Baja (Fallen Ravens MC #3)

20. Baja

20

BAJA

The fluorescent lights of the pediatric oncology wing cast a pale glow on the stark white walls, but the sound of laughter and excitement turns the sterile atmosphere into something vibrant. I lean casually against the doorframe of one of the playrooms, arms crossed. Inside, kids in hospital gowns with IV poles crowd around Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. Their wide eyes and beaming smiles make doing the event worth it tenfold.

A tiny girl with a bald head and bright smile tugs on Spider-Man’s gloved hand. “Can you really shoot webs?”

The guy in the suit plays along like a fucking pro, aiming his wrist toward the ceiling in a web-shooting motion. “Only when there’s trouble or someone needs my help, kiddo. Can you help me keep an eye out?” The young girl nods and giggles when he crouches into the classic Spider-Man pose. I can’t help but grin.

These kids are tough as hell. Most grown-ass adults couldn’t take what these kids go through. They find joy in the smallest things, no matter what life throws at them, like a superhero pretending to shoot webs.

As a familiar ache settles into my chest, I shove my hands into my pockets. I can almost see my brother, Elliot, sitting cross-legged in his Batman suit. Like these kids, even when cancer was eating him alive, he still had a smile for everyone.

“You know what, Nash?” I can still hear Elliot’s voice, faint yet piercing in my mind. It was small and raspy, filled with bright dreams. “When I grow up, I’m gonna be just like Batman, only way cooler.” His words resonate through my heart, a bittersweet reminder of the innocence and hope we once had. My throat tightens. I swallow my emotions and focus on the kids in front of me.

“Hey, Baja,” a boy calls out. “You should dress up as Thor!”

I chuckle. “Thor, huh?” I step into the room. “I do have the hair for it.” I run a hand through it. “But I’m much better lookin’.”

“You could be the Hulk,” another kid chimes in, laughing.

I flex my arms. “Nah. I’m not green enough.”

The room fills with laughter, a sound that lifts my spirits. Even if it’s only for today, they’re more than just patients, they’re simply kids who are not being defined by their sickness.

“There you are.” Alice’s soft voice interrupts my thoughts.

I turn to see her standing outside the door, looking beautiful as ever. Her eyes sparkle as they dance between me and the kids, her lips curving into a smile.

“You stalkin’ me, woman?” I tease, raising a brow.

Alice tilts her head. “Nope. Just admiring the view.”

I chuckle and wave her over. “Come here. I want you to meet the real heroes.”

As she approaches me, the kids’ attention shifts to a new person entering the room. Once she’s within reach, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her to my side. “Hey, kids. This here’s my woman, Alice.”

“Ooooh.” A chorus of giggles rises from the group.

“Is she your girlfriend?” one of the boys asks, wrinkling his nose. “Girls are gross.”

I laugh. “One day, you’ll change your mind.” I let my hand slip down and rest on her ass, giving it a squeeze.

Alice smacks my chest playfully. “Stop.” She blushes.

Before the kiddos can hurl more questions our way, Laredo struts in, balancing a towering stack of pizza boxes that practically hides his face. “All right, who’s ready to chow down?” he bellows with enthusiasm.

In an instant, pandemonium erupts. The kids with appetites not wrecked by chemotherapy swarm him like a pack of ravenous piranhas.

“Saved by the pizza, guy,” Alice whispers, leaning into me, smiling. Her expression softens. “You’re good with them, you know. This… everything you’re doing is nothing short of amazing.”

I shrug, uncomfortable with her praise. “Ain’t just me, babe. It takes a village to pull this off every year.” Alice is quiet for a beat, and I can sense she’s got something on her mind. “What’s on your mind, beautiful?”

“I’ve been spending time with your mom today, helping her at her booth.” She pauses, then continues, “She’s sweet, Nash. And she’s worried about you.” Alice reaches up, brushing her fingertips along my jawline. “You should talk to her. She needs to know you’re not shutting her out forever.”

I exhale sharply. “I know, babe. I’ll fix it.”

“When?” Alice searches my eyes.

“Now.”

“Good.” She stands on her toes and kisses me softly. “Find me when you’re done.”

