Jax woke up to his phone ringing woke him up. He looked at the time on the TV before he answered. It was 5am. “Shit” He mumbled seeing Tara’s name on the caller ID.
“Hey babe.” He tried clearing his throat so he didn’t sound like he’d just woken up. He looked down to feel legs still laying on his lap and his eyes wandered up them to see Mina still peacefully sleeping on the couch. He couldn’t help but stare with a soft smile on his face.
Tara’s frantic voice over the phone snapped him out of it and he sighed again. “Yeah. I’m sorry. We were out late, I crashed at the clubhouse. I’ll be right there.”
He got up as slowly as he could so he didn’t wake her but failed. Mina’s eyes opened slowly to see him standing up.
“What time is it?” She mumbled sitting up on the couch.
“5. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep here.” He put his phone back in his pocket looking down at her. He smiled to himself hearing her adorable sleepy voice.
“Shit.” She stood up running her fingers through her messy hair. “I gotta get ready for work.”
He nodded his head towards the door. “Yeah, I need to head out.”
She put her hand on his back as she walked him to the front door. Her touch sent waves of electricity through his body, waking him up immediately. If something so small could do that to him, he wondered about more.
“Thanks again for last night.” He smiled down at her.
Mina pulled him in wrapping her arms around his neck for a hug. His hands slide down around her waist pulling her tighter against him.
“Don’t mention it. I’ll see you later, Jax.” She smiled as she pulled away watching him walk to his bike.
Jax got home in time to lay in bed for a few more hours with Tara. Although he tried to hold her close to him, she continuously moved further away. Finally giving up he laid on his back to get some sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, he’d see Mina.
The more he looked at her, the more he’d see how beautiful she was. Yeah on the outside, but on the inside too. She didn’t look at him the way others did. With fear or disgust. She just looked at him. No matter what he said, she acted like it was the most normal thing in the world. He found himself needing to be around her every passing day.
As he turned to face the woman next to him, he wished he could say the same about her. He wondered why she’d married him to begin with. She knew what he was. Knew he wasn’t leaving. In a way, he knew she loved him, but she never loved him for him. She loved him for the man he could have been without the Sons. But he wasn’t that man. Didn’t want to be that man. He knew from a young age he was destined to be in this seat. He knew from a young age that this patch was for life.
He ran a hand gently down Tara’s cheek. Maybe Mina had a point. Just because something became a routine didn’t mean it’d have to continue. He knew for a fact that Tara would be happier without him, but letting her go would mean her taking his boys and now his unborn child. He couldn’t let that happen. He wasn’t ready to let go of any of them.
Mina clocked into work and got behind the register, it was surprisingly dead so she leaned on the counter looking through her phone. Matt wasn’t around so everything was more relaxed and casual. Exactly what she needed after yesterday.
Rachel bumped her hip against Mina as she wrapped her arms around her small frame. “Hope you’re okay.”
Mina smiled slightly and hugged her back. “Yeah, I’m doin’ alright. Thank, Rach. Did I miss anything yesterday?”
Rachel shook her head and laughed. “Aside from Matt freaking out on everyone, nothing” she shrugged them thought for a moment. “Jax stopped by to see you. I told him it was your day off.” She poked her friends arm and smiled knowingly “So what IS going on with you and him? He comes in everyday and only buys coffee when you’re here.”
Mina felt her cheeks burning as she blushed but turned her head to look away from Rachel. “Nothing Rach. Don’t be nosy. We’re literally just friends.”
Rachel made a “sure you are” face and crossed her arms. “Sure. Because Jax is the type to have female friends.”
Mina’s face got more serious than she wanted and she crossed her arms standing taller. She looked Rachel in the eye as she spoke. “YOU don’t know what type Jax is, honey. Leave it at that.”
Rachel put her hands up to surrender “Alright alright! I’m sorry.”
Jax got up to make a bottle for Thomas when he heard a bike pull up to his house. Looking through the window, he was surprised to see Tig there. He thought for sure Marks was going to kill him. Tig walked in as Jax opened the door for him, motioning them to the kitchen.
“Guess who showed up at the warehouse last night.” Tig asked him.
Jax pretended to make a confused face. “Who?”
“August Marks.” Tig answered still relishing in fear from the night prior.
Jax widened his eyes again in surprise. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know, said he needed to talk to you. Told me to let you know.” Tig shrugged but looked to see a reaction from Jax.
“Alright. I’ll set a meeting with him.” Jax shrugged still making a puzzled face.
Tara came in looking at both of them annoyed while she grabbed the bottle that Jax was supposed to be making and left the room.
“Jax. Are we.. Are we good?” He asked as he walked towards the front door.
