“No! NO! AHHHHH! NOO!”

Screaming. McKayla was screaming! I jumped up and grabbed my gun and ran back into the hallway. I threw the door open and aimed my gun in the room. No one was there except for McKayla. She was thrashing on the bed and screaming. She was having a nightmare. I sighed and relief and set my gun on the desk and climbed onto the bed with her.

“McKayla? McKayla, wake up. Wake up honey.” I said to her softly.

She continued to thrash and pull away from me. I put my hands on her face and pulled her up.

“McKayla!” I shouted and shook her.

With one final scream, her eyes flew open and she jumped back from me. Her eyes were wild and crazed. She was looking around the room, her hands kept touching her neck and her wrists. When she finally looked at me I could see tears spilling over from her eyes. I pulled her tight to me and ran my fingers through her hair.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s over baby, it’s over.” I whispered softly.

Her body was racked with sobs. She was shaking so hard that I literally had to hold her on the bed. Her fingers dug into my bare skin and I winced as the nails cut in. When she finally pulled away from me, her face was red and splotchy and her eyes were bloodshot.

“I’m so sorry I woke you, Jax.” She whispered.

Her throat was raw from screaming and crying. I shook my head and put my hands on her cheeks and looked her in the eyes.

“No, sweetheart don’t apologize. It was a nightmare that’s all.” I said softly.

She nodded and pulled away from me and wiped her face.

“Did I wake Abel?” She asked.

I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“No that kid can sleep through anything.” I said.

McKayla just wiped her face and got out of bed and went into the bathroom. I noticed in the sheets were small tears from her fingernails. She was terrified of something. I could tell that wasn’t just an ordinary nightmare. When she came back her face wasn’t as red but her eyes were puffed and blood red.

“I’m fine now Jax really. You can go back to sleep.” She said in her rasp of a voice.

“But you won’t.” I said.

She didn’t look at me, but I knew I was right.

“Do you want me to stay with you?” I said softly.

Her eyes shot up to mine and she shook her head slowly.

“No, I’m alright.” She said.

I didn’t believe her for one second.

“McKayla, please? I just want you to sleep.” I said.

She chewed on her bottom lip and closed her eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks and I squeezed her hand.

“I’ll be right back.” I said.

I got off the bed and went to grab Abel. I picked up the playpen and carried it with him still inside to the bedroom. McKayla was sitting up with her back against the headboard with the blankets pulled up around her. She looked like a small child that had a nightmare. I set the playpen down and took the gun and brought it to the nightstand.

McKayla slid over to the other side and I crawled in beside her. I could feel her shaking slightly. I propped myself up on my elbow and my hand on her face.

“It’s alright McKayla, you’re safe now. I won’t hurt you and I won’t let anything else hurt you. Not even a nightmare.” I said to her.

She studied me closely but didn’t say anything. She just nodded and I turned off the lamp. I laid on my side and before I knew it, McKayla had backed up against me and I slid my arm around her waist tightly

~ ~

“Jax, wake up bro.” Opie called from the door.

I waved for him to leave and slowly opened my eyes and found McKayla sleeping soundly beside me. She looked like a different person than what I saw a few hours ago. Her face was back to its normal color and she was breathing deeply and evenly. I leaned over and gently kissed her temple. She started to stir and rolled over to look at me.

“Morning darlin’.” I said softly.

She smiled softly at me and nodded. Her eyes were still puffy and blood shot. I winced a little and she noticed.

“I look like shit don’t I?” She asked.

Her voice was still hoarse and raspy. I brushed a hair from her face and shook my head.

“Nah, you’re still beautiful.” I said.

She blushed and I got out of bed. Abel was awake and I picked him up.

“I’ll get him Jax.” She said.

I shrugged and took him with me out in the club. Opie was drinking some coffee and Half Sack was sweeping up.

“You have a good night?” He asked with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and handed him the baby.

“What are you talking about?” I asked as I rummaged for a bottle.

“You, in bed with McKayla.” He said.

I sighed and tossed the diaper bag down finding no bottle.

“She had a nightmare. I was just trying to help her get some sleep.” I said.

He chuckled and took a sip of coffee.

“Did you drive by Gemma’s last night?” I asked.

He nodded and handed Abel back to me.

“Yeah, everything was quiet.” He said.

That’s odd. Someone takes a hit out on us but doesn’t try again? Something’s not right about that. Clay and Gemma came in a little while later and she took Abel right away from me.

“Did you bring him a bottle by any chance?” I asked her.

Gemma rolled her eyes and took one out of her purse and started to feed Abel.

“Of course I did. Clay said you were staying here and I knew the two of you wouldn’t have one.” She said.

I just kissed her cheek and went back into the bedroom.

“Can I come in?” I called softly.

She rasped a yes and I opened the door. She had another of my shirts on and her hair was piled high on her head.

