Jax woke up in Mina’s bed the next morning but she wasn’t there. He laid there a few more minutes basking in her scent. Everything about this woman was so right. How could he have wasted so much time on Tara. All these years of her pushing out and just when he thought she’d accepted her role in the club she goes and pushes away further. Mina seemed to have swooped in and made sense of everything. He was seeing everything so clearly for the first time. She wasn’t forcing him to make decisions he didn’t want or pressuring him in anyway. He wanted to do things right to make her proud. She was actually proud of him for things he’d been accomplishing. That’s what he needed. Something positive when everything had gone to shit.
He got up and walked out into the living room to see Mina asleep on the couch. He laughed to himself knowing the night before they’d been watching a movie in her bedroom. She must’ve gotten up to sleep on the couch after he fell asleep. She was actually serious about not sharing a bed with him. He felt bad knowing she had work later on so he went to the bathroom to piss before making breakfast. He couldn’t believe how in love he was with someone who he hadn’t had sex with yet. Shit.. with someone he hadn’t even kissed yet, but here he was making breakfast for her because he felt bad for taking her bed.
He poured the pancake batter in the pan and bacon in another. While everything was being made he walked around the kitchen checking out photos on the fridge, schedules, then his eyes caught a pile of envelopes on the kitchen table. He checked to make sure he was still asleep he decided to be nosey and take a look. Bill after bill made his eyes widen. Chibs hadn’t been lying when he said her mother had fucked them over. Shit if he was in that much debt he’d have put a bullet in his head by now.
Jax heard a door close and quickly put the bills back into their envelopes before going to see who it was. Upon entering the living room, he’d noticed she wasn’t laying on the couch and looked at her bedroom door to see it was shut. He smiled at her shyness and went back to the kitchen making a plate for them and setting it on the table.
Mina had changed out of her pj’s and put on a pair of sweatpants and a wife beater tank top, before brushing her teeth and combing her hair. She could care less about putting on makeup around him, it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her look sloppy before. She could smell the delicious scent coming from the kitchen and made her way over. Smiling as she saw a shirtless, Jax with just jeans on over his boxers. “Good morning.”
Jax turned over and looked at her with a smile, handing her a cup of coffee. “Morning.”
She took the cup and had a seat at the table. “You didn’t have to do all this hun, but thank you it looks great.”
“Least I can do, darlin’” he smirked at her as he took a bite of his bacon. “I need to go apologize to my Mom and Nero.” he looked down at his plate as he took another piece of bacon.
She raised an eyebrow eating some of her pancake. “Apologize for what?”
“Calling them a liars. Fighting with Nero for trying to tell me the truth. Calling my mom sick and twisted.” He sighed.
She ate a piece of bacon and nodded. “They’ll understand. They’re your family, Jax.”
He nodded and looked up at her. “Can I ask you a favor?” She looked up at him expectantly and he continued. “I can’t be at that house with her yet. I’m not ready. Would you mind if, uh, I stayed here for a bit? Just until I figure this out.”
Mina nodded and got up softly, putting her empty plate in the sink. “That’s fine with me love. I don’t mind the company.”
Jax got up and gave her a kiss on the cheek before putting his plate in the sink. “I’ll go over there and pack. I’ll see you later?”
She smiled and tossed the shirt he’d left on the counter at him. “Always.”
Jax got to the house while Tara was still asleep. He filled a backpack and duffel with his clothes and walked over to Thomas’ room. Holding his son, he smiled at how happy they looked. The thought of them growing up in this life, the hate that came with it, it bothered him. He was a Son, born and bred, but his sons didn’t have to be. He carried Thomas to Abel’s room and watched him toss and turn in his bed. Abel had already been through so much in his 4 years. He’d already been kidnapped and now most recently been through an explosion, this isn’t the life he wanted for them. This was the one thing he could agree on with Tara.
The door opened and a panicked Tara walked in the room calling for Abel. Jax turned around slowly looking her up and down with spite.