“Yeah. Yeah we’re good brother.” He gave Tig a hug of reassurance before he left. He couldn’t imagine why Marks would let Tig live. It had to have been some sort of test to see if he would.
After being ignored by Tara again, he got dressed and headed to meet with Marks. He gave Marks the business plan for the porn studio he planned on opening in hopes that Marks would back them with an investment but his phone interrupted the meeting.
“Hey. Jax? Sorry to bother you. Galen’s at the warehouse with a delivery.” He heard Phil through the phone.
“Galen’s at the warehouse? How did he even find it?” Jax replied getting more and more angry.
“I have no idea. You should head over here.” Phil responded and hung up the phone.
Jax immediately called Chibs and told him to bring the guys to the warehouse before meeting them all there. The place was quiet for having just received a delivery and there was no trace of Galen and his crew until they spotted the truck with “Hands Off” written in large letters in what appeared to be guns. They immediately drew their guns and carefully walked to the doors. Tig and Happy kicked them open and they were met with the gruesome sight of Phil and V-Lin’s hands placed over their cuts. They looked around to find their dismembered bodies laying off to the side.
Jax covered his mouth from the smell of it as he made eye contact with the others. “We’re calling lock down. This means war.” He looked at the others who started making calls. He walked back outside to call Gemma. He didn’t know who’d seen him with Mina. He wanted her there tonight. Needed to see she was safe with his own eyes.
“Hey Ma.” He started as Gemma answered the phone. “Look we’re going into lock down. I need a favor from you.”
“What is it baby?” She asked with alertness in her voice.
“I need you to go get Mina. She’s at work till 5.”
He could practically see Gemma smirking through the phone. “And how would you know that?”
“Mom, I’m bein’ serious. I need you to bring her to the clubhouse.” He spoke more seriously.
“Alright. Alright. What am I supposed to tell Tara about who she is?”
“Tell her she’s a friend of the club. Don’t let anyone mess with her while she’s there either.”
“Alright baby. Be safe.”
Mina was cleaning off the counter when the door chimes rang. She poked her head over the divider to see Gemma walk in.
“Hey Gemma! What can I get you?”
“Hey sweetheart. I actually need to talk to you. You got a minute?”
Mina looked at the old woman confused as she told Rachel she’d be right back then stepped outside to with Gemma. “What’s going on?”
Gemma thought for a moment. Jax had told her Mina knew about club businesses but he didn’t say how much. “The clubs going on lock down at the clubhouse. Jax wants you there.”
Mina crossed her arms over her chest. She remembered lock downs at the Belfast clubhouse. They were always a blast but that was because she knew everyone and she had her best friend. She’d be a stranger here. “I don’t know Gemma.”
The older woman pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “It’s only overnights, you can go to work in the mornings. He was very specific about getting you there darlin’. He clearly cares about you.”
Mina thought it over for a moment. She really didn’t want to make this harder on him than it already was. “Yeah. Okay. I get out in 15 if you want to wait around?”
Gemma nodded and waited outside smoking a cigarette she noticed a this guy standing there constantly looking around. Mina walked out a little later but froze in her tracks seeing the guy standing there. Gemma watched as her demeanor changed drastically and watched her clench and unclench her fists.
“Mina, you got a minute?” The guy spoke.
“Not for you Chris. Get lost.” Mina rolled her eyes finding Gemma.
“Why are you with Gemma Teller?” Chris moved forward towards her.
Mina completely ignored him looking at Gemma. “Ready?” Gemma nodded and grabbed her car keys.
“Oh I get it. You’re fucking another Son aren’t you. I should have known you were no better than those biker whores!” He spat.
Mina squeezed her phone in her hand to make her fist harder as she spun around punching him in the nose causing Chris to fall back onto the ground holding his bleeding nose. “You don’t EVER talk about him!”
Gemma watched as Mina hit him. She was actually shocked this sweet little thing had that much aggression. Hearing she was with another Son caused some concern though. She didn’t need Jax fucking around with someone else’s old lady.
Mina turned to face Gemma again and nodded her head towards the car. “I’ll follow you to the clubhouse.” Gemma nodded again looking at the girl skeptically before getting back in the car driving to the clubhouse.
After arriving at the clubhouse, Gemma linked her arm with Mina’s before walking inside. “Listen. Jax’s wife Tara is going to be in there. She doesn’t need to know you’re fucking Jax.”
Mina stared at Gemma with a face confused yet serious face. “Gemma. I don’t know what you think is going on with Jax but we’re not sleeping together.”
Gemma looked at her with an attitude but after looking into her eyes Gemma was just confused. “My son goes to see you everyday. He spent the night last night, and you’re telling me you haven’t slept with him?”
“No. And last night we had pizza and watched a movie we both woke up on my couch.” Mina shrugged seeing Gemma’s perplexed face.