“You okay?” I asked her.

She shrugged.

“I have a little headache, but I’m fine.” She said.

My heart broke with every word she said. I just nodded and looked around the room.

“Do I have more clothes here?” I ask her.

She nods and opens a drawer filled with my shirts and boxers and one pair of jeans.

“I’m gonna grab a shower, alright?” I said.

“Is Gemma out there?” She croaked.

I nodded and she sighed. I tilted my head and walked over to her.

“Hey, it’s fine. Tell her you’re getting sick or something.” I said.

She rolled her eyes and mouthed ‘yeah yeah’. I smiled and pulled her close to me.

“It’s okay.” I said.

She nodded and walked out of the room. I sighed and grabbed some clothes and went in the bathroom to shower.

The hot water felt so good on my skin. I let it run over my hair and closed my eyes. All I could hear echoing in my head were McKayla’s screams. Something happened to this girl. Someone had hurt her. That much was easy to spot by the way she was clutching her wrists and neck. The thought made me angry. How could anyone hurt someone so beautiful?

I finished up quickly and pulled my jeans and boxers on. As I walked through the hall, I pulled the shirt on. McKayla was on the couch with Abel and the guys were talking to her. I went over and grabbed my hostler and slipped it on and then my cut. I took Abel from McKayla and she looked down.

“We ready to go?” Clay asked from the door.

We nodded and I gave the baby back to McKayla.

“You don’t have to watch him. Take him to Gemma or call Neeta.” I told her.

She just shrugged.

“I don’t mind him really.” She said.

Opie glanced at her when she spoke and then at me. I shook my head slightly and smiled at her.

“Alright darlin’.” I said.

I leaned down and kissed her forehead. She flinched a little, then smiled. I kissed Abel and followed the guys outside.

“A nightmare?” Opie asked.

I nodded and waited for Clay to get off the phone.

“It was bad. She was screaming so loud.” I said as I shook my head.

He shook his and climbed on his bike. Clay finally hung up and got on his bike.

“I’ll go talk to Unser with Tig. Jax and Chibs, you go to the Mayan’s. Opie, Juice and Half Sack go to the Niner’s.” He said.

We nodded and fired up the bikes. Chibs and I pulled up to the meeting place and saw Alvarez waiting at a picnic table with his officers in the distance.

“Clay couldn’t see me himself eh?” He asked.

I shook my head and sat down.

“He’s busy. Look I’m gonna be straight. You ever hear of a MC called The Devil’s?” I asked him.

Alvarez sat back and eyed me up.

“Why? You see some around?” He asked slowly.

Chibs leaned down and whispered to me that the officers were coming closer.

“Actually yeah. They tried breaking in our club house and tried to kill Clay’s old lady.” I said.

Alvarez said something in Spanish and leaned in close.

“Look, Devil’s are bad news for everyone. If you got them on your ass, you gotta kill them before they kill you, comprende?” He said.

Chibs and I looked at each other and I leaned closer to him.

“Did you put a hit on us?” I asked him slowly.

He laughed and shook his head.

“Jax, if I wanted you or Clay’s old lady dead I’d do it myself eh?” He said.

I could feel the air growing tense around us, so I nodded for us to go.

“Thanks.” I said as I stood.

“Hey Jax, for the record none of my guys have been in Charming or even seen you in weeks.” He said.

I stopped. What? That’s not possible. I saw them. I talked to them. Unless…

“Son of a bitch.” I said.

“What?” Chibs asks.

“The fucking Devil’s were wearing Mayan cuts or ones that looks pretty damn close.” I said angrily.

Alvarez stepped up behind us.

“I might know how they found you so quickly.” He said.

I nodded for him to continue.

“We had a prospect that didn’t work out about a month ago. We kicked him out and he took his cut. His brother works for a company that makes custom patches. Maybe he went to the Devil’s. They’re more his style.” He said.

I raised my eyebrow and crossed my arms. Chibs looked at me and I looked back at Alvarez.

“What do you mean more his style? They’re assassins.” I said.

He nodded to me and looked at me seriously.

“I know. This guy was crazy. We took him with us on a pick up and it was short. I told him and my V.P. to take care of it. I hear later that he tortured the poor bastard for three hours before finally killing him.” He said.

I glanced at Chibs and he nodded to me.

“Okay what’s his name?”

Alvarez thought back for a moment and called his V.P. over. They whispered in Spanish for a minute before the V.P. looked at me.

“Alfonzo Martinez.” He said.

I wrote it down and we started to leave again.

“And Jax, I hope you get the bastards. If they’re coming after you they’ll be after us soon.” He called.

I nodded and Chibs and I went back to our bikes.

“Well, that was helpful.” Chibs said.

I sighed in frustration and put my helmet on and started the bike.