I watch Alice leave before glancing back at the kids, now fully absorbed in their pizza and superhero antics, then head out to find my mom.

As I step outside, my eyes land on my dad, standing beside the booth where the cookie contest is being held, with his clipboard in his hand. He turns, and his gaze meets mine, and a smile breaks across his face. “Son.”

“Hey, Dad.”

“Does me good to hear you say that,” he says, his voice rich with emotion.

In that instant, the air crackles with connection, a simple exchange deepening our bond, filling me with profound love and pride.

We stay here for a beat, neither saying anything, but the silence isn’t uncomfortable. I pull him in for a hug. “Love ya, old man.”

“I love you too, son.” His voice is gruff. He pulls back and clears his throat. “Your mother needs to hear those words, too, you know.”

I nod. “I’m headin’ that way now.” I turn and start walking off, then toss over my shoulder, “Don’t eat too many cookies, or Mom and Lucy won’t let you hear the end of it.”

“I’m obligated as the cookie judge to sample every entry. And I mean to take the job seriously,” he shouts, his tone all business, and I shake my head.

I find Mom at her booth, chatting with a customer as Lucy sets out more jars of honey. She looks up at me, her expression turning somber. “Got a minute?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

“Of course.” Mom smiles and steps away from the booth.

“I’m sorry for shutting you out the past few days,” I finally say.

Mom’s eyes glisten. “Nash…”

“I was angry. Hell, truth be told, I still don’t know how to feel about Uncle Jax being my father. But that doesn’t change the fact you and Dad are my folks. You raised me. You loved me. That’s what matters.” Tears spill down her cheeks, and I pull her in for a hug.

“You are my son,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “No matter what, you will always be ours.”

I hold her tight. “I know, Ma.” We stay like this for a beat, the weight of unspoken emotions finally lifting off us.

“I love you,” Mom says.

“I love you too,” I say, noticing my brothers conversing in the nearby parking lot. I pull back. “You, okay? I need to go see the guys.”

Mom wipes her tears. “Yeah, sweety. Go.”

I walk away, feeling lighter, stroll across the parking lot, and join the others.

“So far, we’ve had no incidents. Let’s keep it that way. Stay alert and vigilant for anything out of the ordinary,” Salem reminds us. “We have roughly another hour or two before we wrap things up.” He glances at Juneau. “Conduct another perimeter check.” His gaze finds Laredo. “Join him.” Following the command, they march away together.

Looking past Salem, my gaze lands on Alice, walking with Lily over to my mom’s booth. Spotting me, she waves me over. I turn to Salem. “Need me for anything?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Go.”

I jog over to my woman. “What’s up?”

“You talk with your mom?” she whispers.

“Yeah, babe. We’re good.”

I glance over at Lily, who stands nearby with her hand resting gently on her swollen belly, the evidence of a long day etched on her face.

“You should get some rest,” my mom suggests, her voice laced with concern. But Lily waves her hand dismissively, wearing a small smile, attempting to mask her exhaustion.

“I’m fine,” she insists while massaging her lower back, a subtle indication of her discomfort.

Mom’s gaze sweeps over her, taking in the details—how Lily’s ankles appear noticeably swollen, the subtle tension in her posture. “Sweetheart, your ankles are swollen,” Mom points out gently. “You need to take a break and get off your feet for a while.”

“I am a little tired.” A yawn escapes her.

Mom shifts her tone. “Nash, sweetheart,” she says, looking directly at me. “Why don’t you take Lily back to the clubhouse?” There’s an unmistakable glint in her eyes, suggesting that her request may carry a deeper intention than simply concern for Lily’s well-being. I sense she believes this would allow me to talk with Lily about Jax and the fact that we are brother and sister.

Mom turns her back for a moment, rummaging through her purse, then hands me the keys to her rental car. “Be careful.”

I turn to face Alice, lean in, and press my lips against hers. “See you back at the clubhouse.”

“Okay,” she responds, her smile radiating warmth and reassurance, her eyes glinting with a shared understanding of my mother’s intentions. “I hope you and Lily have a good talk.”

I pull her closer, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. “Nothin’ gets past you, does it?” I tease, my voice dropping to a low murmur.

