Chapter Two

Wendy's Apartment

Jaycee

This boy better be thanking his lucky stars that I love him. I had to slip past everyone at TM and get Nero to lend me his car. I don't enjoy playing fast and loose like this. Getting the groceries I just bought I head up to Wendy's apartment.

Doing the secret knock I hear shuffling on the other side of the door. It opens a crack and I see half of Juice's face in it. He opens it all the way and lets me in.

" I'm pretty sure I got everything. " I say setting the bags on the kitchen table.

He gives a small smile. " Thanks. I've been living off of bread and water for the last two days. "

" No offense, but you look like shit. " I say giving him a once over. " When was the last time you slept? "

He shrugs. " I can't remember. I have to be on guard at all times. "

" If you don't sleep you're going to be delirious. It's going to make you more paranoid than you need to be. " I tell him as I start taking food out of the paper bags.

Huffing he snips, " and how paranoid should I be? I'm running from literal death. "

" Paranoia from lack of sleep is going to make you sloppy. " I say putting my hands on his shoulders and turning him around. " Go lay down and I'll make you a hot meal. "

He turns back around to argue but I snap my fingers and point to the couch. " Go! "

Heaving a huge sigh he finally does as he's told. He knows better than to argue with me. Especially since I'm putting my ass and possibly life on the line to help him.

I know what you're thinking... Jaycee, why are you helping a rat?

Well... Aunt Gemma is in on it as well. They won't tell me exactly why but it really doesn't matter at this point. It's such a long story that I barely know where to begin telling it. The short version is that he's my best friend. In every sense of the word. Having lost so much recently, I'm not willing to lose him too. I don't care what he did.

I watch him lay there until I'm sure he has fallen asleep. Then I start searching for a pan so I cook the ground beef I bought. His favorite meal is spaghetti, especially mine so that's what I'm going to make. The upside is that I always make enough for an army so at least I know he'll be well fed for at least a few days.

Jax

We're stopped at a fruit and veggie stand waiting for Jury and his guys to show up. This war is just getting started and today is the day we start dismantling Lin's business piece by piece.

Hearing motorcycles coming closer I nod at Chibs and Bobby and we meet them.

" Hey, bro. " Jury says as we hug.

Patting his back I say, " appreciate you coming ".

" Good to see you home. " He says pulling back. " I know how deep this is for you, brother. Indian hills has got your back. What happened to Tara... That shit should never happen. I'm sorry. "

I nod because what else am I supposed to do? Tara was my world and I'm tired of hearing condolences. " Yeah. Thank you.

" I just need to let my crew know what else you're gonna need from us. We've been doing some muling for the Vegas triads into Mexico. " He says and I know the position he's putting himself in.

Jury was one of my father's closest friends. I would never ask him to put his ass on the line like this. " Look, Jury, striking back at the Chinese is Redwood's war. If you're worried about blowback reaching Nevada... "

The older man interrupts. " I'm here to help, Jax. I just need to know the game plan. "

" Mm-hmm. " I nod.

Bobby steps up and says, " we're gonna unravel Lin... Take apart his business, fracture all his relationships. But for now, no one can know it's us.

And Chibs chimes in with, " August Marks doesn't want us to trip up his gun expansion with some street war. And he cannot know that we're the ones gutting Lin. "

" Black is not an enemy we want right now. " Bobby agrees.

Got that right.

" It's ambitious. Where does it end? " Jury asks like I knew he would.

Deciding there's no reason to keep this secret from him I say, " I'm gonna wait till Lin's vulnerable, out of allies, and I'm gonna reach out, offer him a helping hand. Once I'm inside, got his total trust, I'm gonna let him know that I was the one who ruined him. Then I'm gonna look around his table, at his men, his family, ask him who he wants spared. First person he points to... that's who I'm killing. And then everyone else he cares about. I'm gonna let him live in the agony of that for a little while. And then I'm gonna end him... as slowly and painfully as possible. "

Jury sighs heavily. " I understand your personal need here, son. But the level of payback you're talking about pulls the club in a very different direction. "

I nod remembering the conversation.

" The last time I heard you share your vision, you were talking about cutting the ties to the things that were killing us. " He finishes.

The murder of my wife changed everything. " I don't have a vision anymore. All I see is what's right in front of me. "

It's then a black truck and blue van pull up behind Jury.

