use some new blood."
Looking over his shoulder at him, Jax turned his head to look at Winsome again, "My friends and I run a business, much like the business you are in. But we let you choose your clientele at your discretion. And if someone gets a little too physical with you, let's just say that we get physical back."
Jax saw a glimmer of hope, of relief, of a way out flash in her eyes.
"He has an apartment…."
Jax grinned at her once more, "Thanks darlin'."
After Winsome gave them the information they needed, he walked over to his bike as he called the TM tow truck to come pick it up, "Nah, I don't need the other one. I'm gonna ride back and have you drop me off at the hospital."
"My partner, Nero here," he gestured to Nero, "is gonna take you to our place, Diosa. He will get you set up. Opie," he gestured to Opie, "His old lady helps run the place. She will get you settled in."
Jax went back to the hospital, smiling at kindly at the nursing staff, he wondered why they gave him an alarmed look. So he picked up his pace, walking quicker to Tara's room.
"Everything okay?" he asked Quinn.
"Yeah boss. It's been quiet. Except for the rugrats running around," he joked.
"Leave my helliuns alone," he defended his boys, smiling proudly. "Take off, I got it the rest of the night," he slapped the huge man on the shoulder.
"All right. Have a good one," Quinn grunted out and left.
Walking into the hospital room, Jax smiled broadly at his beautiful family. His children all snuggled in around their mother as gently as they could. Able and Thomas each laying on either side of her and little Samantha snuggled into the crook of her arm suckling gently on her breast.
"Daddy!" the boys squealed and each began to move off their mom to get to him. Abel a little bit more successful than Thomas.
"Hey boys," Jax smiled at his boys, picking them each up in an arm off the ground, kissing a cheek, "Momma," he smiled down at Tara, bending down to kiss her softly on the lips, "hey princess," he looked at his youngest who decided it was time to stop eating and time to be burped.
"Looks like you had fun," Tara gestured to his face, the cut and bruise he now sported above his eye.
"I had to do some convincing, but Op and Chibbs are on it," he promised. Hell he had been hit in the face so often since he was old enough to fight, that he barely even felt it anymore. But that explained the reason why the nurses looked at him like that.
"If you'd come over here and burp your daughter for me, I will get something to clean that for you."
He set the boys down, in front of the cars and toys they had brought in for them, and walked over to them and gently picked up his daughter. She immediately recognized her daddy. She spoke gibberish to him, her hand flailing out until they found his beard. He lifted her to his shoulder, and gently patted her back, "Beautiful girl… Were you good for your momma well I was gone? I know you were," and he chuckled when she let out a belch that would make Bobby proud.
He watched as Tara slowly got out of bed and walked towards the tray that they kept the gauze and antiseptic on for her. She pushed it towards the bed and gestured for him to sit down on the bed.
"You're the patient babe," he tried to point out.
Pushing on the other side of his chest to sit him down, "You've been my patient for a lot longer, baby," she countered.
But he sat as instructed, "Something happened I have to tell you about," he spoke softly as she worked on his forehead and he patted his daughters back.
"Should I be worried," she asked.
"Not even a little bit, but that's why I'm telling you. Because I don't want there to be any issue about it later," he explained.
"Okay…"
"I had to do a little flirting, or what she or others may perceive as flirting, to get some information," he looked at Tara a little hesitantly.
She finished cleaning his wound, "okay," she smiled at him.
"That's it? Okay?" he looked at her skeptically.
"Reasonably I know you have to pull out that ole' charm to get information at times. You told me about it so it can't have meant too much. You love me and I know that. We have to trust each other right?" she cocked her head to the side a little.
"I do love you," he said.
She leaned in real close to him and whispered, "Besides I've had to flirt my way through some things too," before kissing him gently.
To her surprise and maybe even his, his free hand came up and gently popped her on her ass, she yelped in surprise, "Oh shit babe. I'm sorry."
"You didn't hurt me, just surprised me…."
"So about this flirting…. You gonna give me some names?" he cocked his eyebrow at her.
"Not gonna happen…. I probably shouldn't tell you this because you are already too cocky, but they have a healthy fear of Teller…"
She received the smug cocky grin she knew she would, "Fucking right they do….."
"So full of it…" she laughed as he slung his arm loosely around her waist.
Later that day Opie and Chibbs found Kohn at Greensleeves apartment. They called Ratboy, Happy and Tig to help transport. They called to give Jax the update.
That was more than a week ago…
Now they stood outside the barn that the club had been 'babysitting' Kohn in.
"Let's go…" Tara began walking towards the barn door. Jax opened it for her. When she stepped through the door she was immediately on alert. Something was wrong. She stopped directly in front of Jax, Opie and Bobby.
"What is it babe?" Jax moved to look around her, "Jesus Christ…." He sighed out.
"What's wrong, brother?" Opie asked, until he saw the same thing they did, "Son of a bitch."
Happy lay knocked out on the barn floor. The chair that she assumed Kohn had been tied to, empty with the duct tape that had been holding him to it, hanging loosely from the arms and legs.
Tara began sobbing, her body wrecked with tears. Jax walked up behind her and turned her to face him.
"When is this fucking nightmare going to end?" she wailed, burying her face deeply into his chest.
AN: I am sorry if this story is confusing to you. With the time jumps and the flashbacks, but this is how it pops into my head. Please leave feedback letting me know if you are still enjoying the Ride...