“You should let him get some sleep.” He spoke as calmly as he could making his way to the kitchen still holding Thomas. Tara followed on his heels and he handed Thomas to her carefully. She cooed at the baby before lowering her eyes to the ground averting eye contact with him. “There’ll be someone watching you. Don’t try to take them anywhere.” He spoke again zipping up his backpack.
“What are you going to do?” Tara asked, watching him carefully.
Jax threw his bag over his shoulder and shook his head. “I don’t know. I can’t see anything right now. But if I don’t put some distance here, someone’s going to get hurt.” He looked her over one more time before leaving the house. He made the call and put West on duty for the day to follow Tara everywhere she went. He wasn’t ready to make anything final just yet and he knew if he didn’t have someone tail her she’d leave as soon as he’d left the house.
He dropped off his bags at Mina’s using the spare key she’d let him have. As he looked around he realized she’d already gone to work so he made his way to her bedroom leaving his bags in. He laughed to himself seeing her clothes all over the floor, Tara had always kept the house really clean or his mother would chew her ass off, but in a way it felt liberating knowing his mother hadn’t dug his claws into this one yet.
Desperately needing to clear his mind, he decided to go for a ride. If it was one thing he didn’t want, it was to make this decision based off of his feelings for another woman. Mina had so quickly consumed his whole life but was he ready to leave his wife? The woman he’d been in love with since high school? It seemed like a pretty big jump. Hell before her he never thought he’d ever be in love with someone else. He hadn’t when Tara was gone for ten years. Not once did he open up to anyone and now here was Mina.
He drove for a while before parking his bike and walking for a bit. He walked past the school that was the scene of the school shooting. He sat down at in the church for a little while. Everything that had gone on from the time Tara had gotten back until now played like a movie over his head. He knew there was still so much love between them, but at the same time, they knew they couldn’t be what the other person needed. Tara had completely detached herself from the club and the club was who/what he was. He was now president. A lot of shit weighed on his shoulders and he needed someone who’d be there. Deep down this had nothing to do with Mina and everything to do with the destruction of what was once the best thing in his life.
Mina had been working in the office non-stop. Jax had texted her earlier to let her know that he’d dropped off his bags and made sure to lock up after himself. Rachel walked back into the office with a light knock on the door to get her attention. When Mina turned to look, Rach had a nervous expression on her face.
“What is it?” Mina put her pen down and stood up stepping closer to the girl.
Rachel bit her lip nervously and looked up at Mina. “Sheriff Roosevelt is outside. Said he needs you to go with him.”
Mina’s face scrunched in confusion as she walked past Rachel outside of the shop to the officer. “What can I do for you sheriff?”
Sheriff Roosevelt adjusted the glasses covering his eyes before holding his hand out to shake hers. “Ms. Viera. I don’t think we’ve ever formally met. Please. Call me Eli.”
Mina put on a light smile shaking the sheriffs hand. “Pleasure. What can I do for you?”
“I actually need you to follow me to the station. DA Patterson wants a word with you.” He stood up straighter.
Mina crossed her arms over her chest as her eyebrows flew up her forehead. “For what?”
The sheriff shook his head. “I was just told to come get you, Miss. I doubt you’d be a fan of riding in the back of a cop car.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, no. I’ll follow you down. Give me a minute.” She ran inside to grab her bag and her keys before heading to her car to follow Eli to the station.
After waiting a few minutes the place started to sketch her out. She’d have to wait like this late nights when she’d have to bail her mother out for countless reasons when she was younger. She looked at each person going in and out and wondered what their story was.
“Ms. Viera. Please follow me.” She heard a prestigious older woman say. She noticed the woman in her skirt suits and fancy jewelry looking well put together and figured this was Patterson, so she stood up and started walking with her. “I’m Tyne Patterson, DA.”
Mina put her hands in her pocket as she followed the older woman into an office where she shut the door behind them. “I’m guessing you already know me.” she said as she sat down in the seat across from the desk that Paterson had motioned her too.
Patterson nodded folding her arms over her desk. “I do know you. All about you actually, but I’m more interested in your relationship with the Sons of Anarchy.”
The young woman laughed and leaned back in the seat. “There is no relationship. We’re all just friends with a love for coffee and ice cream.”