Her smile blooms, lighting up her face. “It’s my superpower,” she replies, the playful glint in her eyes not going unnoticed.

“Let me hear the words, babe,” I urge, my heart racing slightly as the distance between us narrows.

She leans in with a soft, melodic laugh, her breath warm against my lips. “I’m yours,” she whispers.

“Damn, right you are.” I pull her in for one last deep, lingering kiss, savoring the taste of that moment before I reluctantly part ways.

I extend my arm to Lily, and she takes it with a soft smile. Together, we make our way to the car. Once we’re both settled inside, the engine revs to life, and we drive off. The car’s tires hum softly against the asphalt, filling the car with a soothing vibration as we cruise down the road. I drum my fingers against the steering wheel while keeping my eyes focused as Lily sits quietly in the passenger seat, her hands gently resting on her belly.

I still can’t believe she’s my sister.

Even now, days after the truth landed like a grenade, I still grapple with the information. My uncle— no, my fucking father —has carried this secret for thirty years, while the ones who raised me knew the whole time and kept his secret.

I glance at Lily, her expression distant as she fixates on the view outside the window. The weight of the silence surrounding us causes me to feel a strong urge to break it. Just as I open my mouth to speak, she does, too, and our simultaneous attempts to communicate send a ripple of laughter between us, easing the tension a little.

“Go ahead,” I encourage her, motioning for her to continue, hoping to lead her into the conversation lingering in the air like a storm cloud.

“I’m honestly not sure how to approach this subject,” she admits, her voice wavering slightly.

“You know, don’t you?” I ask, my tone more insistent as I reach for the truth we both dread confronting. I tear off the metaphorical Band-Aid for both of us, exposing what has been buried under family secrets.

Lily drops her head in a gesture of defeat as if her gaze searches her lap for answers that aren’t there. “That you’re my brother? Yeah, your mom… I mean, Aunt Caroline told me,” she finally responds, her voice barely above a whisper. She shifts her focus back to the outside world. “I don’t like that my dad lied to me all these years or to you, but I can’t bring myself to hate him for it.”

As I grip the steering wheel tightly, the tension in my muscles echoes my internal struggle. “I wish I could say the same,” I confess, vulnerability creeping into my voice. Despite having made peace with my parents’ choices, the unresolved feelings I harbor toward my uncle remain murky and uncharted.

“They did what they thought was best at the time,” Lily says softly, attempting to find the silver lining in our chaotic family dynamic. After a moment, she adds, “No one is perfect, but I think we can at least acknowledge that they’ve been there for us when it truly mattered.” Her words hang in the air, a mix of understanding and acceptance that I can’t help but appreciate.

My chest tightens with a mix of emotions.

Like it or not, Lily is right.

Family isn’t what it’s supposed to be.

It’s what it is.

Sometimes it’s messy.

Sometimes, it’s complicated.

And sometimes, it’s worth fighting for.

The moment between us doesn’t feel heavy, but we still sit silently, the air charged with unspoken words, both holding back things we need to say. Our connection feels fragile, as if it could shatter if we push the issue too hard.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot an SUV trailing us accelerate, its front grille almost kissing the rear of my vehicle before it suddenly pulls back, creating a brief moment of relief. An uneasy knot forms in my stomach as I realize it’s been shadowing us for nearly a mile now. I shift in my seat, feeling the leather creak beneath me. A prickling awareness surges through me, my senses sharpening to a higher degree as the rhythmic thrum of the engine reverberates in my bones. With each passing second, a deep sense of dread washes over me.

This is far beyond merely dealing with a hotheaded asshole consumed by road rage.

This shit is personal.

“Is everything okay?” Lily asks, glancing at me sideways.

“Yeah,” I lie through clenched teeth, my pulse hammering in my ears as I steal glances between the asphalt and the rearview mirror. The black SUV is back, creeping closer. Panic thrums in my veins, and I grip the steering wheel tighter. “Shit,” I mutter.

“What is it?” Lily’s voice pitches higher, a thread of panic weaving through it.

“You need to stay calm.” I keep my tone firm and steady despite my insides coiling.

The car behind us surges forward, ramming into the bumper with a bone-jarring thud.

