All the Money in the World

Chapter 37

Katie strolled the aisles of the grocery store enjoying the time alone to zone out as she shopped for the family. Her phone buzzed in the back pocket of her jeans and although she decayed not answering she eventually did.

"Hey Jax," she saw his name on the screen before answering. "What's up?"

"Where are you?" He sounded casual so the question didn't cause her any alarm

"Supermarket," she continued down the aisle. "Why?"

"I need you to come by the clubhouse."

"Like now?"

"Right now. Everyone's safe but I need ya."

Katie stopped in the middle of rows and rows of cereal boxes with a dark expression. "What's going on?"

"Just get over here," he huffed.

"Ja-"

The call ended and a furious Katie stormed out of the grocery store as she was asked. It wasn't that he asked but the way he did it and his obvious attempt to keep as much from her as possible.

"Hey," Jax hollered out from the far side of the store's parking lot. "Kate!"

She stopped and turned. "So you knew I was here?"

"Guilty," he said sheepishly. "Look darlin', I need a favor."

"Darlin'?" She scoffed. "This is gonna be real fucking good, trying to use that shit on me after how many years? Christ. What do you need, Jax?"

He knew she'd see right through him, she usually did, but it still stung. "I'm not used to relying on-"

"The truth of the matter?" She asked skeptically. "Your smiles and sweet words always help you along with the tough shit, I know. I used to do all that sweet charming shit too."

"I'mma need you to do it again, Kate."

Her face fell. "Excuse me?"

"That not Irish Irishman, he likes ya, Kate and I need him."

"Happy doesn't know," she didn't need to ask, she already knew this was not going further than the two of them. "Jax I can't."

"I don't need you to sleep with him," he said quickly. "Just, ya know, smile and shit."

Katie closed her eyes. "It's the 'and shit' that worries me."

"I swear, nothing shady," he grabbed her shoulders.

"It already is shady."

"I know it's shitty but it's only for a little while."

"Why?" She looked up from the asphalt and finally met his eyes. "Why do you need their approval or whatever so desperately?"

"Club business," he said dismissively.

Katie shook her head. "If I'm gonna let you essentially pimp me out to this asshole I want to know what I'm doing it for."

"For me, for SAMCRO," Jax said desperately. "Hap won't be back till tomorrow. Ana and Jake are with the kids, just do me this one solid and no one else has to know."

Taking a step back, Katie shook her head and gave Jax a firm answer. "No."

"Kate, I need this," he said. "Go throw on a dress and one of your old wigs and let this weirdo buy you dinner."

"No," she snapped. "Don't ask me again."

"We're gonna lose half our buyers, maybe more," Jax said as she began to walk away. "That ain't even all of it."

Katie stopped and closed her eyes. "Whose in danger?"

"I don't know for sure." Jax walked over to her so they could speak privately. "We were supposed to help them out with something and it went sideways. Shit got done but it was messy. We gotta make it up to em'."

"Jax, I don't know," tears burned her eyes. "I put that shit so far behind me."

"I know and this feels shitty for me too."

Katie turned to look at him again. "Shitty? This feels way more than shitty for me."

He knew better than to say anything more on that topic. "Yeah. I'm sorry."

"When and where?" She asked sadly, her stomach churning. "And I am not fucking him, Jax. You make sure he knows that."

"He doesn't know shit, he's not expecting that, it's fine. Juice is gonna follow to make sure you're safe."

That made her feel even more uneasy. "Thought this was between us?"

"Us and Juice," he corrected himself.

"I hate you," she muttered, trying not to cry. "I can be ready in about forty five minutes."

Jax wanted to cancel the whole thing but didn't. Instead he text her the address and gave her an unwelcome hug.

"Thank you," he said sadly.

Katie glared at him before heading to her car and squealing out of her parking space. She only stopped once to puke, her emotional state was fragile to us the least and this was only multiplying her anxiety. Katie did what she had to, what she used to, to put on a brave face like she used to for many of her worst dates, Pope included.

Guessing correctly, she was dressed and ready in under an hour and waiting outside the bar for Juice to meet her. When he pulled in he waved at her, looking as inconspicuous as she had ever seen him. Katie checked her makeup and, just before getting out of her car, pulled off her wedding rings and locked them in the glove box. Sure, he knew she was married, but no man liked to be reminded of that and deep down she felt better with them off her finger.

"Let's go," she said to Juice as she locked her doors. "I wanna get this over with."

Juice nodded as she said it and watched, following at a distance, as she headed into the bar mentally cursing Jax the entire time.

"Katie," Ryan was right there at the door waiting for her. "It's nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too," she said with a timid smile. "Come on," she took his hand and pulled him away from the doors, "Let's have a seat."

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Shortie! Sorry! Pretty please comment! I love hearing your opinions! Xoxo