The DA smirked and pulled out a folder. “Very cute, Mina. Lets take a look at you for a second shall we?” She opened the folder in front of Mina spreading the paperwork across the desk. “ 4 priors while you were still a minor. Several cases of assault with a deadly weapon. All on your mothers boyfriends at the time. Abandoned by your father when you were 7. Alcoholic mother that had a terrible gambling problem. Moved around city to city with your sister. Now tell me Mina, why is it that you can’t settle into one place? Is it because of this incredible debt you still owe on behalf of your mother?”
Mina’s eyes flashed dark, she didn’t speak, nor raise her eyes to look anywhere but the folder where mugshot after mugshot of her were spread. She cringed looking at her bruised faces in the pictures but she bit her lip tightly so she wouldn’t make a sound.
Patterson saw she struck a nerve and smirked to herself while pulling out another folder containing pictures of her with Jax. Some at the shop, others of Jax in front of her house, some of her at Scoops. “Now I know there’s more going on between you and Jax Teller than you’re letting on. Does Mrs. Teller know about this?” Again, Mina said nothing. “Now Ms. Viera, lets cut to the chase. What and who you get in bed with is not my business, but I do want to make you a deal. You give me information on the MC and we make your dues disappear. You could start fresh, do what you wanted with your life. Finish college. Anything you want. A whole new life for you and your sister.”
The young woman burst out laughing which immediately irritated Patterson. “Listen, thanks for the offer but I’m going to decline. I know nothing about the MC. Jax and I are friends, and on everything I love, if you even touch my finances without my written consent I will throw your ass in court so fast that pretty little law degree will be nothing but a distant memory.” Mina stood up putting her hands flat on the table as she leaned forward to look down at Patterson. “Maybe you should keep the deal you already have going. It’ll be the only one you got.” She smirked at the woman before heading out the door leaving Patterson stunned. The Sons of Anarchy were the scum of the Earth but the one thing they did have was a loyal circle.
Jax went to Collette’s to meet up with Nero regarding the approval for Diosa Del Sur. It seemed Patterson was holding up her end of the bargain. Collette continuously tried pushing against him, playing with his hands. He brushed it all off. The last thing he needed was another distraction to the real issue. While telling Nero that he needed to spend some time out of the house to get his head together, Collette took the opportunity to try to lead him upstairs to show him one of the rooms.
As they started walking up the stairs, the front door opened to let in the rest of the club followed by his mother. They all gave him a weary look for following the madam upstairs but Jax ignored them.
“Hey, what’s going on?” He said as he walked back down the stairs with Collette on his heels.
“I got a Clay thing.” Gemma spoke up.
“We got an Irish thing.” Chibs followed after with a sigh.
Collette lifted her arms motioning to a room. “Use my office.” Jax nodded his head and the rest of the club followed him into an empty living room where they all sat down.
“Clay wants to see me.” Gemma said as she entered the room. “Lawyer said he can get me in this afternoon.”
Jax leaned forward with his elbows on his knees “ Did he say why?”
Gemma shook her head sitting next to her son. “Papers he wants signed. Something like that. Probably just an excuse for another sit down.”
He nodded and turned his attention to Chibs. “What’s going on with the Irish?”
“Galen’s in town. Says we have to see him. Nor-U-Bev. 20 minutes.” The scotsman answered.
“Got any idea what it might be?” Bobby asked Jax and the younger man shook his head no.
Happy mentioned that they should get going due to bad traffic but Jax spoke up again. He needed to get this out. “I got something I need to tell you and Nero.”
“You want us to split?” Tig asked as the guys started to get up.
“No.” Jax said quickly as they all sat again. “I want you to hear this too.” Once everyones attention was on him, he spoke again. “I talked to Lowen last night. I got some truth about what happened with Tara. She was never pregnant. Tara set up my mom… made it look like a miscarriage so that I would sign off on Gemma never becoming legal guardian of our sons. She wants to divorce me.” He sat up a little straighter, taking a deep breath. “She wants full custody and she was going to split.”
“Jesus.” Bobby spoke up still processing everything Jax had just said. “What about jail?”
