Jax woke up sore the next morning. He’d hit the gym for a few hours after he’d seen Mina flirting with that guy. Logically he had no right to be upset with her. He’d been the one that told her they couldn’t be near each other, but knowing that she’d so readily move on hit him pretty hard. Maybe he was an idiot to think he was the only guy she’d been interested in. Maybe she had in fact thought of him as just a friend. He couldn’t even remember the last time his heart had hurt this badly. He stared at himself in the mirror. He looked like shit. He couldn’t remember the last night he’d gotten a good night sleep. Oh yeah, the last night he’d spent at Mina’s house.
He dried off his face and hair after hearing Thomas crying in the baby monitor and went to get dressed before making him a bottle. Tara joined them as he was feeding Thomas and he handed her the baby going to make a pot of coffee. “I need to fill you in on what’s been going on.” He walked over to the table sitting down across from Tara.
“You sure you want to tell me all this?” She looked over at him before returning her eyes towards the baby.
“Yeah. I do.” He leaned back in the seat throwing his arm back onto the chair next to him. “The reason Clay wasn’t killed inside is because we need him. The Irish want him to be point for guns here in Cali. They’re going to take down his transport next week and bust him out.”
“Jesus Christ.” Tara stared at him open mouthed. “I don’t think you should tell me anything else.” She stood up holding the baby in her arms.
She turned to walk away but Jax started again. “I know you’re doing what you gotta do. Putting distance between us. I get it. I spent all night trying to figure out how to help you with these charges Tara.”
She faced him again and sighed. “You can’t.”
“Yeah, I know, but I can keep my promise as a husband. To be honest. Which I haven’t. I’ve been trying to protect you from everything. Which clearly hasn’t worked. At all. But there is nothing going on between Mina and I. That attack on her yesterday was unnecessary and not what you need right now. I love you Tara.” He walked up to her putting his hands on her arms softly as he leaned in to kiss her.
She pecked his lips quickly and averted eye contact. “Me too.”
He took a step back slowly, speaking in a lower tone. “You know, since you got outta Stockton, you haven’t been able to say I love you.” She stared down at his chest, avoiding his eyes but he continued. “I know that must be hard for you. I’m sorry. I’ll stop telling you. Just know it’s what I feel.” He stepped around her to head out the door.
Mina walked into the coffee shop at 8am for the start of her double shift. She’d decided to start this day with a new attitude. She was manager now. For once things were starting to look up. She smiled seeing the shop full of people and said Hi to Jake who was hanging out behind the counter.
After putting her things in the office she walked back out to the front getting behind the counter to make drinks.
“Hey Mina, I washed those plates from Scoops yesterday if you don’t mind running them back.” Jake mentioned after the shop slowed down.
Mina nodded and walked over to grab them. “I will, thanks hun. Mind cleaning off those tables?” Jake nodded and grabbed a rag while Mina headed out the door and across the street. All the bikes were there and she held her breath for a moment before realizing there was no reason too. There was no hostility between her and Jax. They hadn’t gotten into an argument or anything. He was just a man who wanted to focus on his family and she wasn’t a homewrecker.
Scoops was quiet when she stepped inside. Chucky was behind the counter and Mina smiled softly holding out the plates. “Just dropping by to return these. Promised I’d return them cleaned.”
Chucky’s smile grew and took the plates from her. “Thanks Mina!”
“Feel free to drop by anytime you need anything, hun!” As she walked out the door she ran into someones chest. From the smell alone she knew it was Jax. She felt his hands on her upper arms steadying her as she took a step back smiling lightly up at him. “I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head captivated once again by her smile. “It’s alright, darlin’. What are you doing here?”
She ran her fingers through her hair and shook her head. “Just returning some plates I borrowed yesterday. I’m just leaving.”
She smiled again turning to walk out the door but his hand slide down her arm to her hand, lacing their fingers. “I’m sorry about Tara yesterday.” He spoke slowly in a sad tone.
She lowered her eyes to the floor momentarily before locking eyes with him again, “Not my first rodeo, Jax.” She smiled repeating the sentence she’d said to him when they first met. Taking a minute to look him up and down she wanted to badly to ask if he was okay after seeing his weary appearance but decided against it. It wasn’t her place. She pulled her hand away from him and gave him a small wave. “See you around.” She nodded before crossing the street.
