“A devil?” I heard Jax say in the hallway.

I was pulling my bangs back in a clip when I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” I said.

The door opened and Jax and Tig were standing there. Tig gave a low whistle and smirked at me. I rolled my eyes and shut the drawer that I kept my bag in. Today I was wearing another pair of jeans that Gemma picked out with a red top that was lace in the back. I also had on the pretty lacy bra and panty set on. Jax shook his head slightly and put his hands in his pockets.

“McKayla, did you get a good look at anyone last night?” Jax asked me.

Did I? Everything happened so fast I didn’t think to really look. But then again, when I was still in bed when I heard the bottle break I did look out the window and I think maybe I did see something.

“I think I saw some kind of patch on the back of one of them.” I said.

Tig pulled a picture out of his pocket and held it out to me. It was a red Devil with his tongue sticking out and yellow eyes.

“That’s it.” I said as I touched the picture.

Jax shook his head and sighed. Tig nodded and turned to leave. He turned back and smirked at me.

“You look amazing babe.” He said with a wink.

I couldn’t help but smile and chuckle.

“Thanks Tig.” I said.

“Let’s go find out more about these Devil’s.” Jax said.

Tig nodded once and left the room. Jax rubbed his hands over his face and leaned in the doorframe.

“You look exhausted.” I said to him softly.

He groaned and looked at me. There was a soft smile on his face.

“Yeah well, I’ll survive.” He said.

I smiled back and picked up his t-shirt that I wore to bed and handed it to him.

“Here, I didn’t think you’d mind that I wore it.” I said.

Jax stood up straight and pushed the shirt back into my hands. His own covering mine.

“Keep it darlin’. It looks better on you anyway.” He said in a low voice.

I could feel the blush creeping on my face. A loose bang fell over my eye and I felt Jax’s hand softly brush it back away.

“You look tired too.” He whispered.

I waved my bandaged hand at him and smiled.

“I’ll survive.” I said in a mocking tone.

That oh so sexy smirk crept across his lips. I smiled back and we walked out of the room.

“I’m sorry your night with Abel was interrupted.” I said.

Jax shrugged and slipped his hand into mine.

“It’s alright Darlin’. I’m just glad you’re safe.” He said just above a whisper.

Just before we reached the others, he let go of my hand and went into Church. I shook myself awake and went to make some coffee. When it was finished, I poured myself a cup and one for Gemma since she was probably dying right now. I knocked on the office door and she grumbled a ‘come in’. I smiled and turned the door knob.

“Thought you might need this.” I said as I held up the cup of coffee.

Gemma sighed in relief and took it from me.

“You are a godsend.” She said as she took a long sip.

I smiled and looked at Abel who was in a playpen.

“Are you watching him today?” I asked her.

She sighed and nodded.

“I guess. Neeta, the nanny is out of town visiting her sick mother.” She said.

Her voice was exhausted and frustrated. Abel was holding onto the top of the playpen and bouncing up and down. I smiled at him and picked him up.

“I’ll watch him if you want.” I offered.

Gemma looked up from the stack of papers she was working one and sighed.

“Would you? That would be great baby. I really need to get some work done around here.” She said.

I smiled and nodded and settled Abel on my hip and picked up his diaper bag. With one hand I folded up the playpen and took him back into the club house. Jax walked passed me and Abel and smiled. He took the baby from me and held him tight.

“Did my mom pawn him off on you?” He asked me while looking at Abel.

The baby smiled and cooed happily in Jax’s arms. I smiled and shifted the diaper bag.

“No, I volunteered.” I said.

Jax smiled at me and carried Abel into the club so I could set the playpen up.

“We’re meeting up with some friends to help us find out more about these Devil’s. You gonna be alright here?” He asked me.

I sipped some coffee and nodded.

“Yeah, we’ll be just fine.” I said looking at Abel.

Jax smiled and kissed Abel on the head. He handed him to me and winked.

“Don’t leave okay?” He said to me.

