Chapter 7

Chibs sat at the table a coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. His eyes trained on the garage before him. He took a long pull on his cigarette enjoying the hit.

Jax had called him and when Chibs noted the time he knew that whatever it was would be urgent. So he took the call. He wan't sure that he agreed with what Jax was telling him but as his VP Chibs didn't push back and it did make sense for the club, but he needed to get right with this. Right with what Juice .

Flicking away his cigarette and placing his coffee on the bench Chibs made his way over to the garage.

"Leave." He spoke firmly. The mechanics looked up and made a swift exit . He was glad to see that Juice didn't follow .

"Whats this about?" Juice asked as he watched Chibs pull down the shutters.

"Im a bit worried about ya Juicy."

"Im fine man, Bobby just sent me back..." Juice spoke as Chibs walked by him.

"No, No ,no. Im not worried about how you feelin' I'm worried about what you might do."

"I dont know what you mean?" Juice asked confused.

"You stole from us to help a cop and you killed a brother."

"No." Juice shook his head in disagreement. "Miles tried to..."

"You ratted." Chibs spat cutting the young biker off as his anger grew. "Then you took a cowardly swing from a tree."

"I never meant to hurt the club."

"But you did." Chibs spoke as he started to remove his rings placing them careful on the work bench behind him. "And for some reason Jackey boy has given you a pardon and there is nothing that I can do about that. But I need to get right with this somehow."

Juice swallowed hard. He knew what was coming. And that was when Chib's fist connected with his face.

Nicole rummaged through her draws trying to find something to wear. She was now 18 and half weeks pregnant and although her bump was still modest she was starting to realise that all of her clothes were skin tight which unfortunately meant that they were not fit for even the modest of bumps, or weight gain.

And while she was searching for something to wear she heard her Aunt call out her name. Shit Nicole thought to herself. She was currently just wearing a pair of jeans which were unbuttoned and a bra. "I'll be out in a minute." Nicole hollered before quickly opening another draw. She saw one of Happy's white button down jersey tops. He only wore them around the house but Nicole knew that it would be baggy enough on her to cover her bump.

Pulling it over her head Nicole rushed down the hallway just as Gemma rounded the corner. "Hey." She watched her Aunt frown.

"You got a man down there or something?"

"What?" Nicole asked with a laugh.

"You look a little flustered." Nicole shook her head and walked past Gemma

"No there's no man Gem. Do I look stupid." She spoke looking over her shoulder at Gemma who smiled as she took a sit at the kitchen table .

"No baby you don't." Gemma pulled out a pack of smokes offering one to Nicole but she shook her head and turned her attention to the dishes from breakfast. "You ok?" Gemma's concerns regarding her niece were still there and even now standing in front of her Gemma knew something wasn't right with her.

"I'm good Gem." Nicole confirmed . She was happy to see her Aunt but something told her that this wasn't just a drop by visit. "So I'm guessing you got one to?" Gemma nodded. No explanation needed from her niece. "Jay?" Again, Gemma nodded. Nicole started putting away the plates she had just washed.

"Your Old Man doesn't want you going."

"It's more I don't want to see him." She looked back at Gemma. "To much has happened Gem. Are you going to see him?"

"Jax wants me too." Nicole wasn't surprised by that, but she was curious as to why Jax wanted her to go there.

"Is something going on with Clay?"

"Guess that's what I'll find out." Gemma moved from the table and over to her niece "Will you come with me?"

"Gem I don't wan…."

"I'm not asking you to see Clay, just want you there."

"I'm not sure." Gemma smirked.

"Well technically you won't be breaking your Old Mans order." Nicole shook her head.

"I told you it was my decision."

"Sure Baby." Nicole knew Gemma didn't believe her and she was right it was Happy who said he would handle it. He hadn't even asked her what she wanted he just took the request from her.

But Nicole did find herself a little torn. She knew what seeing Clay would do to Gemma. Clay would try and find and use any love that Gemma still had for him for his own benefit.

"Ok."

"Let's go." Gemma spoke with a curve of her lips.

"I'll get my bag."

Nicole moved around her aunt on down to her room snagging her phone off her dresser. She dialled his number but it went straight to voicemail. When she hung up and tried again she decided this time to just leave a message.

"Hap it's me just wanted to let you know im uh..im taking Gemma to see Clay." She paused even though she knew there wasn't going to be a response. " Im not going to see him just think Gemma needs the support. Call me later."