After walking into the shop, Jake greeted her again with a smile. “Oh, Jax was just in here looking for you. Told him you were at Scoops.” She shook her head and walked over behind the counter putting some cups in the dishwasher.
“Everything OK?” He asked noticing her making noise behind the counter.
Mina stopped and looked at him. “I don’t know what’s going on Jake. One minute he tells me he’s in love with me. Next minute he tells me he can’t see me because he needs to focus on his family. Now he’s coming in here looking for me? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Jake looked down at his friend giving her a hug. “Maybe you just need a night out?”
She shook her head as she hugged him. “Bar hopping isn’t my thing.”
Jake smiled excitedly and looked down at her. “What if we call Rach and the three of us just hang out here for a while, have a few drinks after close?”
Mina laughed and nodded her head. “Yeah. That’d be good. Thanks Jake.”
A few moments of staring at the shop Mina had walked into, he decided against going over. He needed to keep focused. Stay on track. In reality, it was all so much easier when he was with Mina. She’d lead him in the right direction and things worked out. Now he didn’t know what he was doing. That didn’t matter though. All that mattered was that he stayed close to Tara.
He walked inside and gave Happy a hug since he’d just gotten back. After catching up on what was going on with the gun deal and the IRA, Unser walked in asking for a moment with Jax.
The rest of the guys walked upstairs to chapel while Jax walked behind the counter. “Can I grab you some coffee?”
“You, uh, got any beer back there?” Unser asked pointing at the fridge.
Jax cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “Miller time already?”
Unser laughed and pointed a finger at Jax. “Breakfast of terminally ill champions.”
“Sit down.” Jax laughed and walked over to the fridge giving him one of the bottles.
“Hey, I want you to know. Tara told me how good you’ve been with her and the boys. With all the shit going on I haven’t gotten a chance to say thank you, but I appreciate the looking out man. ”
“Oh, it’s, uh, no problem.” Unser waved a hand before drinking some of the beer. “You got a real nice family there son.”
They tapped their drinks before each taking a sip. “Yeah, some of them.” Jax mumbled.
“Right.” Unser put his drink down. “Look, I know it probably ain’t none of my business but I’ve, uh, known your mom longer than anybody.”
Jax took a deep breath. “Look I know you care about my mom Wayne..”
Unser shook his head. “It’s not just that.” They were both interrupted by the sound of metal hitting metal when they looked out the window to see a young girl hitting one of the motorcycles with a wrench before running over and throwing it through the window.
“Hey! Hey!” Jax called out as he started to run after her.
The girl got away after screaming rape when Jax caught up to her. Unser was getting more information on her when two police cars pulled up to inform the club that they’d have a tail until DA found someone to blame for the school shooting. Juice walked up to the guys to tell them Barosky called and needed to meet. That it was urgent. Seeing as they had a tail, Jax told them to meet him at Diosa. He took Bobby and Happy along with him.
They walked in to see that Nero had finally gotten out of lock up. After the greeting Nero asked Jax to talk before Barosky got there so they headed back to the kitchen.
“I hope it’s your family you need to talk about.” Jax started.
Nero leaned back on his arms on the counter looking at him. “Gemma is my family now, Mano.”
“Well that’s good cause I’m just about done with her.”
“Yeah, I’m seeing that. Look – I know how bad this feels. But I think you should go back. Take another look. Find the truth in all of this.” Nero tried to reason.
“I already know the truth!” Jax’s voice got louder. Nero stood up to say something but Jax continued. “Nero.. what? You think my wife’s a liar?!”
“Woah, what? I’m just saying it’s a lot more complicated bro.. that you need to” Nero spoke up before getting interrupted.
“No I get it! You’re in love with my mom. You’re in her corner. That’s your choice. But if we’re going to keep doing business together, the shit that went down with me and my family is off limits.” Jax said leaving no room for discussion. “Do you understand? This conversation doesn’t happen again. With anyone.”