I rolled my eyes at him and nodded.

“Yes sir.” I said.

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Sir. Did I really just call Jax sir? He didn’t seem to take it seriously. He just chuckled and walked out of the club. I let out a shaky breath and set Abel down on in the playpen. It sounded like it was another biker club that tried to break in last night. So it couldn’t have been him.

A few hours later, Gemma came in holding a pizza box.

“I thought you might be hungry.” She said.

I smiled and got up off of the couch where I was watching tv. Able was sleeping soundly in the playpen.

“How’s he doing?” She asked.

I shrugged and took a piece of pizza from the box.

“He’s a dream. He doesn’t fuss at all and he’s been sleeping most of the day.” I said.

Gemma nodded and walked over to the playpen.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” She said softly.

I just smiled and watched her with him.

“He looks like just Jax when he was a baby.” She continued.

“What about his mother?” I asked.

Gemma’s head snapped up and she looked at me with a glare.

“What, do you know the bitch?” She snapped at me.

My mouth hung open a little and I shook my head.

“No? I figured she was still in his life.” I said in a quiet voice.

Gemma scoffed and shook her head.

“Not if I have anything to say about it. That junkie bitch will stay as far away from him as she can if she knows what’s good for her.” She said darkly.

I swallowed hard and made a mental note to stay on her good side.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” I said.

She waved her hand to dismiss it and I went back to my pizza. Eating just made me even more sleepy. I curled up on the couch and started to relax. Just as I thought I would drift off, I heard the rumble of the bikes pulling in. I groaned and pulled myself off the couch. Gemma was already outside. I picked up the baby and waited for everyone to come inside. Jax came in with first a look of frustration, but I melted when he saw Abel.

“Hey kid.” He said with a smile.

Abel reached for him and Jax took him from me.

“Did he give you any trouble?” He asked.

“Well, just when he tried to take off on a bike that was in the garage. But other than that no.” I said with a smile.

Jax laughed and held Abel close to him. I wiped the bit of drool from his chin and handed Jax the blanket.

“I got a lead on the Devil’s.” Juice said excitedly.

Jax handed Abel to me and the guys went into Church. Gemma took Abel from me and sat down at a table. I propped myself up on a bar stool and rested my head in my sore hands.

JAX

“Alright Juice, what do you got?” Clay asked.

Juice laid some papers out on the table and scooted up to the edge of his chair.

“Okay. The Devil’s are a club out in Oregon. They’re assassins for hire. Instead of dealing guns or drugs, they kill people. They are definitely the real deal.” He said.

We all groaned. Assassins? Really?

“What are we thinking? That the Mayans or the Niner’s put a hit out on us?” Opie said.

I shook my head.

“Nah, they’d want the credit for taking us out. This was someone else.” I said.

Clay nodded and lit a cigar.

“You know maybe they were after Gemma? She was the one they almost took out last night.” Tig said.

Clay shook his head and I looked at Tig.

“No. No one’s ever tried to come after Gemma to get to us.”

“Because they know we’d kill’em.” I said.

Everyone nodded in agreement but no one could come up with an answer as to why someone would put a hit on us.

“I say we reach out to the Niner’s and the Mayan’s just to make sure it wasn’t them.” Piney said.

I nodded and looked at Clay.

“It’s our only play right now. Maybe we can talk to Unser too. See if he knows anything about the Devil’s.” I said with a shrug.

He sighed in frustration and looked around the table. Tig gave a shrug and a nod.

“Alright. Tomorrow we’ll split up and see what we can dig up.” Clay said.

We nodded and he slammed the gavel down. We were all exhausted from last nights’ events and couldn’t wait to get some sleep.

“Hey Clay.” I called for him.

He turned and waited for me to come out of Church.

“We should do drive by’s around here tonight to make sure no one tries this again.” I proposed.

He thought about it and nodded.

“Yeah you’re probably right. Or you could camp out here.” He countered.

