Gemma took us to a small little restaurant in town and we were seated in a booth by the window. I was practically shaking the entire ride over there. Gemma was very intimidating. She didn’t say a word, she just smoked and gripped the wheel. As we looked over the menu, I ordered a burger and she ordered a salad. When the waitress left us alone, Gemma folded her hands on the table and looked across at me.

“Okay, what’s your deal with Jax?” She asked me.

My mouth fell open a little and shook my head.

“I’m sorry, what do you mean?” I asked her.

She gave me a knowing look and tilted her head to the side.

“Are you some kinda Crow Eater or something?” She said.

I shook my head slowly and looked at her.

“No, I just came here yesterday. I met Jax at the store over there and he bought me a pack of cigarettes. I didn’t have a place to stay and he brought me to the club house. What’s a Crow Eater?” I said.

She sat back and studied me. She waved her hand and took a sip of coffee.

“A Crow Eater is a slut that hangs around club members and does whatever they want. Jax has never brought one here that’s why I was asking.” She said.

I didn’t say anything back. Our food came a little bit later and we ate in silence. Gemma looked up at me and I looked away.

“I’m sorry.” She said slowly.

It was like it pained her to say it. I shrugged and took a bit of a French fry.

“Where are you from?” She asked.

I sighed and looked at her.

“Does it matter?” I said.

She put her fork down and stared at me.

“It might. If you’re here to damage the club.” She said in a low voice.

I rolled my eyes and leveled with her.

“Look, I’m not here to do anything. If it weren’t for Jax I wouldn’t even be here. I wanted to get a room somewhere but I don’t have any cash and he wouldn’t let me anyway. I’m not a Crow Eater or whatever you call them or a spy or anything.” I said firmly.

Gemma smiled a little and took another sip of coffee.

“Good. I had to be sure.” She said.

I huffed and ate more of my burger. It tasted delicious. I guess anything would if you haven’t eaten in two days. We finished our meal and Gemma took us to a small shopping area.

“If you’re gonna be working in the club, you might as well dress like you belong there.” She said as we walked into a store.

I could tell this was where she shopped. It was full of leather and biker looking attire. Gemma waved to the cashier and took me around the store.

“You’ll need a good pair of jeans or two that make your ass look good.” She said as she handed me a few pair.

“And you’ll need some shirts like this.” She said as she pulled down some lacy shirts and shirts with big crosses and writing on them.

“Go and try those on.” She said.

She ushered me to a dressing room and shut the door. I looked at my reflection and shook my head. I pulled on a pair of jeans and turned to look at my ass. Gemma was right, they looked good on. I put on one of the shirts and slowly opened the dressing room door. Gemma smiled in satisfaction and spun me around.

“Let me see.” She said as she lifted up the back of my shirt.

“See, all it takes is the right pair of jeans.” She said as she slapped my ass.

I jumped and she laughed.

“Leave that on.” She said.

I just nodded and followed her around the store. She grabbed a lot of lacy things and even a cute bra/underwear set that was black and red with lace.

“Now, you need a few pairs of boots and a good jacket.” She said.

She took me to the shoes and handed me two pairs of knee high heeled boots. Then she handed me a fitted leather jacket like hers and slipped it around my shoulders.

“Perfect.” She said with a smile.

I smiled back and looked at myself in the mirror. I did look pretty hot that was for sure. Gemma took some of the clothes from me and we started heading to the check out.

“So, does this mean you like me or something?” I asked her.

She smiled and looked at me.

“Well, Jax see’s something in you or he wouldn’t have brought you to the club. I think I know what it is. So for the time being, yes I like you.” She said.

He see’s something in me? What is there to see? I show up out of the blue with no money or place to stay but you can see something in me?

When we were all checked out and back in Gemma’s car, we lit up a smoke and put our sunglasses on and drove back to the club. She helped me bring all the clothes back to the apartment and then we sat at the bar and I got us a drink. The guys weren’t back yet.

“So, you don’t want to say where you’re from right?” She asked me.

I nodded and took a long sip of my beer.

“That tells me you’re running from something.” She continued.

I nearly choked on my beer. I tried not to let it show when I shook my head.

“No I’m not running from anything.” I said.

I was proud of the control I had on my voice. Gemma gave me her stare that looks like she’s looking into my head.

“Baby, I’ve been around a bit and I know when someone’s running when I see it. Why else would you end up in Charming with no money?” She said quietly.

I sighed and set my bottle down.

“I’m not running. I just needed a new start.” I said in a small voice.

She nodded and put her hand on mine.

“Well you got it sweetheart. Don’t fuck it up.” She said.

Before I could say something back, we heard the bikes pull in. Gemma stood up and nodded for me to follow. We went outside and watched them all line up. Clay was first, then Jax then Tig and so on. Clay and Jax looked pissed and Tig looked frustrated. Gemma creased her eyebrows together and walked towards Clay. She kissed him and said something to him. Jax came over to me and I could see a bruise on his face forming and a cut on his lip.

“Jesus what happened?” I asked.

He shook his head and went into the bar. I followed him and started to get him a beer.