Gemma let out an actual smile. Her son really did like this girl. All this time and he wasn’t even getting ass but he kept going back. “So who was this other son?”
Mina looked down at the ground staying silent for a moment causing Gemma to raise an eyebrow. “His name was Padraic. He was SAMBEL. He died in an explosion years ago.”
Gemma’s hand flew to her chest. Padraic was Chib’s nephew. He had died while they were in Ireland. Shit. “Shit, I’m sorry. How long were you together for?”
Mina scratched the side of her neck thinking back. “I was there for a semester in college. It was only about 4 months but he was a real good guy. Unlike all the other assholes I seem to attract.”
Gemma nodded in understanding. “I have someone I want you to meet later but for now the story is that you’re a friend of SAMBEL and they asked us to look out for you.” Mina nodded and walked inside with the older woman.
Jax had finally managed to track down Conner and his men. Galen had already left the states but he’d be able to Get a hold of the Kings and let them know exactly what Galen was up too. He let them know what he proposed with having the Mayans run the guns and they told him he’d have his answer by 8pm.
He looked at the time and decided to head back to the clubhouse. He’d really hoped his mother had gotten Mina to go with her. He saw her car on the lot when they pulled in and he smiled to himself. Walking inside he scanned the room. He saw Tara sitting by the bar with Thomas but he saw Gemma actually hanging out and playing a game of pool with Mina and two prospects. He smiled as he saw her laughing and having a good time and to his surprise so was Gemma.
He turned his attention to Tara, walking up and kissing her forehead before kissing his son. “Where’s Abel?”
Tara let out a forced smile. She hadn’t missed the look he gave the girl over there with Gemma. “He’s sleeping in the dorm.” She said dryly.
He nodded and walked over to the pool table. “Hey baby, how’d everything go?” He was greeted by his mother.
“We’ll find out” He answered as he kissed her cheek before locking eyes with Mina and there was that beautiful smile again. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for coming.”
She hugged him back and smiled softly. “It’s not a problem. Everyone’s been really nice.”
He looked at Gemma for confirmation and she nodded but she spotted Chibs and waved him over. “Mina, this is who I wanted you to meet.”
Mina’s eyes widened with excitement as she spotted him. “Chibs?”
Chib’s eyes widened as well as he walked over to hug her with a smile. “Mina! How you doin’ lass?”
Mina hugged him back tightly. They’d both lost someone that day. Someone they both cared about deeply. She looked up at him with a sad smile. “I had forgotten which charter you were in!”
Chibs laughed as he kept his arm wrapped around her shoulders. “I’m gonna steal this young lady for a bit. Got some catching up to do!” He told Gemma and Jax who looked completely lost at the scene. “Lets get you a drink, aye?!” He laughed as Mina did and they walked over to the bar.
Jax looked at his mother in utter confusion before returning his eyes to Mina and Chibs. Chibs was kissing her cheek and rubbing her back and continuously pulling her in for hugs as they laughed and shared drinks. It was quickly making Jax extremely jealous. He wanted to do that. Be so comfortable in public with her.
Gemma looked just as confused but after putting two and two together she thought she’d explain it to her Son. He looked ready to kill someone. “She was in Belfast, Jax.”
He looked at her briefly before returning his eyes to Chibs and Mina. “Yeah, I know.”
Gemma crossed her arms and watched them as well. “Well the reason she knows so much about the club isn’t because of Maureen. She was going out with Padraic. Chibs nephew.”
Jax felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He looked at his mother with wide eyes. “When? For how long?”
Gemma shrugged and turned to look at him. “4 months. She said she really cared about him but he died in an explosion. The one planted by McGee and O’Neil.”
His heart sank. He’d remembered how hurt Chibs was. He was a great kid. “So Chibs must’ve met her when we were there.”
Gemma nodded looking at her sons upset face. “She wasn’t his old lady, Jax. It was still a fling while she was in school.” She tugged on his sleeve. “You want to tell me what’s going on with her? You’ve hung around her everyday and she told me you ain’t gettin’ any. So what’s the deal?”
He shrugged at his nosy mother. The thought of having sex with her came to him constantly. She was gorgeous to look at. Beautiful face, hair, personality. He’d pictured ever different way he wanted to take her, but when he was with her it wasn’t about any of that. He felt at home. Normal. “It’s hard to explain, Ma. It just ain’t like that with her. We just talk. A lot. I don’t know how to describe it to you. She makes me feel at peace.”
Gemma let out a knowing smile. She couldn’t believe her son had fallen in love. After all the years she’d been trying to draw him away from Tara, this was the girl that did it.
Mina laughed and laid her head on Chibs shoulder at the bar. It was good to catch up. She could tell why Paddi always looked up to his uncle so much.
