Page 48 of Baja
The truth in Salem’s words grows heavy in my chest, but Uncle Jax is making that choice himself.
“We’re lookin’ at the possibility of an all-out war if they trace Lily back here.” Salem flicks his cigarette to the ground, snubbing it out with the toe of his boot.
“What’s the plan?” I ask.
“Keep our eyes and ears open and dig up any information on this club. Most importantly, we keep protecting our own.” The urgency in his tone is like a spark to gasoline. Salem stands. “Wake, Lily.”
I take the final drag off my cigarette, holding the nicotine in my lungs, feeling them burn as I flick the butt to the ground and stub it out with my boot. I walk away, heading inside the clubhouse, following orders.
Uncle Jax is stupid for going alone, but I get it.
I head down the hallway to the room where Lily is resting, finding Juneau propped in a chair, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the wall.
“She knows?” I ask him.
“No, she’s still asleep.” Juneau eyes me.
“I’ll break it to her before taking her to Prez.”
Juneau’s jaw ticks. “She doesn’t need this shit right now.” The flare of protectiveness doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Prez’s orders, brother.” I grip the door handle and step into the dimly lit bedroom. I find Lily sitting on the edge of the bed with a concerned look.
“He’s gone, isn’t he?” she whispers.
“Yeah.”
Lily stares at her lap, wringing her hands together. “He’s not coming back. They’ll kill him.”
“His choice to make.” My gut tightens.
Lily shakes her head, keeping her head down. “I shouldn’t be here. All of this is my fault. If I return, I can take all the problems with me.”
“You aren’t goin’ anywhere.” I move closer to the bed.
“You don’t understand…” Lily’s voice trembles. “Havoc won’t stop until he finds me. Healwaysfinds me.”
Her little confession feels heavy like a boulder crushing my chest. “You’ve run before?”
“Twice.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “He found me both times. And I paid the price for it.”
I fist my hands hanging at my sides, anger swirling inside. Feeling a presence behind me, I look over my shoulder and see Juneau standing in the doorway, his face hard. I return my attention to Lily, step in front of her, and hold out my hand. “No more runnin’.” I hold my ground, waiting for her to take my hand, and when she finally does, Lily meets my gaze, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “You’re family. We share the same blood. This club’s got your back, no matter what. I swear it.”
Lily gazes at me, grappling with my words, before suddenly wrapping her arms around me. It catches me off-guard. “My dad talks about you all the time, enough that I feel like I already know you.” Her confession hits me hard because I’m still trying to wrap my head around her existence.
I pull back. “Prez wants to talk.”
Lily nods. “Will you be there?”
“Yeah.”
Lily looks around me, her eyes landing on Juneau. “You too?”
“I go where you go.” His tone is sharp.
“Come on.” I guide her toward the door.
Juneau leads the way down the hallway and into the main room, where Salem sits at one of the tables, smoking a cigarette. Seeing Lily, he quickly snubs the cigarette out.