Before Nero could answer Happy came in to let them know that Barosky had arrived. They walked in to see Barosky and Collette standing there looking pretty upset. Barosky filled them in on his shop being closed down due to a bullshit health violation while Collette informed them that their inspection didn’t pass for unspecified reasons. That DA was going to shut down everyone in bed with them. Jax didn’t miss the glances Collette was throwing over but he scoffed at her returning his attention to the matter at hand. He had let go of Mina in hopes of working things out with Tara. He wasn’t going to lower himself to a two bit whore again. Diosa Del Sur was now on hold and so were their ties with Barosky due to the DA tightening the cord.
Gemma walked in as Collette and Barosky were leaving. Nobody missed the glances between Jax and her. Nero immediately walked over to where she was to try and take her to another room but Jax told him they were leaving before making it a point to tell his mother not to send Nero to do her dirty work for her. He wanted nothing to do with her regardless of what Nero had done for the club. Of course his mother had hurt his wife and their baby. Tara wouldn’t lie to him about anything like this.
After paying a visit to the father of the girl who’d broken their window, Jax had called Chapel. They had figured out the perfect way to get the DA off their back and get rid of Galen for all the shit he’d done to the club. As the vote passed it was time to put a plan in motion. Jax went to meet with DA Paterson to let her know that they would deliver Galen with a shipment of guns within the next ten days, in return for immunity for the MC for all gun charges, past and present, and Tara.
After leaving the DA’s office, Jax felt accomplished. He’d get Tara out free and the MC could go back onto the right track. He smiled at himself knowing how proud Mina would be.
He sat on his bike for a moment contemplating calling her. Telling her everything, but he couldn’t bring himself to it.
As he started to drive off, his phone rang in his pocket so he pulled to the side to answer the call from Tara. He was instantly fuming when she told him Nero had stopped by to see her, calling her a liar.
Jax took Happy and Quinn with him to Diosa to have another chat with Nero. He called for Nero in the kitchen while Happy and Quinn guarded the door. As soon as Nero walked inside, Jax swung, hitting Nero in the mouth.
“I talked to Tara. I told you my family is off limits.” Jax said trying to keep his voice calm.
Nero straightened up and wiped his mouth. “I just wanted to hear her side.”
Jax stepped in closer, raising his eyebrows. “Is that why you called her a liar?”
“What?! I didn’t call her no liar!” Nero got out before Jax grabbed him by the collar.
“You said she was a manipulative bitch!” Jax shook in anger.
Nero had enough and grabbed Jax by the shirt as well, letting his anger get the best of him. “If she told you that then I guess she is!” He shoved Jax off of him.
Fists started flying before either of them knew it. They were all over each other destroying the kitchen before Happy and Quinn came in to break it up with Gemma.
“Jesus!” Gemma yelled going to look at Nero’s injuries.
“I’m sorry Mama, I didn’t mean for it to go down like this.” Nero started wiping some blood off his nose.
Jax scoffed. “Don’t be sorry! She’s the reason we’re trying to kill each other!”
“You have NO idea the shit she’s done for you!” Nero yelled at the younger man.
“I know everything I need to know!” Jax yelled louder.
“Oh yeah?! What about the conjugal with Clay?!” Nero yelled back against Gemma’s protests.
“So what happened with Clay?” Jax lowered his voice trying to catch his breath.
“The guards from the cell. They forced your mother to have sex with Clay. While they watched!” Nero continued while Gemma looked down at the ground. “While they got off!”
Jax lowered his eyes. He hadn’t known anything about that. Part of him felt bad but his mother had still done the unthinkable to his family.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s done.”
Gemma started before walking over to him. He didn’t want her touching him so he backed up a bit but she pushed forward. “I just talked to Margaret. Who confirmed what you refuse to believe. Honey it was all a lie” She moved her head to keep her eyes locked on his. “The pregnancy, the miscarriage. Tara wants out Jax. You. The club. Charming. She’s filing for divorce and she’s going to take your boys away from you. From all of us. And honey I’m sorry, I love her too. But this is the truth. And if she’s not going to tell you. You need to find someone who will.”
Jax stared at the ground taking in all of his mother’s words. Repeating them over in his head. He looked up to see her sympathetic eyes before noticing the same look on Nero.
