Gemma left early in the morning to get ready for the day and open the garage. Leila took the chance to make some coffee and clean things up before she washed her face and got ready. She slipped on a white v-neck t-shirt, distressed blue skinny jeans, a maroon blazer that matched her lipstick, and tan pointed toe heels that matched her clutch. She let her hair down straight before she put on her oversized sunglasses and headed out the door.

She froze when he got near her car. A large yellow envelope was placed on her windshield, held down by one of the wipers, her name written in large letters on the front. Her eyes immediately wandered around to see if anyone was there, before she slowly walked over to the envelope, opening it to pull out a bunch of pictures.

Her heart dropped to her stomach and she felt like she was going to be sick. The photos were of Jax yesterday before and during his trip to Nevada. One was of him still at TM with Tara, the two looked way too close for her liking. There he was punching some guy. Then another of him talking to a blonde girl. Then one of her getting on his bike the last one almost made her drop to her knees. The same girl was straddling him on a couch surrounded by other half naked women and club members. All of the pictures had the time on them. This was all last night before he’d called her.

Her hands shook as she shoved the photos back into the envelope and walked back inside. Who sent her these? Was this some sort of sick joke? Someone had deliberately followed Jax to take pictures of him. But why? Why would someone want her to see this? Why would Jax do this to her? How?

She took a deep breath and dropped the envelope on the table. No. She told herself. Jax wouldn’t do this. Not to her. He wouldn’t have. After everything the two had been through, there was no way . Besides it didn’t look like he was doing anything right? Some sick bastard was just trying to ruin everything. She grabbed her clutch again before going outside and getting in her car. There was an explanation for all of this, but for now she had a job to do. Regardless of what Jax may or may not have done, she felt like she was being watched and she’d be damned if anyone got the satisfaction of breaking her down.

While driving to the office, her phone began to ring. Jax’s name popped up by all she could see was him with those other women. She couldn’t answer it. Not now. Not after everything she’d just seen. She ignored the call only to have it ring again moments later but he could wait. Nothing she’d say to him now would do any good.

The board room was already full of people, her father being one of them. Although they weren’t on the best terms, they still acted cordial. She placed her things down but was immediately pulled back out by Charlotte who had a stack of papers in one hand and a coffee for her in the other. Leila accepted the coffee taking long sip and walked to an empty office before acknowledging the sheets in her hand.

“What’s this?”

“I got information on that ATF agent?”

“And?”

“His name is Joshua Kohn. He’s from the Chicago division.”

“So what’s he doing around here snooping on the SONS? Was it Hale?”

“Actually no. I called your friend Samuel over there and he’s actually supposed to be on vacation. He wasn’t sent here to investigate anything.”

Leila arched her eyebrow, looking at the time card that she’d printed. His picture was stapled to one of the sheets, the dead look in her eyes sending chills down her spine.

“Then what is he doing here?”

“Here’s something you might find interesting.” The girl flipped the pages for her to one of a rental agreement. “Look at the second name on the lease.”

Her eyes damn near popped out of her head as she read Tara’s name on the lease agreement. Kohn was here for Tara. That still didn’t give reason as to why he was after the Sons.

“Tara.” Charlotte nodded.

Leila continued flipping through the papers to find a restraining order from Tara against Kohn. She sighed and took a seat on one of the chairs in the room. It all made so much sense. Kohn wasn’t here for the Sons. He was here for Tara. She must have come back thinking Jax would help her. Why else would she come to Charming out of all places? She clenched her fists at the thought.

That meant that he was the one following Jax. He was the one who took those photos. The one who was at her house. This was just all too creepy. She couldn’t explain the deep feeling of anger she got. He was invading her privacy and stalking after Jax all because of Tara. She obviously knew what leading an agent to this club would mean and she lead Kohn right to the club – and Hale was jumping right on that bandwagon.

Leila slammed her hands down on the desk as she stood, causing Charlotte to jump back in shock. She never lost her cool but this twisted scheme was making her reach her boiling point. Without another word, she took the papers and walked into the boardroom to grab her things before heading straight to the police department. This was going to get resolved one way or another. Tara was causing more damage than anything. She made sure she was apart of Abel’s surgery just to get close to Jax. It was all just so fucked up, but David Hale was just that thorn in their side that needed to be put in his place before anything else went down.

---

Leila stormed into the police department. She’d never been as angry as she was today. All of these people acting shady and planning and plotting was not the what Charming would stand for. She’d been in politics her entire life and things never once got this messy. All of these people had a hidden agenda and Jax was just caught in the center. He had more to think about. He had a son now. She understood the loyalty to the club but what about loyalty to his family? To his newborn? This wasn’t okay. Tara was going take her problematic ass somewhere else and so was Hale.

Walking through the department, people tried to stop her. Tried to ask her where she was going or that she couldn’t just walk in, but that didn’t seem to stop her. She just walked into Hale’s office, slamming the door behind her. He stared at her wide eyed before clearing his throat and standing to greet her.

“Leila, uh, I wasn’t expecting to see you anytime soon.”

“Cut the shit David. Who told you to work with ATF against the Sons?”

“No one had to tell me. An agent came in asking for assistance. I was just doing my job.”

“Who gave you orders, Hale?” Her voice got louder as she took a step closer. “Last time I checked, a deputy doesn’t have the authority to go behind the chief’s back to work with agents.”

“He came to me!” Hale defended, his tone getting louder.
“Do you know anything about him?” She placed her hands on her hips, gripping the sheets tightly in her hand. “Did he show you any paperwork on his investigation?”