Lily screams, clutching her belly as her body jerks forward against the seatbelt. “Oh my God!” she cries out. “What’s happening?”

I stay silent, my eyes locked on the road. In the rearview mirror, I watch the car drifting into the other lane and creeping up alongside us. Then, the driver jerks the wheel violently, crashing into us hard, nearly sending us off the road.

“Fuck! Hang on!” I shout, gripping the wheel tightly as I swerve to keep the car steady. With one hand on the wheel, I pull my phone from my pocket, quickly dialing Salem’s number.

He answers quickly, “Talk to me.”

“Got trouble, Prez,” I shout, the edge in my voice sharp and noticeable.

“Where?”

“Highway, not far from the clubhouse.” The car speeds up again, and I notice the passenger window rolling down.

That’s when I see it…

… the glint of metal.

I drop the phone.

“ Get down !” I roar as the shot rings out.

The sound is deafening, and the impact is immediate. Pain explodes across my ribcage, white, hot, and blinding. And for a second, I can’t breathe. I slip my hand beneath my cut, already knowing that the bullet tore through the steel door and into my body. I pull my hand away, slick with blood.

Lily screams, her voice piercing through the haze. “Nash! You’re hit!”

“I’m fine,” I lie and shove the panic down. I’m still breathing, and that’s all that matters right now. I hone in on my surroundings as I slam down on the accelerator. The tires screech in protest as I veer off the asphalt and onto an extremely narrow dirt trail, one I’m familiar with that winds its way through the thick woods, and I hope like hell the black SUV won’t be able to follow us down this bumpy path.

The small rental car jolts violently, each bump sending a shudder through the frame as dust and gravel explode in our wake, swirling in a cloud behind us. Tree limbs reach out, striking the windshield with sharp cracks, adding to the chaos.

“Nash, what are you doing?” Lily cries, her hands clutching the door.

“Lily, I need you to listen to me.” My voice is raw but firm. “When I slow down, you need to jump. Then, you run . Don’t stop. Don’t look back. You got me?”

She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face. “No! I’m not leaving you.”

“If it’s who I’m thinkin’ it is, yes, you will.” My voice cracks, the pain in my side flaring with every breath and jolt of the car. “If you want you and the baby to live, you will do as I say.” Her sobs tear at me, and I know if there’s a chance in hell to save one of us, I’ll make damn sure it’s Lily and the baby.

I keep going, seeing no sign of the black car through the thick dust cloud behind us, so I slow the car just enough. “ Now , Lily! Go now !” I shout.

She hesitates, gripping the door handle.

“ Go !”

She shoots me one final glance, terror carved into her features, then bursts through the door and leaps. I watch her tumble, then scramble into the shadow of the trees, praying like hell that the cloud of dust kicked up by the car will cloak her escape.

I slam the pedal to the floor again, my vision blurring from the searing pain coursing through my side. The dirt road dissolves into a hazy blur, but I push on, heart pounding, until the tires reach asphalt. Suddenly, that black SUV is back, and with brutal force, colliding with me like a freight train.

The world tilts violently, spinning out of control as the car flips. Metal screams in protest, the deafening sound tearing through the chaos, while shards of glass explode around me in a lethal, glittering spray. My body is thrown violently against the door, then into the ceiling. The seatbelt constricts around my shoulder like a merciless vice as chaos unleashes all around me.

The car finally skids to a stop on its side, and everything stills, except for the ringing in my ears and the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

The stench of gasoline hangs heavy in the air, suffocating me, and I can feel a cough clawing its way up my throat. Smoke creeps into the cabin, curling around me, and I scramble desperately to free myself, fumbling with the seatbelt. “Fuck! Come on,” I growl, my vision narrowing. Finally, I unclip it, falling onto my side and crawling toward the shattered windshield.

As I’m halfway out of the wreckage, a heavy boot crashes down on my hand, locking me in place. I glance up, and dread settles in my stomach. That face—I’ve seen it before. Havoc, the president of the Phantom Riders —the club Lily fled from.

“Nighty night, motherfucker,” he sneers, raising a gun.

The last thing I feel is the sharp crack of metal against my skull, and then everything goes black.