Chapter 2 - The Black Trucks
Jax reacted on instinct honed over two decades of violence. He swept his muscular arm around Lily’s waist, scooping her up against his chest like she weighed nothing. The little bear remained pinned securely under her arm. Jax spun around, using his broad, leather-clad back to shield her small body completely from the blinding high beams sweeping across the lot.
Two matte-black pickups slid violently to a halt fifty yards away, gravel clattering against their undercarriages. Heavy steel doors kicked open in unison. Four men stepped out, wearing tactical vests over plain dark clothes, their faces masked by low ballcaps and ballistic sunglasses despite the encroaching twilight. They weren't cops. Cops announced themselves; these men moved with military discipline and silent, lethal intent.
""Stay down, Lily. Don't look,"" Jax growled softly, tucking her head under his leather collar.
""Is that them?"" she whispered into his neck, her tiny fingers clutching the collar of his vest. ""The bad men?""
Jax didn't answer. He sprinted toward his custom Harley parked beside the weathered wall of the tavern. His mind raced through a thousand forgotten nightmares. Who had tracked Sarah down after eight silent years? Who had known enough to bring heavy muscle?
A suppressed weapon coughed—phut-phut—and two rounds smacked into the wooden siding inches above Jax's head, spraying splinters into his hair.
""Don't shoot the kid!"" a harsh voice barked from the dust. ""The boss wants the girl alive! Take the biker down!""
Jax reached his bike, slinging Lily over the tank in front of him. ""Hold onto the center bars and don't let go, baby,"" he commanded, kicking the ignition with brutal force. The 103-cubic-inch engine roared to life with an earth-shaking rumble, echoing off the cinderblock walls.
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Jax dumped the clutch. The rear tire tore up chunks of asphalt, smoking violently before catching traction. He launched the machine forward, swerving hard to avoid a pickup truck attempting to block the alleyway exit.
As the bike jumped the concrete curb and ripped onto the open highway, Jax checked his side mirror. One of the men was already back in the lead truck, raising a long-barreled sniper rifle with a glowing green optic directly at Lily's exposed back.
