Page 40 of Baja
“She’s pregnant,” I say slowly, my words dropping like lead, and the energy in the room shifts again.
Uncle Jax grimaces, leaning back on the couch, his hand pressing at his side. “Yeah. And the motherfucker who put it there won’t stop until he gets her back.”
Lily flinches at his words, her posture shrinking. Her lips part like she’s about to speak, but no sound comes out. Her eyes dart around like she’s looking for an escape route.
“I think someone needs to start talkin’,” Salem demands, his voice sharp.
My uncle tilts his head toward Lily and then back at me. “I went to get my daughter out of a toxic situation, and they didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat.”
His words hang heavy in the air as Juneau kneels, unzipping his medical bag. “Lift your shirt, old man,” he tells him, hisattention shifting momentarily to Lily before returning to my uncle. My uncle lifts the fabric, revealing a jagged gash on his ribcage. The edges of the wound are inflamed, and the skin around it is angry and red.
“Damn.” Laredo steps forward to get a better look.
“Who?” Salem’s tone darkens.
“They call themselves Phantom Riders,” my uncle states.
“Never heard of ’em,” Mystic weighs in.
“They’re out of New Mexico,” Jax informs us. “We’ve slept when we can for a couple of hours here and there tryin’ to throw them off our trail.”
Shit.
“And you thought it was a good idea to bring your fuckin’ problems to our doorstep?” Salem growls, not hiding his anger.
“I pointed my bike to where I thought my Lily might find refuge.” His face twists in pain as he adjusts himself on the couch. “I’ll pay whatever price you put on my head for the intrusion and to keep my daughter out of the hands of those bastards.” He takes a ragged breath as he glances at me. “There’s not a lot of good I’ve done in my life, decisions I’ve made that can never be undone…” A shadow passes over his face, and then he looks at Lily. “But I’m trying to do somethin’ right in my life now.”
His public confessional raises more questions for me. I know my uncle ain’t a saint, but why does it feel like the ghosts of his past, whatever they may be, are the real puppet masters pulling the strings on this dark journey of redemption he’s taken?
Juneau leans in, his lips pressing into a thin line as he examines the wound with gloved hands. “This has gone unchecked for how many days?”
Uncle Jax waves his hands dismissively, avoiding the question. “Getting Lily to safety outweighs my needs.”
Juneau glares at him. “Your needs will outweigh your daughter’s safety if your ass drops dead of sepsis.” He reaches for his first aid kit. “This needs to be flushed out. You need stitches, but the infection is bad. So, I’m leaving it open to drain. You’ll also need antibiotics and a tetanus shot,” he pauses, then adds, “Someone go look in the back and see what I have on hand. We may need to call Celeste for some extra supplies.”
“On it.” Laredo is already walking away while digging his phone out.
Juneau’s hands are steady as he works, but the tension in the room feels like a bomb waiting to explode. My uncle clenches his jaw as Juneau meticulously cleans the gaping wound, causing him to hiss sharply in pain. Blood oozes from the wound. “Hold still,” Juneau mutters, his voice low but firm.
Uncle Jax makes a sharp hiss and glares at Juneau like he is ready to deck him. “You try holdin’ still while someone digs into you with what feels like a damn crowbar.”
Unfazed, Juneau keeps working. His gaze momentarily flickers to Lily, who stands frozen, her tall, thin frame stiff and hands clenching at her sides, grimacing. She looks sickly, and her wide eyes glassy. Lily’s eyes dart to Juneau’s for a fleeting moment before quickly dropping to the floor, a mix of concern and fear etched across her ghostly pale face.
“Lily,” I say softly, concerned she is not well, but she doesn’t respond. She stares at my uncle, frozen, like a deer caught in headlights.
A wince escapes Uncle Jax as Juneau presses the gauze firmly against his side. Still, his focus immediately sharpens on Lily, a fierce protectiveness radiating from him even through the pain. It’s obvious—he would sacrifice everything, even his own life, for her.
Once Juneau wraps up with my uncle, he straightens and locks eyes with Lily. “You good?” His voice is low, but there’sa fire behind it. He sidesteps me, closing the distance between them. Lily flinches, instinctively stepping back, pure terror etched across her face and posture. Juneau’s steps slow, giving her space. “You’re safe here, Lily. Nobody is going to hurt you. Not while I’m here.” Lily’s lips tremble, her arms wrapping around herself protectively, and Juneau’s jaw tightens, his gaze darkening as he watches her.
Lily is in flight mode, and I don’t like it. It’s painfully clear to all of us that this woman has been through hell, and right now, everyone is the enemy except for my uncle.
My uncle grunts, trying to shift and rise from the couch. Juneau cuts him a glare. “Stay put.” Turning back to Lily, his expression softens, though his posture is tense. “Lily, look at me.” She hesitates, but eventually, her eyes flick to meet his. “I’m not gonna touch you unless you give me permission.” He glances back toward Sage, Alice and Sukie watch everything unfold in silence. He jerks his head, wordlessly telling them to step in. They don’t hesitate and carefully approach. Juneau meets her gaze again. “The women will take over for now. I’ll check in on you later. You are safe here, Lily. I promise.”
15
ALICE
We leave the men and take Lily somewhere quiet where we can try to calm her down. The woman is clearly in distress and untrusting of everyone but her father. Thankfully, she has been receptive to our help and allows the women to bring her to the kitchen. Lily sits at the table, and I notice how Sukie, Sage, and Juniper keep their distance by sitting on the opposite side. Lily’s attention bounces back and forth between them and the exit.
