Daughter of Mayhem

Outsiders and Cowards

—Jax—

A Few Days Later...

I was pleased to note that Donna wasn't opposed to me hanging around the house. It was just Samcro in general she had a problem with and while I understood it, I hated seeing what it did to my best friend. Charlie was standing with her next to the shed Opie and I were digging through trying to find old baby stuff. Seeing the smile on her face made my heart race and since she'd gotten my crow, I could barely stand to keep my hands off her. Something about her willingness, her desire, to brand herself as mine, regardless of the deeply rooted sexism involved, it made me want to do all sorts of naughty things to her. All of which seemed to arouse her own desire for me on a deeper, stronger level. As ridiculous as it would sound to anyone else, my world had turned on its axis and she was now the center. Everything I ever did, everything I would ever be, would all be for her and our family.

"How'd you get this thing in here?" Opie asked his wife.

I heard the smirk in Donna's voice as she said, "by myself." Charlie chuckled which turned in to full-blown laughter when I almost fell by pulling their old play-pen out of the shed.

"Sorry," I said while laughing at myself. After I set the contraption on the ground, I felt my girl come up behind me and she ran a hand along the bare skin on my back. Tingles erupted on every spot she touched and spread like wildfire throughout my body. It took everything in me to push down my building desire while in the presence of her brother. Instead, I focused on what I was doing. The play-pen was in amazing condition considering it had been in storage. Charlie reached inside where an infant car seat was sitting and pulled it out.

"Looks great. How much?"

"Aw, forget it," Opie said as he lifted it. "It's a gift." He walked toward the end of the house. I saw the dismay on Donna's face and my eyes met Charlie's. She gave me an almost imperceptible nod. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a couple hundred dollars like she and I had discussed and handed it to Donna.

"No, Jax. I don't want it."

"Hey, I'm the one getting the deal." Her grateful smile was reward enough and I wished I'd have been able to give her more. I turned toward Charlie and saw several different emotions cross her face. "You ready?"

"Whenever you are, baby."

"'Bout damn time," Donna muttered and shook her head with a grin. Regardless of her feelings for Samcro, I was very happy to know she would stand behind Charlie for choosing this life with me. I grabbed my girl's hand and we walked toward Opie and I grabbed the play-pen.

"All right, see you at the fundraiser," I said to my brother.

"That 'Taste of Charming' thing?" Charlie and I both began watching their interaction with each other. I felt the tension rise instantly. Opie stared his wife down.

"Yeah, I'm doing the fireworks."

"Oh, really." All of Donna's good humor was gone and I saw clearly how torn Opie really was. I glanced at Charlie and I saw the anger and concern in her eyes even as her face remained blank.

"It's not a club thing, Donna." Feeling the need to jump in and defend, I spoke.

"Yeah, my mom started it years ago. It raises money for the school district."

Opie, nodding gratefully, said, "we'll be there."

"All right," I said and looked at Charlie, nodding toward the gate of their backyard. She and I both made our exit, knowing we couldn't do anything more to help them. Charlie climbed into the passenger seat of my truck as I put the play-pen in the bed, moving some other baby stuff around. When I went to the driver's side, I pulled my white t-shirt on before climbing in.