Jax inhaled deeply on his cigarette, it was barely noon and it had already been a day. Tara had been quiet and distant. He wasn't shocked. She hadn't been speaking to him since her arrest and Jax knew that was because she blamed him, blamed him for his broken promises, her arrest everything and he would be lying if he didn't agree with her because he had let her down but he was going to make it all better.

They had got Accardio 's Old Lady up to Happy's cabin. She was a mess , understandably but she had shot up and the only thing worse than an ex-junkie was a strung out one. For now his instruction to his brothers was just watch her because the hits didn't stop coming and now he was waiting for the Irish so he needed a clear head for that and a clear head to decide what to do with the junkie.

And with that thought he watched 3 SUVs drive up. He discarded his spent cigarette and looked back and Chibs and Tig who had accompanied him on the meet.

All three of them started to approached the vehicles as they came to a stop they watched Galen exit the car quickly followed by a man Jax didn't know. He also watched as his bodyguards got out too. Those guests Jax were not a surprise to him.

"Jackson, this is Connor Malone. He'll be handling things for me stateside." All the men extended introductions, Connor extending the introduction to Chibs using his first name. Showing their history from Ireland. Jax was glad that there seemed to be some background between Chibs and the new guy.

"Moving up." Galen commented noticing the VP badge on Chibs kutte. He turned to Jax. "Maybe you're smarter than you look."

"Thanks for sticking around." Jax said gaining back the attention of Galen who he noticed was clearing taking note of the change in ranking on their cuts.

"I'm not I hate California, but after I heard about Clay thought it was best to stick around."

"What happened with Pope?" Connor added.

Jax kept his emotion free from his face but inside that question caused him a lot of emotion Tara, his children, Nicole, Opie. Pope had caused him nothing but hurt and he had dealt with that the only way he knew how. Kill him. To finally end it all. And that Kill gave him another opportunity to solve another problem. Clay. But he couldn't confess to that betrayal.

"That wasn't a club call. Clay let his rage get the better of him. He got sloppy."

"I've known Clay a long time, he's many things but sloppy isn't one of them." Jax knew that Galen would be a hard sell and knowing that Tig was there and that he was going to have give him the hard sell Jax led Galen away from the group, as what he was about to say could be uncomfortable for his brother.

"Do we have a problem here. You know I can't control Clay?"

"Last time I spoke ta Clay he wanted two things, lay low in Belfast and set himself as US distributor as he said your were looking ta shed da gun business." Jax knew Clay had reached out but he decided not to address that. "So you can understand why I am a little concerned about his sudden incarceration."

"You're right I am getting out of the business. Its not the same any more we're under the microscope. MC has barely passed though a RICO crush." And that was the truth. The club maybe clear of it but he was still dealing with the collateral damage of that. Plus there was the current mess the club was facing. "Yesterday some kid blew away half of his classmates with one of our KG9s. That shit is public. The heat is to much. I've got to get us out of guns"

Galen shook his head he had been here before this was nothing that they couldn't get out of. And even if it wasn't, he couldn't get away from the fact that he needs a gun distributor.

"I would advise against that." Galen warned.

"I figured you would say that. I have another charter set up. You wouldn't lose your distribution just it will be in another territory."

"I need full details." Jax nodded "I will take this back to the kings. But you need to sweeten it. You need to double the business."

"I never said this was going to double the business."

"We have spent many years building this business there's no way I'm gonna let it default to the chinks. And if Clay does get locked up I want access to him I need him to make sure people stay with us."

Jax ran his hand over his face. He hated that Clay was still causing him problems. First the visitations requests to himself, Gemma and Nicole- which had led to a conversation with his brother- and now Galen wanted Clay and he wasn't leaving him with much choice.

"Ok but the club can't be a part of that. Clay is excommunicated."

"I understand. We can make that work." Jax offered Galen his hand as a gentleman's agreement but Galen didnt accept it. "But we have one small problem." Jax knew it was to good to be true.

"What?"

"We have a surplus of KG-9s which I've got to ship all out to ya."

"Did you not hear me. We are done."

"I know but you know how it works fear stokes the imagination. Everyone wants the deadliest gun."

Jax wiped his hand over his face. When he heard the news he felt sick to his stomach all he could think about was what happened if that had been his children involved in that shooting. And to hear Galen try and capitalise on that tragedy made him want to throw a punch in his face but Jax knew he couldn't do that but there was something he could do.

Galen placed his hand on Jax's shoulder "We could double the price. But until then business as usual." Still stunned and fighting the urge not to attack Galen Jax nodded and him walk away.

