With Sunday being the deadline for the Sons to get the stolen guns to the Niners, the club had to do whatever it took to get that shipment back. Juice had tracked down where the Mayans had stashed them and the plan was for Jax to go with Clay, Tig, Juice, and Chibs to go in there and get them back.
They managed to sneak into the Mayan’s warehouse unnoticed. Each of the men spread out throughout the warehouse, tearing everything apart until they found their shipment.
“Praise Jesus. Its a miracle.”
Clay spoke out as Jax and Tig flipped through the hay filled crates covering their guns. The sense of relief in his voice was prominent. There was no doubt that the business with the Niners was big for the Sons and they’d be damned if they were going to let the Mayans ruin it.
“I’ve got the rest over here.” Chibs yelled from the far side of the room.
“Get the guns in the van and wire this shithole up.” Clay gave orders as the men did what they were told. Jax and Tig scanning the perimeter while laying out the wire.
“We got company.” Tig said looking out from the window.
“Get the van out of sight.” Clay instructed. “Lay low. You-” he said looking over at Jax. “With me.”
The two ran outside taking cover behind a dumpster, watching as the pickup truck with Mayan’s rolled in.
“Shit.” Jax mumbled.
“Should’ve been long gone by now.” Clay hissed.
“We got the iron, let’s get the hell out of here”
Clay looked over at Jax with dark dangerous eyes. ” I came to send a message.” He turned his attention back to the truck. “Those two wetbacks see the busted door they’ll call for back up.”
“Blowin’ shit up is one thing, we off these guys – it could trigger something much larger.” Jax tried desperately to reason.
“That’s the cause of this life. You gotta problem with that?”
With a sigh the young VP shook his head. “I’ll draw them to the dumpster.” Walking out from behind it cautiously, he grabbed an old dirty blanket from the side, throwing it over himself before walking into view singing with slurred words to make them think he was a drunk homeless guy. When the two approached them, one punched Jax across the face before he retaliated, knocking one to the floor and pulling his gun out on the other before Clay came, holding his gun to the man’s neck. After talking his gun he shot the guy in the throat, leaving the second to Jax expectantly.
Jax watched as the guy dropped to his knees, begging in Spanish for his life. All he wanted to do was be at home with Leila under his arms. Leila. She wouldn’t like this. Wouldn’t like the man he actually was. Doubt filled his mind as he looked between Clay and the man in front of him but all he could see was her disappointed face.
As he pulled up his gun, he was shot in the back by another one, hiding behind crates. He turned on the ground shooting the man in the chest before hearing gunshots behind him to see Clay had shot the other Mayan. The old man walked over, helping him up as he grunted in pain.
“I’m alright. I got the vest.”
Jax sighed as he adjusted his shoulders feeling the bruises already forming, but he’d take that over a bullet wound anyday. They heard grunting behind them and turned to see the man Jax had shot in the chest trying to drag himself away.
“Finish him.”
He heard Clay command. He looked at him pleadingly for a moment but when the president wouldn’t budge he knew what he had to do. He lifted his gun again, taking aim at the groaning man on the ground. Closing his eyes tightly he tried to pull the trigger but all he could see was Leila’s disgusted face shaking her head at him, scared of the man he was. He couldn’t do this. He lowered his aim, exhaling before looking at Clay.
“It’s finished.”
He saw Leila’s car in the driveway when he returned from club business. Pulling his bike into the garage he walked in from the back. A routine he’d grown accustomed too since he’d started spending more and more time here than at the clubhouse.
“Babe!”
His voice rang through the house as he made his way to the bathroom on the first floor, taking off his cut and his shirts. He let the water run until it was warm before washing the blood off his face and his chest. He winced at the large cut across his cheek while he pat his face dry before it hit him that Leila hadn’t responded yet.
“Babe?”
Jax asked again, walking out of the bathroom and around the house checking to see where she was. He made his way upstairs to her bedroom to see her curled up in bed, holding her pillow against her, sobbing. “Babe? What’s wrong?”
“You need to leave, Jax.” He heard her say through shaky breaths.
“What why? Talk to me.”
Sat sat up, inhaling sharply as she wiped her tears and he took in the scrape on her cheek. An instant wave of anger came over him as he leaned forward to take a closer look.
“Was this from him?” He asked getting off of the bed, running his fingers through his hair trying to contain his anger so he didn’t scare her.
“No.” She answered bluntly taking in the cut on his face and the round black bruises on his back as he turned away from her. “Jesus Christ, what happened to you?” She got off of the bed, walking over to him running her fingertips gently over the marks.
“Nothing, it was a rough day at work.” he shook his head, turning around to face her. “Who did this to you?!” He asked as he cupped her face running his thumb gently over her cheek.
She scoffed pulling away from his grasp. “First you lie about the extent of your relationship with your ex wife, now you lie about the bruises on your back? How stupid do you think I am, Jax?”
The audacity he had to come and lie to her once more. How was this supposed to work without honesty? They lied to everyone else about being together to make this work but lying to each other was supposed to be out of the question. She knew there were things they couldn’t talk about but to be lied to so easily to her face – wasn’t something she’d want to stand for..