He had to find out the truth. Clearly he wasn’t getting that from Tara, he couldn’t believe his mother, and he couldn’t believe Nero who would always back his mother. He needed to talk to Lowen. He’d get the truth out of her. Mina’s words rang over and over in his head. He knew his mother more than anybody. If he believed she’d harm his child than she had but if he had doubt then he had to look at the situation again.
Jax had Unser call Lowen to meet at his trailer on the lot while Jax hid in the bathroom. As soon as he heard footsteps inside and the door close, he walked out of the bathroom pointing his gun at a frozen Lowen.
“Sit down.” He said slowly motioning towards the couch with his gun still pointed at her. She sat down slowly and Jax followed sitting in a chair across from her. “I don’t want to have to hurt you Lowen. I need to ask you some questions.”
“Please don’t do this.” She whispered quietly not taking her eyes off the gun.
He leaned forward in his seat looking directly into her eyes. “Is Tara divorcing me?”
When he didn’t get a response he slammed his fists into a wall making a loud noise that startled the lawyer almost to tears as she jumped. “ANSWER ME!”
“Yes.” She answered slowly.
“And taking my sons” He said as more of a statement then a question. Lowen nodded at him without saying a word. Staring at him through teary eyes. “The pregnancy, “ He continued. “Was it a lie?”
“I didn’t..” She started but his booming voice took over again.
“WAS IT A LIE!?” He shouted at her, banging his fists on the table. He collected himself again and in a more quieter shaky voice repeated the question. “Was it a lie?”
“Yes, I think so.” She spoke slowly.
Jax looked at her in disbelief. “Why?”
“Custody waiver. So Gemma couldn’t take the boys.” She answered and Jax leaned back taking in all of the information. It had all been a ploy to sign those papers against his mother. It was all a set up.
“Please don’t hurt me.” She begged.
“Get out.” He whispered lowly.
“Tara was just trying to…” She started to speak quickly but he got up and kicked the door open hard causing her to jump quickly in fear.
“GET OUT!” He shouted and she quickly exited the trailer.
After promising Unser that nobody would get hurt, Jax had to get out of there. It was all a lie. He’d been defending a liar. Against his own mother. He had even pushed away Mina. The one person who’d called this from the beginning. The one person who’d been straightforward with him from the start. All over a lie!
He needed to go see her. Needed to be with her. Be in her presence again. Everything would make sense then. He drove to her house to see her car wasn’t there. “Shit.” He mumbled and started to panic. He was losing control. He could feel his breathing getting quicker and quicker. He needed to see her.
Mina was at the shop late with Rachel and Jake. The two were drinking while Mina had a drink or two. She wasn’t in the mood. It’d been a long day. Truth be told, every day had been long since her and Jax hadn’t been talking.
As Jake was telling a joke, Mina’s phone rang and she saw Jax on her caller ID. She stood up stepping away from them to answer the phone. “Jax? Everything okay?” She asked after hearing heavy breathing over the phone.
“Mina. I need you.” His gruff voice over the phone caused more concern.
“Jax where are you?” She asked more alert now.
“At your house.”
“There’s a key under the mat. Go inside. I’ll be right there.” She quickly hung up the phone and turned to Rach and Jake who were looking at her with concerned eyes. “I gotta go. Please be sure to lock up!” She ran to the back to grab her bags before running out to the car to drive home.
She saw Jax’s bike parked sloppily in the driveway and pulled up behind it before getting out and running inside. She put her purse down and looked around the house to hear the shower running in the bathroom. Slowly making her way over she heard the shower turn off and opened the door to see Jax drying off and wrapping a towel around his waist.
She opened the door a little more getting his attention and she could see by the look on his face that he’d been crying.
Jax sat on top of the toilet seat as tears started to form around his eyes again. Mina walked over dropping to her knees in front of him, cupping his face gently to wipe his tears before he pulled her close, digging his face into her hair, letting go of everything and crying into her shoulder. She held him close to her, tracing her fingertips down his back as her other hand stroked his hair. “It’s okay. I’m here darling’. It’s going to be okay.”