Jax shrugged, leaning forward again on his knees. “Well, if she served time, she was going to make sure Wendy became guardian and that she got my sons out of Charming.” He paused for a moment, looking at the ground before turning to face Gemma. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
Gemma shook her head whispering quietly. “How could you?” She leaned forward taking her sons hands in hers. “I’m so sorry honey.”
He nodded grateful that his mother accepted his apology before turning to look at Nero. “I’m sorry man.”
“I know, Mano. It’s okay.” Nero nodded stepping closer.
He explained the situation to the club about not wanting her alone. Until he could get his head on straight, Tara was not going anywhere unattended. After Juice offered to take watch, the group got up to head over to Galen.
Mina was on register when Jax walked into the shop. It was pretty busy today so she smiled at him and mouthed “Give me a minute” while she took the orders for Jake to make. She didn’t miss the look Jax shot the man before he smiled at Mina and walked over to a table to sit. After finishing with the line, she walked over to Jax, bringing him a cup of coffee. “Hey you. Rough day?”
Jax smiled gratefully at her while taking the coffee and nodded. “To say the least. I dropped the things off at your house, took a ride, got pulled into some club business.” She nodded and drank some of her coffee. “Can we go talk outside for a minute?”
Mina nodded and they made their way outside. He nodded his head towards Scoops and she walked across the street with him. Leaning against the shop window, she pulled out a box of cigarettes and handed him one before lighting one for herself. “What’s up?”
He lit his and took a long pull blowing out the smoke. “My stepfather, Clay, he’s getting broken out of county tomorrow during a transport. We’re going to intervene. Get Clay to Galen with the shipment of guns. I need you there.” He raised his eyes from the ground to look into hers.
Mina took a pull and blew it out listening to his words. Her eyes locked on his as she took a minute to process everything. “You need me for what, Jax?” Her serious tone came out loud and clear.
Jax took a deep breath and took one of her hands in his. “Because I’m going to kill the guy who’s raised me since I was 16. I need you by my side.”
Mina took a deep breath and stared down at their hands held tightly together. He needed her involved in a murder. In club business for fucks sake. She’d seen a lot of shit in her life but to have someone murdered in cold blood in front of her was something entirely different.
“Mina. I know this is asking a lot, but this is something I have to do. He’s done too much to my family, to my club, for me to let him walk away.” he placed his hand under her chin lifting her head to face him. She took another pull at her smoke and blew it out playfully in his face. She simply nodded and he smiled gratefully. “I’m going to marry you one day.” he whispered as he leaned in giving her a kiss on the forehead.”
She laughed and shook her head. “With your track record, maybe a ring would just ruin it.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around her neck giving her a hug when she felt hands on her hair yanking her away from him and onto the ground. All of a sudden she saw Tara jump on top of her and Mina blocked her face as she started throwing punches before Mina took a hard swing knocking the doctor on her ass and jumping on top of her. Jax grabbed Mina off of Tara and checked her face to make sure she was okay before turning to Tara. “What the hell is your problem!?”
“You stupid peice of shit!” Tara screamed slapping him hard across the face before storming down the street. Chibs quickly ran outside followed by Tig after seeing the whole interaction. As Chibs checked on Mina, Tig shooed away the crowd before walking with the other two inside.
“What the ‘ell happened out there?!” Chibs asked before yelling over to Chucky to get a pack of ice.
Mina shrugged and thanked Chucky for the ice placing it on her lip. “I don’t know, one minute Jax is asking me to be there tomorrow when you guys get Clay, next minute I’m on the ground with that crazy bitch on me.”
He sighed as he put an arm around her shoulder pulling her into a hug. “You okay?”
She held the ice pack to her lip and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Jax came in and walked straight to Mina. “You alright? I’m sorry about that. “
She waved her hand ignoring the question. “Jax, I get you need time to figure your shit out with her, but this is the second time she’s put her hands on me. Next time it happens, I won’t give a fuck that she’s the mother of your kids.” She threw her ice pack at him before walking out to go back to work.