Chibs cleared his throat and looked down at her. “So. How’s yer mum doin’?”
Mina sat up and down her drink, feeling the burn in her throat. “She, uh, she died. Shortly after I got back to the states.”
He put a hand on her back. “How?” He knew her problems with her mom. Knew how sore of a subject it was for her.
She avoided eye contact staring at her empty glass. “She was driving drunk and got in an accident. Ended up killing herself and one other woman.”
“Jesus Christ.” He rubbed her back and downed his own drink. “Sorry to hear that.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry for that woman and her family. My mother deserved everything she got. Me and Adrianna were left to clean up her mess.”
Chibs nodded in understanding. “Usually how it goes. Least yer holdin’ up.”
Jax had watched them talking for over an hour. What could they possibly have to talk about for that long. Chibs was never away from the group for more than an hour at a time while they were in Belfast how well did they get to know each other. He watched her get up and go towards the hallway to the bathroom. Her mood looked significantly lower than when she first started talking to him. He’d only assumed it was due to talking about Chibs’ nephew.
“Hey boss, can you sign this receipt?” The prospect behind the counter asked.
Jax signed the paper but a pen with an Irish flag on it caught his attention. “Where’d you get that pen?”
“Oh the guy that delivered the keg must’ve left it behind.” The prospect shrugged.
Jax’s mind went into overdrive. He looked at the time and it was 7:58 pm. Shit this was a trap. “GET EVERYONE OUT NOW!” He shouted as he pushed people out through the door.
“JAX! ABEL!” He heard Tara shout and he immediately began to run.
He saw Mina come out of the bathroom. “MINA MY SON! LAST DOOR HURRY!” He yelled as him and Chibs ran faster. Mina ran across the hallway opening the door to see a sleeping toddler in the bed. She didn’t know what was wrong but she wasn’t going to wait and see. She quickly grabbed the baby in her arms holding him as close and as gentle as possible as she ran out the bedroom door and out to the lot with the men following behind her. They heard a loud explosion and Mina fell to her knees from the shock. She felt Chibs and Jax throw their bodies over hers as she held the toddler tightly against her chest. She felt his little hands hold onto her tightly, hugging her out of fear as he started to cry from the fire and noise.
As the explosions subsided she was helped up by Jax. He looked at her with the most grateful eyes she’d ever seen. If she hadn’t grabbed the Abel, he didn’t know if they would have made it out of there in time. She’d saved his son’s life. Mina handed him the toddler and stared at the burning building in front of them. “Shit Jax.”
Jax nodded but felt himself being pulled away. He looked down to see Tara still holding Thomas in her arms. “Is he okay?!” She asked concerned as she took a look at Abel.
He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah he’s fine. Mina got him out.” He motioned his head towards the girl talking to Gemma and Tara’s eyes narrowed as she scoffed. “Look, I’m having Gemma take you home. I want you to stay with her and Happy’s coming with you guys. I need to figure out what’s going on.”
“Alright. Be safe.” She nodded and leaned in kissing his cheek, keeping her eyes on Mina.
He hugged his wife and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
She mumbled a me too and he helped her put the kids in the car with Gemma. He told happy to follow them and keep watch but he looked over to see that Chibs and Mina were missing. He sighed and hung around to deal with the cops.
Chibs returned slightly after and Jax ran up to him. “Where’d you go?”
“Took Mina home.” Chibs answered and looked around at the destroyed building as they tried to put out the fire.
Jax crossed his arms leaning against the fence watching the firemen work. “So what’s her deal?”
Chibs laughed seeing the look of hunger and interest in his presidents eyes. “She’s a real good girl Jackie. Came from a fucked family though. Her father left when she was little. Her mother was a drunk who had a gambling addiction. Gambled away Mina and her sister’s life savings. They’d planned to open up their own restaurant. Saved up damn near $200,000 from the moment they could start working. Bitch lost it all. Now the poor girls are working to pay off the debts her mother still owes.”
“Shit.” Jax took a deep breath taking that all in. He could see why she hated her mother. He hated her mother. He could see how hurt she always was. How miserable she was but she grinned and bared it day after day.
After the police cleared everyone out, Jax found himself driving to Mina’s. He had to see that she was okay with his own eyes. She came downstairs after he’d knocked on the door and opened it for him. Without a word they both went inside. He could see her tiny body still trembling and he wrapped his arms around her. Her arms slide around his waist and she dug her face into his chest trying to steady her breathing. After a long while, she pulled away and walked to the kitchen grabbing two beers. Handing him one they both sat on the couch. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders holding her tightly against him as he flipped through the channels settling on a movie. No words were needed that night and they were both fine with that.