“Skip the beer and give me the whiskey.” He said.

I nodded and got the bottle down and poured him a shot. He took it quick and slammed his glass down. I filled it and he sighed before drinking it. There was a towel on the bar, I took it and wet the corner of it.

“Come here.” I said softly.

Jax leaned close to me and I dabbed the cut on his lip. I bit my own lip as I cleaned up all the dried blood from it. He didn’t take his eyes off me the whole time. When I was finished, I filled the towel with ice and twisted the top.

“Here, put this on your cheek.” I said.

He smiled and took it from me, his hand brushed mine when he did. I flushed and he chuckled. Clay and the others came in and Jax drug himself off of the stool and when into the big room. Gemma sat in his place and I got her another beer.

“Some shit went down tonight.” She said to me in a whisper.

I nodded slowly and looked at the room.

“It’s called Church.” She said.

I nodded again and started to wipe up the bar.

“You did good work in here. I’ve been telling them to clean it forever.” She said.

I smiled and came around and sat beside her.

“I’ll give you some advice. If you wanna stick around here, don’t ask any questions. You’re gonna see a lot of shit. Just go with it. Do whatever we tell you and you’ll be fine.” She said.

“I wasn’t planning on asking anything. I figured if I was supposed to know, they’d tell me.” I said.

Gemma smiled and kissed my cheek.

“Good. I think you’ll fit in just fine.” She said.

I smiled and a few minutes later the doors opened and everyone came out. Clay and Gemma were getting ready to leave. She grabbed Jax’s arm and stood in front of him.

“Go home tonight. Neeta’s there with Abel and he misses you.” She said.

Jax rolled his eyes and Gemma put her hands on her hips.

“I mean it Jackson. He’s your son. He needs you.” She said seriously.

I kept myself busy so it didn’t seem like I was eavesdropping. Gemma gave Jax a kiss and then she left. The rest of the guys took off too so it was just Jax and me.

“He’s adorable you know.” I said.

Jax smiled and sat at the bar.

“Yeah, he takes after me.” He said with a smirk.

I laughed and tossed the empty bottles in the trash can.

“Oh definitely.” I said with a smile.

He smiled back and drummed his fingers on the bar. I could tell something was bothering him, but I didn’t want to press the issue.

“I haven’t spent a night with him in three months.” He said quietly.

I leaned on the bar and tilted my head.

“Why not?” I asked.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“It’s a long boring story really, but I was with a girl that I was really in love with and she left. She couldn’t handle the life. She was in Abel’s life since he was born and I just feel like I let him down I guess.” He confessed.

Jax looked so sad in that moment. His eyes glassed over and he looked away from me. His jaw was clenched so tightly that I could see the muscles in it twitch.

“Jax, you didn’t let him down. Not yet anyway. He loves you. Gemma’s right, he needs you.” I said softly.

I reached over and covered his hand with mine. He slowly looked at me and shook his head.

“I made the only mother he’s ever known go away.” He said in a choked voice.

I walked around the bar and wrapped my arms around him tightly. He sighed and held me back. I could feel him relaxing around me. We stayed like that for a while before I pulled away.

“Jax, he needs you. You’re all he has in the world right now.” I said softly.

He sighed and nodded.

“I know.” He barely whispered.

I smiled and gently touched his face.

“You’re a great dad, I can tell.” I said.

He looked at me confused and smiled.

“What makes you say that?” He asked.

I shrugged and went to the pool table where a bottle was sitting.

“Because you’re upset that he doesn’t have a mom. That means you love him so much you want him to have two parents. Most men I know would’ve just given him up.” I said.

I heard him chuckle and then he was across from me.

“Yeah well, Gemma would’ve killed me.” He said.

I rolled my eyes and leaned far across the table to push a lonely 13 ball into the pocket. I could see Jax looking over my shoulders at my ass.

“She did a good job.” He said under his breath.

I stood up straight and put my hands on my hips. Jax laughed and reached out for my hand. I slid mine into his and he pulled me towards him.

“I mean it. You look good.” He said softly.

I smiled and blushed and he chuckled.

“I better get going then. Neeta probably wants to get home.” He said.

I smiled and walked with him to the door.

“Remember, lock the doors behind me. And don’t open it for anyone but us and call if anything happens.” He said seriously.

He smiled at me and put his hand on my cheek. I smiled and closed my eyes for a second. Something about him just made me relaxed.

“Goodnight Darlin’.” He whispered almost in my ear.

“Goodnight.” I said back.

Jax looked at me one more time before walking out the door. I shut it right away and listened for his bike to fire up. As quick as lightning I lock it up and went back into the apartment and sat on the bed. It was close to midnight and after the barely any sleep I got last night, I was exhausted. I took of the new clothes Jax bought me and tucked them into the drawer. Inside it, I saw a black shirt with the reaper on it. It was Jax’s. I took it out and put it on over my underwear. I didn’t really have any pajama’s and I figured he wouldn’t miss it. As I turned off the light and crawled into bed, I pictured him holding Abel and I smiled as I fell asleep.