Jax narrowed his eyes trying to piece together what she said. His ex wife? Wendy? “Wendy did this to you?!” He asked, unable to control the volume of his voice at the thought of that junkie whore putting her hands on Leila.
Shaking her head, Leila crossed her arms over her chest. “You should’ve told me you were going to be a father, Jackson. That’s not something you hide from your girlfriend. What were you going to do when the baby was born huh? Then you lie to me about being shot at? What were you going to do if you actually got hurt? Jesus Jax how is this going to work if we lie to each other?! It’s bad enough we’re lying to everyone else!”
“How do you know that?” He asked with confusion written all over his face but quickly shook it off knowing the real reason for this fight. “I didn’t know how, Leila. I didn’t want to lose you – I know you wanted things done a certain way, dating – marriage – kids. I was afraid you would leave and that’s not what I want. I’m sorry.”
She crossed her arms across her chest, looking down at the ground at his reasoning. Of course that’s what she wanted, the way she was raised to believe life’s events went, but she cared for Jax. In reality she would’ve gotten over it to be with him, but the lying was out of the question. Taking a deep breath she looked into his sorrow filled eyes.
“Look, if we want this to work – we can’t have a relationship built on lies. It’s bad enough to be lying to everyone else, Jax.” She looked down at the ground, avoiding his eyes, knowing she’d give in but she needed time. “I just need some time. I need to be able to trust you.”
Looking down, he didn’t quite know how to respond. He didn’t need this today. He was fuming at Wendy for putting her hands on Leila. He was irate at how Clay continued to question his loyalty. And now all he wanted to do was spend time with the one person who could ease his mind but she was upset with him.
She had every right to not trust him. He didn’t know how honest he could ever be with her. Her family was against everything his family stood for. How could he share anything about the club with her? Hell he’d just killed a man less than an hour before showing up at her doorstep, he doubted she’d be okay with that. Her soft voice broke his silence again.
“Jax, you should go. Wendy was high when she came at me earlier. If she’d using – you need to put a stop to it before anything happens to that baby.”
His eyes rose to meet hers as he pursed his lips in anger. That junkie cunt. Of course she was still fucking using. He let out a loud grunt, making Leila jump as he slammed his fists into the wall. If that kid was his, he sure as fuck wasn’t going to deal with her putting him in danger. He felt her small hands on his shoulders.
“Go handle things, Jax. We both have a lot of thinking to do before we continue this conversation.”
Turning to look down at her, he held his breath at her words, nodding his head. “I’m sorry..” He whispered, placing a hand on her cheek, brushing the thumb over the scrape softly before leaning down pressing his lips against hers.
“Go. “ She whispered into the kiss, pressing her hands into his chest to push him away.
Jax burst into the house with a cold icy glare in his intensely focused eyes. He was almost certain he’d broken the heavy wooden front door with the force in which it had slammed against the wall. His chest rising and falling rapidly in anger as he spotted Wendy, wide eyed on the couch – frozen in fear.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?!” His voice boomed across the silent room.
“You’re wife, Jax!”
Wendy stood up, holding her belly pointedly to gain some sympathy but those icy daggers being thrown her way didn’t seem to ease. Her voice became more desperate as she pleaded with him.
“Jax, like it or not we’re having a baby! We finally get to be a family! You me and our son!” That whore was just getting in the way! That’s where you’ve been every night right?! Instead of being with your FAMILY.”
He winced as she pronounced every syllable of the word but the thought of Wendy having the audacity to call Leila a whore had him seeming red. In one swift motion, he had her pinned back against the wall, her shirt balled up in his white knuckled fists.
“You talk about her like that again and I swear to you I’ll rip your goddamn tongue out.” He seethed as her eyes widened with fear at his venom laced threat before he left go of her, allowing her to catch her breath. “How’d you even find out about her?”
“You think I don’t know the back of my husband’s head when it’s plastered all over the TV?! That’s exactly what she is! A whore! Gushing and blushing about you for everyone to see! A homewrecking whore for destroying our marriage!”
“No Wendy, the only person that destroyed this marriage was you! You fucking Junkie! I filed long before Leila ever came into the picture. Family. You and I will never be a family!”
Wendy’s eyed lined with tears at the sting of his words. This baby was her last hope of rekindling their relationship and she’d be damned if she gave up on that. Before she had a chance to say anything else, Jax grabbed her arms, forcefully flipping them over to check for any track marks.
“If I find you using while pregnant I will kill you Wendy. I swear on everything.”
His dark eyes stared into her soul before he let her arms go and storming back to the front door. He couldn’t stand the thought of not spending the night in Leila’s bed but he sure as fuck wasn’t spending it here with her.
“Where you going!?” Her croaked, tear ridden voice, yelled behind him.
“Clubhouse.”
He answered over his shoulder before he left. This wasn’t the way this night was supposed to go. He was supposed to be Leila’s bed with her curled up in his arms and he’d fall asleep to her soft sleepy breath against his neck. Now he was on his way to the dorm room in the clubhouse that he hadn’t occupied since, alone.