When Galen and Connor got back into their Chibs and Tig walked over to Jax.

"What was that about?" Tig asked. Jax looked at him and then looked at Chibs. Now his second in command.

"Get the prospects to move these guns to the warehouse, I don't want anything on the street until I say so."

"Jacky we have a lot of people waitin' for deliveries." Chibs said trying to reason with his president as he knew what this would mean for the club.

"I DON'T CARE." Jax knew that he was losing his cool, but he couldn't help it. Chibs went to say something else but Tig stopped him and for that Jax was grateful.

Walking away from his brothers he mounted his bike heading back to deal with the next fucked drama.

Nicole sat in the plastic chair. She checked her phone, still nothing from Happy which meant he either hadn't got her message or he had and he was on his way here.

Her Aunt had been in with Clay a little over 40 minutes. Nicole was surprised. Her Aunt had promised that she wouldn't be long. In and out were her words. If Nicole wasn't sat where she was then she would be worried but Clay couldn't hurt her, not physically anyway, he'd be cuffed but why was she taking so long what poison was he spilling and with that thought Nicole finally heard the familiar click of stiletto boots.

Nicole quickly got to her feet upon seeing her aunt come towards her. She looked white in the face and Nicole felt an anger, an anger towards Clay but also anger towards Jax for making her do this. She was so thankful for Happy.

"Gem?"

"I just need a minute." Nicole nodded as Gemma rushed into the bathroom across from where Nicole had been sat.

Sitting back into the uncomfortable chair Nicole watched the bathroom door intently. Nicole was so engrossed watching the door, waiting for her Aunt , that she didn't notice the man walking down the hall and only when he took the seat next her that Nicole's attention was pulled away from the door in front of her.

He smiled at her, a smile that Nicole returned out of pointlessness before her eyes went back to the door.

"Emotional conversation."

"Excuse me." Nicole asked the stranger beside her as her eyes returned to him.

"Gemma, Clay." And with those words Nicole knew that the man beside her was no stranger. She went to get up but he suddenly reached out and placed his hand over hers that had been clutching onto the chair. .

It was then that both of their attention turned to the bathroom door.

As Nicole's eye locked with Gemma's, although it wasn't something she saw often, Nicole knew that Gemma had been crying and had probably been doing everything she could to stop them from falling. What had Clay said to her? But those questions would have to wait because Gemma's eyes hers and feel to where fresh tears, even though she knew Gemma had tried to hide the evidence. Nicole watched as Gemma's eyes went to her hand and then to the man sat beside her.

"That must have been very emotional Mrs Teller. Lots of emotions still there." It all started to click for Gemma.

"You're the coward behind the glass." It was a statement and He knew that. A smiled appeared on his face knowing that he was about to get to both Teller women.

"I'm Lee Toric…Pamela's was my sister." He looked to Nicole. "The woman Otto Delaney murdered."

Nicole instantly pulled her hand from under his, he didn't try and stop her to Nicole's relief. She was on her feet and by Gemma's side.

"Lets go." Nicole whispered before taking Gemma's hand in hers, sensing the danger of this man. But Gemma took a step forward almost making Nicole lose her hold.

"You're law?" She said finally said. For Gemma everything had just fell into place. Tara's arrest, Clay's protection. And she couldn't help herself. "This is all you, Tara, Clay, you're protecting him?"

Toric smiled, a smile that sent a chill throughout Nicole. "I don't want to spoil the big surprise." Toric spoke as he got to his feet. "Clay really wants to tell Jax himself."

Feeling her Aunt shake in her hold Nicole let go of her hand and stepped in front of Gemma.

"Well Clay can go and fuck himself." Toric laughed but it wasn't humorous.

"Nicole Teller." He took a step forward and Nicole couldn't stop herself from taking a step back to Gemma. "He wanted to see you too, I wonder what sorrows he would weep to you?"

"You're a dick." Without further words Gemma pulled her niece with her as she marched down the hall.

"What did Clay say?" Nicole asked as she got into the passenger's side of Gemmas car.

"I need to speak to Jax." Gemma answered getting into the car.

"Ok, but Gem…This guy he is going to have a hard on for the club." Nicole responded as she slid into the passenger slide.

"Where is Happy's cabin?" Nicole froze before looking at Gemma.

"Why do you need to know where Happy's cabin is?" Nicole's tone was serious but there was a hint of fear. She knew Happy had business to deal with today but the cabin that was never part of club business or Gemma business so why did she need to know where his cabin was? Was he okay?

"I will let your old man explain just tell me where to go."