She let him cry it out for as long as he needed and just sat on the floor holding him. When he was ready he pulled away slowly and she saw the extent of the damage on his face. She wasn’t going to ask just yet. She got up slowly grabbing some disinfectant and butterfly bandages and patched up the large cut he had around his eye. “Why don’t you go lay down, hmm?” She asked as she softly ran her fingers through his hair. He nodded slowly looking at her with grateful eyes. “You hungry? I’ll whip us up some dinner.”
He nodded again and she got up to head to the kitchen. Jax put on his boxers and headed to her bedroom. He looked around and it actually made him smile how much it resembled Mina. He pulled back the covers and let his body drop onto the bed before burying himself underneath the covers. He was surrounded by her scent and a soothing tranquility hit him. He felt safe. Like nobody could touch him when he was with her.
The way she accepted all of his flaws. The way she knew how to handle him at his worst. He couldn’t believe he had so willingly let go of the most perfect human being he’d ever met over a liar. A liar who would use the heartache of a miscarriage as a plot to get his mother deemed an unfit grandparent. He was still so fucking angry with Tara, but as angry as he was being in this house made him calm.
Mina walked in a short while later with a beer and sat on the edge of the bed smiling softly at him as she offered him the drink. He sat up slowly leaning his back against the headboard as he took the beer. “Thanks.” he managed to say in a rough voice from all the yelling all day.
She nodded slowly, sitting cross-legged over the bed looking at him. “I’m making pasta. I think you’ll like it.” She spoke quietly keeping a smile on her face.
He reached over taking her hand in his, pulling her closer. She scooted closer holding her hand in his. “I’m sorry.” He looked into her eyes.
She shook her head. “Don’t be.” He had nothing to be sorry for. There was nothing he did wrong. She still should’ve been keeping her distance but the sound of his broken voice saying “I need you” had her running to him.
“It was all a lie, Mina.” He played with her fingers, leaning forward on the bed to be closer to her. “All of it was a lie. She was never pregnant. She just used a miscarriage to make me sign paperwork waiving my mother’s custody of the boys. She’s filling for a divorce and custody. Tara wants to take everything from me.”
His voice started shaking with anger again as he kept his eyes on her tiny hands fitting perfectly into his. Mina listened to him carefully. She knew something was fishy about this entire situation. Gemma would never cause harm to any of Jax’s boys. let alone his pregnant wife. She ran her fingers back and forth through his before speaking quietly. “So what happens now?”
Jax shrugged as he threw his head back against the headboard. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to kill her. The other part is just so hurt that she would go to that length to get me to sign something I never would otherwise. I don’t know what to do now.”
Mina nodded in understanding. “If she’d go that far to frame Gemma, imagine how far she’d go to frame you for the courts, Jax. Maybe it’s best if you do grant her the divorce. Get joint custody of the kids?”
He looked at her and shrugged. “That would be two failed marriages.”
She laughed lightly and shook her head. “Aside from that, what would be the pro’s and cons of divorce?”
He sat quietly for a moment. “Con: she’d leave the state and I’d be far away from my boys. Con: I’d be losing my high school sweetheart. Pro: My boys would probably be safer. They wouldn’t know much of this life. Tara would be happier. I’d get to be with you. I’d be happier.” He looked up into her eyes.
Her eyes widened as a blush swept across her cheeks. “You’d want to be with me?”
He nodded and leaned in kissing her hand. “If you’ll have me. I saw you last night with that guy you work with Mina. It drove me fucking nuts. And the way your ex keeps coming around. I’m going to fucking kill him next time he’s near you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. Everything about you. I meant what I said Mina. I’m in love with you. I don’t know how or when it happened but it did.”
Mina smiled and gave his hand a soft squeeze. “We’ll cross that bridge when the time comes, just know I’m in love with you too Jax” She got up off the bed, pulling her hand away slowly and nodded her head towards the door. “But there you have your pros and cons of signing that divorce paperwork. I’m sure you have plenty to hold over Tara’s head if she tries to fight for full custody.” She smirked and held her hand out for him. “Foods ready.”
Jax took her hand with a smirk and followed her to the kitchen. As bad as his day had gone, he knew she’d make it all better. He’d done exactly what he knew she would. Exactly what he needed. She’d laid everything out for him to think clearly not just out of anger. How could he have ever been so stupid as to let her go before.