" This the local muscle? " Chibs asks.

Jury turns around and nods. " Yeah. "

" Where'd you find them? " He asks covering our bases.

One of the many reasons I trust this man with my life.

" One of my whores. " Jury says honestly. " We can trust them. "

I nod and let him go talk to his men. " Get a 20 on Tig. " I tell Chibs.

" All right. " He says pulling out his burner to make the call and walking off.

It takes him a few minutes, but when he walks back over he has the place. " Truck just pulled off a private road, a farm, just off the 201. "

" Let's do it. " I say ready to start this war.

Ready to murder the bastard that did the same to Tara.

" Aye. " Chibs says looking ready to start it as well. " Should I call Jaycee and get her back here? "

I shake my head. " No man, with everything that's been going down it's better she stay wherever she is. "

" She's the best gunner we have, Jackie. " He argues like I don't know that.

Sighing I say, " she's my cousin and if I can help it, I won't be losing any more family ".

He opens his mouth but closes it quickly.

" Look, I know I put you in a bad way with her. " I say knowing how much of an asshole I've been.

Nodding he says. " Yeah, she won't even look at me most days. Can't say I blame her. "

I nod. " I'm sorry brother. "

" No. " He says shaking his head. " You were right. In time she'll see that. "

I sure hope so. " Jury? " I call over. " Let's hit it. "

Jaycee

Just as the spaghetti noodle turn aldente the front door swings open. My right Baretta is pointed at the door before Aunt Gemma can walk through it. She doesn't even flinch. Tough as nails this lady is. I'd like to think I'm a lot like he in that way.

Taking her sunglasses off she looks to the couch where Juice is still sleeping. Closing the door she goes over and take a book from the coffee table and throws it at him.

" Uhn! Shit. What are you doing? "

" Hey! I told him to sleep! "

We both say at the same time.

She doesn't even miss a beat. " You do understand the way you stay alive is that people don't know you're here, right? "

" What are you talking about? " I ask in confusion.

Juice however, look like he knows exactly what she's talking about. " Unser found my bag. "

" Yeah, I got that part of the story. " She says sitting on the couch next to him.

What story? " Unser was here? Why didn't you tell me? "

" It was nothing, JJ. He's just trying to help. " Juice swears to me.

Aunt Gemma smacks her lips. " Shit. Jacee, I forgot my joints in the car. Will you go get me one? "

" Sure. " I say grabbing the keys from her outstretched hand.

Heading outside I get in her truck and open the center console. Finding her stash I take two joints out of the baggie and head back up. Lifting one of the joints to my nostrils I smile at the stong smell. Aunt Gemma always has the good shit on hand.

I light one up and walk back into the apartment. " This is the good stuff Auntie. " I say blowing the smoke out and passing her the joint.

" You know it, baby. Oh, here. " She says going in her bag and handing Juice a flip phone. " It's a clean burner. "

We both look at her in confusion when she also pulls out a stack of cash. " Here's forty three hundred. It's all I could get right now. "

" I have money at the shop. " He tells her but she doesn't listen.

What are you up to?

She then takes a key off of her key ring and hands it over with a piece of paper. " It's the key to my dad's house. Directions. They put it up for sale. It's empty. But the power's on. You can crash the till we figure out something permanent. "

" Gemma. " He tries but she still isn't listening.

Shaking her head she says, " pack your shit. Take the junkies car and go. Call us when you get there. "

" There's nothing more to talk about. " She tells both of us. " You gotta leave, now. " She says kissing him on the cheek.

I take the joint back and hit it a couple of times. My heart is clenching at the thought of him being so far away.

I don't hesitate when I say, " I'm coming with you ".

" No baby, you're needed here. " She tells me seriously. " If you go off and disappear Jax will definitely know something is up. "

My heart is pounding in my chest and I can't help but let my tears flow freely. Juice gets up and pulls me into his arms. " I can't do this. " I weep into his chest.

" You can. " He says rubbing my back in comfort. " She's right you're needed more here. I'll be fine, I promise. Is that spaghetti I smell? "

That last part makes me laugh a bit. " Yeah, I'll put it in some to go containers for you. " I say wiping my eyes.

It's then and there I make a solemn promise to both my self and him.

" I'll protect you. "