.

༄. Cleo slammed the door behind her and walked straight into the kitchen where she found Jax smoking a cigarette. Her mom closed the diner earlier today, that's why she was home already. Looking into his surprised face, she took the last steps towards him as he got up.

"You went to see my dad, really?!", she raised her voice at him, her eyebrows furrowed. "You can't do shit like that behind my back, Jax!"

Jax was baffled at first. How did she even know he was there? There was no way Happy said a word about it and she came straight from work, it made no sense at all.

"Babe, calm down", he said, keeping his voice low despite her being all angry. "How do you know I was there?"

"Don't tell me to calm down", she growled at him and threw her bag on a chair before crossing her arms over her chest. "You have no idea how dangerous he can get. I told you to stay away from him."

Jax huffed as he leaned against the fridge, his hands in his pockets as he casually stood there. "He's a psycho, Cleo, and that's nicely worded. You know what kind of business he's into?"

Cleo blinked a few times at his blunt words but he was right, her father was a psycho⸻ or at least a sociopath, that was the more precise designation.

"He's a drug dealer, I told you that already", she muttered under her breath, still angry he went there behind her back. Shit, he could've been dead by now as impulsive as her father was. "Why do you ask? Is there more?"

"More? Shit, he's a fucking pimp, Cleo, even worse. Your ex was there, too. Came down with a sixteen year old girl he fucked only a few moments before", he told her with a sigh.

Cleo gasped at that information. Neither her father nor Adrian were innocent lambs but a sixteen year old girl? That was disgusting. She felt the bile rose in her throat, leaving a bad taste on her tongue.

"Why was she there in the first place?", she asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"What do you think? I let Juice look over your dad. He's not only known for drug possession and assault, he's also known for prostitution", Jax told her, deciding it was best to be honest with her. With those news there was a chance she would stay away from that man forever.

"He's what?", she asked meekly. Right now she felt sick only thinking about her father. "W-what happened to the girl? You let her stay with them?"

"She tried to run while we were distracted. Your dad noticed and shot her before we could do anything. I'm sorry, babe." And he was truly sorry, he didn't just say it. Hearing such disturbing things about the own father was nothing to be proud of. For most people it would be traumatizing.

The brunette swallowed dryly and sat down on a free chair, took a cigarette out of Jax' pack and put it between her lips to light it up. After taking a deep drag, she blew out the smoke while sighing deeply.

"He could've killed you, too", she said after a while, staring at the kitchen floor. "You're planning to do more things behind my back?"

Jax pushed himself away from the fridge and took a seat across from her, giving her a moment to breath. "But he didn't. Listen, I shouldn't have done this behind your back but I'm worried, Cleo. He's sending you message after message, he called way too fuckin' often. One day you're gonna pick up and he's gonna do everything to get his little girl back."

"I'm not that naive, Jax!", she blurted out in anger and worry, her eyes meeting his after she turned her head a little. "I promised you that I'd stay away from him and I would've kept my word. But what about you, hm? We said no secrets, no lies. We aren't even together half a year and you're already doing shit behind my back. That's not how this works!"

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't do this to upset you, I did this because I wanted to make sure he's leaving you alone", now it was him who raised his voice, a desperate look on his face.

"And you actually think that's going to happen now?!", she huffed. "He called me ten times in a row, ten fucking times, Jax! I picked up one time to tell him that he needs to leave me alone, then he told me about your visit. He's not going to back off."

Jax clenched his jaw as he found out her father had called her right after his visit. "Well, he's clearly asking for it", he muttered to himself.

"Asking for what, Jax?", Cleo inquired.

"To get himself killed. He's not dragging you down again", with that, Jax got up and put his shoes on in the hallway. "I'll get the boys. Should be back in a few."

Cleo had no words left, she just sat there staring after him. Did he just say he was going to kill her father? As disgusted as she was because of him, it sent her into a panic state. That he was having a sixteen year old at his house was horrible and he needed to pay for it somehow but the thought of him being gone forever hurt her⸻ she was still his little girl and it's not like they only had bad memories together.

⸻

"I'm sorry about before", Jax said as he entered the bedroom and closed the door behind him, leaving it open just a bit so they would hear the kids if they would wake up. "I was a bit too harsh I guess."

Cleo looked up from the book she was reading and put it away gently. "I don't know if I could stay with you if you're really going to kill my dad, Jax", she said softly.

"I know", the blonde nodded briefly. "And I won't. I won't lose you because of him but if he's coming for you I'm gonna have to do something about it, babe."

The brunette let out a relieved breath and ran her fingers through her long waves. This was a statement she could accept. If her dad would provoke Jax in any way, that was his problem then, yet it would still hurt her.

"I'm sorry I talked to you the way I did before, I really am. But Jax, it's important to me that I can trust you. If you do things behind my back again I'm not sure if I still can. Don't do it again", she told him firmly, yet her tone was soft and loving.

Both of them had a little time to blow off some steam. Jax distracted himself with his kids and Cleo did some chores, took a shower and snuggled up in bed with a good book. Of course both of them always had the other on their mind, thinking about a way how to make things up.

"No, you had every right to be angry", he assured her. The blonde took off his kutte, followed by his shirt and pants. In only his boxers he climbed into bed with her and held out his arm, signaling her to scoot over. "I won't pull shit like that again, I just wanted to know who he is."

"If I would've wanted you to know him I would've introduced you to him", she sighed softly. Instead of snuggling into his side, she climbed on his lap and snaked her arms around his neck. "My dad isn't a good person, babe, but he's still my dad. I don't wanna fight over him, it's not worth it."

Jax nodded in understanding, running his fingertips over her sides after shoving his hands under her shirt. Well, his shirt. The blonde didn't mind, he loved seeing her in nothing but his shirts.

"We're not having fights because of him, I promise. I won't do anything as long as he's staying away", he promised her firmly. "If you ever want to talk about the things you've seen while you were with him, you can always talk to me."

Cleo smiled thankfully but shook her head. "Thanks, baby, but I think it's better to keep that shit in the past. It would only trigger my addiction and that's the last thing I want."

"That's fine", he mumbled and buried his face in her hair, taking a deep breath. "I love you, Cleo."

"I love you, too", she whispered with her eyes closed and let out a soft moan as his lips trailed kisses down her neck. The brunette ran her hands through his slicked back hair and enjoyed his hands roaming all over her body.

Those were the moments she loved the most. Not just the sex but being close to him, feel him. That's what a part of her was always craving⸻ real love. Jax was the perfect other half for her and she realized that more every day.