Jax stared in awe at the door Mina walked out of before looking at Chibs with his mouth still opened. Chibs laughed and put his hand on his presidents shoulder giving it a squeeze. “I don’t know how you get yourself in this shit, brother.”
Jax finished everything up early and headed to Mina’s. Clearly she’d needed time to cool off after that and he didn’t need to get his ass chewed out twice in a matter of minutes. He just hoped she’d still go with him tomorrow. He didn’t know if he’d be able to go through with it if she wasn’t there. As much hate as he had for that man, he’d still been a father figure when he needed it most, but he’d crossed the line and needed to be dealt with.
He walked inside and heard the shower running. He wanted to jump in there with her, take care of both of their stress, but he knew she’d have the door locked. He was getting a little annoyed that he’d been over her house countless times and not once even seen her naked. Truth be told, since he hadn’t gotten laid in a while now. Knowing that Mina was naked just beyond the door drove him crazy. He knocked lightly on the door. “Hey, I’m here.” He said as he went into her bedroom to change into sweats and a clean t-shirt before walking to the kitchen to grab a beer.
A few minutes later the door opened and she came out in nothing but a towel wrapped around her. Her damp hair hung low down her back as she started to brush it. When she turned her back to walk into the bedroom, he noticed she had a tattoo on her back just below her neck. How had he never noticed that before? All this time he’d admired her body through clothes he’d never been able to see what was lying underneath.
She came out of the bedroom in cropped leggings and an off the shoulder sweatshirt, her long hair down her back as she walked into the kitchen grabbing a beer and heading out to the living room taking a seat next to him. She was still so mad that it had now been two times Tara had hit her. At least this time she got a good swing at her.
Jax turned over and put his hand on her cheek, running his thumb over her split lip. “I’m so sorry.” he said, staring at her lip. Even busted, he wanted nothing more than to lean in and kiss her.
Mina shook her head and licked her lip wincing at the cut. “Its fine.”
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, placing one hand on the back of her head as she laid it on his shoulder. “Thank you. For not hurting her. I know if it was anyone else you would have.”
She sighed and nodded, pulling away from the hug. “Yeah. What ended up happening?”
He shook his head and took a pull of his beer. “She’s lost it. All because of me. She would’ve had such a good life with the right guy. Now she’s facing jail time and being manipulative and violent because of the life I’ve dragged her into.”
Mina watched him as he spoke. “Jax, you’re right. You are. But like you said, she’s extremely smart. She knew exactly what she was getting into when she got with you. Some people don’t have a choice but she did. You can’t take all the blame for that. You were being you, she had a chance to go away and came back. She got out. She knew what getting back in meant. And it’s unfair for you to feel bad for ruining her life when she did it to herself.” She ranted getting angrier.
He looked up at her hand took her hand, lacing their fingers tightly. “What’s the tattoo on your back?”
She stared at their hands and rubbed small circles with her thumb. “It’s a dreamcatcher. Goes down to about mid back.”
His eyebrows cocked and he leaned his head back trying to see her back. “Must of hurt like a bitch.”
She laughed and nodded. “Took forever to complete.”
“Is that your only one?” He asked, now more interested in exploring her beautiful marked body.
She shook her head, “Nope.”
He smirked and leaned in closer. “What are the others?”
She got up and headed towards the kitchen. “What do you want for dinner, Teller?” She changed the subject as he followed her in. She didn’t want to get to that level with him. Yes they were close. Yes, they were getting more and more domestic. However, she needed to keep some things scared. Her body and her bed weren’t something she’d ever shared easily. Especially with married men. She couldn’t even begin how important that was to her. Seeing her mothers failed relationships. All the scumbag men she’d bring home at all hours of the night that would try to get into her room or her sisters when they were done with her mother. She wouldn’t stand for that. She knew what type of man Jax was. Knew how fucked his life was. Knew his history with women. She wasn’t delusional by any means on the type of man Jax Teller was. But he had a heart. A caring soul that struggled day by day. That wasn’t something she could abandon. Regardless of how his relationships ended. Maybe it was stupid of her, but maybe it was just what she needed to get out of her own bubble.