Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
The first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon, painting the desert sky in shades of bruised purple and pale gold. The fires at the refinery had subsided into smoldering heaps of ash and blackened metal.
Jax walked down the final flight of stairs, his face covered in soot and blood, his clothes torn. His body ached from a dozen deep bruises, but his stride was steady.
At the bottom of the stairs, Clara was waiting. The moment she saw him, she broke away from Chibs and Opie and ran toward him, throwing her arms around his neck. Jax held her tightly, burying his face in her hair, smelling the familiar scent of her despite the smoke and gasoline.
"It’s over," Jax whispered into her ear. "It’s finally over."
"You came for me," she sobbed against his chest. "I told Leo you would. I never stopped believing you would."
Clay walked over, his heavy boots crunching on the gravel. He looked at Jax, then at Clara, before turning his gaze toward the back of a club transport van where Juice sat in handcuffs, his head bowed in shame.
"The Skulls are wiped out, Jax," Clay said, his voice tired. "And we found Juice’s sister. Chibs and a few of the boys raided the safehouse in town an hour ago while we were fighting here. She’s safe. She’s on her way back now."
Jax walked over to the van, looking down at Juice. The anger he had felt earlier had faded into a profound, heavy sadness. "Why didn't you trust us, Juice?"
"I was scared, Jax," Juice whispered, not looking up. "Marcus... he knew everything about us. I thought if I told you, you'd kill me anyway for letting them get close."
"We don't kill our own for being trapped," Jax said, turning to Clay. "Take his cut, Clay. Strip his patches. He’s out of the club, permanently. But let him take his sister and leave the state. No retaliation. We’ve had enough blood for one lifetime."
Clay stared at Jax for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "You’ve got a big heart, Jax. Sometimes I think it’s too big for this cut."
May you like
"Maybe it is," Jax said, looking back at Clara. He took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "I’m done, Clay. I’m stepping down. I gave the club my youth, my blood, and my sanity. But I have a son now. I have a woman. I’m taking my family and I’m leaving the road."
Clay didn't argue. He looked at the sunrise, then back at the man he had raised like a son. He reached out, placing a heavy hand on Jax’s shoulder. "Then ride far, brother. Don't look back."