I thought it over and realized that would be better. I’d already be here so I could take care of it. I nodded to him and lit a smoke. McKayla was holding Abel behind the bar as she got Chibs a drink. I smiled and watched her. She looked amazing with him and he loved her. He was smiling and laughing. She was really great with him. I caught her looking at me and I flushed a little and walked to the bar.

“Hey.” I said.

She smiled and got me a beer.

“Hi.” She said back.

Abel reached for me and McKayla handed him over. He started to get fussy so I put him down in the playpen. I heard everyone start to leave and Gemma came over to me.

“Want me to take him home?” She asked me.

Without looking at her I shook my head. I smiled and watched him drift to sleep.

“No, I’ll keep him.” I said quietly.

She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek.

“Goodnight baby.” She said.

I kissed her cheek back.

“Night mom.” I said.

I watched her walk over to McKayla and kiss her before walking out with Clay. When it was just us, I sighed in exhausted and watched McKayla wipe down the bar.

“So when are you taking off?” She asked me.

I smiled at her and snuffed out my cigarette.

“I’m not.” I said.

McKayla looked up at me and wrinkled her eyebrows.

“Why not?” She asked.

I shrugged and sat down at the bar.

“It’ll be safer that way. If something would happen, I’ll already be here.” I said.

She shook her head and put her hands on her hips.

“Jax you don’t have to do that. Plus you have Abel.” She said.

I smiled at her and pulled her by the wrists close to me.

“It’s already decided and Abel’s fine in the playpen.” I said.

I watched her bite down on her bottom lip and look away from me. I stretched my neck to meet her gaze and I saw the blush on her face.

“Do you think something will happen tonight?” She asked me softly.

I sighed and shrugged.

“I don’t know.” I said.

I could feel her start to tremble and I put my hands up to her face and made her look at me. I was caught off guard by her dark brown eyes. Worry was clouding them. I shook my head and caressed her cheek with my thumb.

“McKayla, I promise you’re safe with me. I won’t let anything happen to you. Alright?” I said to her softly.

Her eyes were searching mine for something. Fear was slightly swimming in them mixed with the worry.

“I mean it. You don’t have to be afraid.” I whispered.

She closed her eyes and I felt her relax against my hands. For some reason, I wanted to kiss her. I started to lean closer to her lips but Abel waking up stopped me. I chuckled to myself and slowly took my hands away.

“I’ll get him.” She said.

I couldn’t help but smile at her as she picked him up.

“What’s the matter baby? Huh?” She asked him.

He sniffled and stopped crying almost instantly.

“Wow, Gemma’s the only one that usually can do that.” I said.

She blushed a little and cradled him in her arms.

“He’s exhausted.” She said.

I laughed and pushed myself off the bar.

“He’s not the only one.” I said.

She smiled and nodded and slowly put him back in the playpen. There was a blanket in the playpen and she covered Abel up with it.

“Goodnight little angel.” She whispered softly.

I felt my heart swell up when I watched her with him. She stretched and rubbed her neck with her hands.

“Get some sleep sweetheart.” I told her softly.

She raised an eyebrow and looked around.

“Where are you going to sleep?” She asked me.

I chuckled and walked up close to her. I backed her up against the wall and put my arm up close to her head.

“Why? Are you offering that I sleep with you?” I asked her.

I could hear the lust in my voice. McKayla’s breathing sped up and her face flamed red. I smirked at her and leaned closer.

“Nn-no! No, I was jjust-“ I cut her off with a chuckled.

I pushed away from her and stepped back a few steps.

“Relax darlin’. I’m taking the couch.” I said with my smirk still on my face.

McKayla took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Goodnight darlin’.” I said.

She just nodded and she half ran down the hallway and shut the door to the bedroom. I chuckled and walked back to the couch. I had to readjust my pants as I walked though. Being that close to her like that turned me on so much. I took off my cut and set it on the pool table along with my hostler. My shirt came off next and I slid my belt off and unbuttoned my pants. I smiled at Abel one last time before flopping on the couch and passing out.