“Well.. no.” Hale shook his head. “But he said they had to be very low key and careful on this investigation which was why he came alone.”

Leila narrowed her eyes at his stupidity before shoving the papers into his chest. “Open your eyes Hale.” She let him look over the sheets and watched as his face went from curious, to confused, to angry. “There is no investigation on the Sons. He’s supposed to be on vacation. He’s following Tara and using this investigation as an excuse to undermine his restraining order.”

“I – I didn’t know.” He stuttered, flipping through the sheets over and over.

“Damn right you didn’t know. You’re so hellbent on getting rid of them that you’re willing to believe anyone. You pull something like this again and I’ll have your badge stripped. The ATF investigation on the Sons has been done for weeks now. You understand? Why don’t you focus on some parking tickets, leave the actual police work to Unser.”

His eyes narrowed in on hers but she didn’t budge. Snatching the papers back from his hands, she took a deep breath in to compose herself. She hated losing her cool like that and not having control over her emotions but all of this had gone to far. As she turned to walk out of the office, Hale spoke up again.

“Why are you doing all of this for them, Leila? You know they’re criminals. Jax isn’t the good guy you think he is”

Leila turned, adjusting her shirt as she heard him speak. “You think the world is so black and white, David? You think it’s such a clear line as to who’s’ good and who’s bad? There isn’t. Everyone in this goddamn town is a criminal. Most of them are sitting in their air conditioned offices in thousand dollar suits in city hall, those are the real criminals. They put the attention on smaller groups of people while they’re robbing everyone blind in order to put more money in their pockets. I’ve been in this game my whole life. I’ve met some people in very high positions and I’ll tell you now that only 1/10th of them are ‘good.’ Unser understands that, that’s why he’s had this town running as well as it has. You make agreements and bend rules to keep things running smoothly. You’ll never make it as chief if you don’t grasp this concept.”

Hale stared at her. She could see her words roaming around in his head but she didn’t have time for this. She sighed and turned around to go towards the door. She needed to have a talk with the good doctor herself. Leila had no doubt in her mind that Tara would be expecting club protection. Maybe not the club but definitely Jax. She’d done everything she could to weasel her way in from the get go. Asking to assist with Abel. Going to visit him at the shop. She knew what she was doing. No wonder this psycho agent had it in for Jax.

Leila pulled into the hospital’s lot. At this point there was way too many people around for her to lose her shit like she had earlier so she took a few deep breaths before getting out of the car to go inside. Tara was nowhere to be found yet so she headed straight for Abel’s room where Sarah was checking his vitals. So far the little tike was holding up. He was getting stronger every day. Knowing that he’d be home soon gave her all the comfort she’d need.

---

Jax was up pretty early in the morning. Most of the men were still passed out all over the place so he took this opportunity to head out to this place mentioned in his father’s memoir. It wasn’t too far of a drive, what could go wrong? After washing his face and getting dressed. He was able to leave without being questioned.

The open road had never felt better. After the After the shit show that was happening last night, the clean air was greatly appreciated. It was one of those days where the road was empty. Everything was calm and at peace so he could go as fast or slow as he wanted.

Something happens at around 92 miles an hour. Thunder headers drown out all sound. Engine vibration travels at a heart’s rate. Field of vision funnels into the immediate. And suddenly you are not on the road – you’re in it, a part of it. Traffic, scenery, cops – just cardboard cutouts blown over as you pass. Sometimes he’d forget the rush of that, that’s why he loved these long runs. All his problems, all the noises, gone. Nothing else to worry about, except what was  right in front of him.

Soon he arrived at the location, parking his bike on the side of the road as he made his way through a dirt road to the under pass and as mentioned in the writing was the dust covered quote.

“Anarchism… stands for liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from shackles and restraint of government. It stands for social order based on the free grouping of individuals.” He read.

That was what John wanted for the club. That’s what the sons were supposed to stand for. What happened to that? He took a seat on a rock next to the writing and pulled out his father’s memoir to keep reading. It was amazing to read the thoughts of his dad. His vision was so different than what it ended up being. You could feel the hurt and disappointment coming through the writing. Changes definitely needed to be made but with Clay as president that wasn’t going to happen.

After a while, he pulled his phone to call Leila. He missed her voice. Missed being with her. If it was one person he wanted to share his thoughts with, it was her. He called once and got no answer. Called again and still nothing. It wasn’t like Leila to not answer his calls. Even in her meetings, she’d take the time to answer him. With a concerned inhale, he called his mother. Although it rang one to many times, she finally picked up.

“Hey Mom, you heard from Leila?”

“Not since I left this house, why?”

“She ain’t answering my calls.”

“Maybe she’s busy, baby. I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll check in with her. “

“Yeah.” He sighed to himself, “Alright.”

He hung up the phone and climbed back into his bike. All he wanted to do at this point was go home. Everything was settled with Jury. A few men would be held back to get them adjusted. There was no need for him to be away from his family an longer.

His family. That’s what they were at this point. A family. Leila, Abel, and himself. It was amazing to see how quickly Leila had stepped up to the plate. How she was already redoing her house for a nursery and how she was always at the hospital to spend time with Abel. Reading to him. Singing him to sleep. That kid knew her voice more than anyone else’s.

If there was ever an old lady made just for him. She was it. So why not make this official? He’d never imagined himself getting married but with Leila, it all seemed right. He wanted her to carry his kids. To have his last name. His crow. Everything. She belonged at his side.