Chapter 3 - The Escape
Through the smoke and ringing ears, Jax acted on pure instinct. He scooped Lily up into his massive arms, shielding her tiny body with his own. Gunfire shattered the diner's front windows, glass showering over the booths.
"Go, go, go!" Hawk roared, returning fire with a heavy-caliber pistol, providing cover as Jax kicked open the kitchen's heavy swinging doors.
They burst out into the cool night air behind the diner. The smell of frying oil and garbage was instantly replaced by the crisp scent of pine and ozone. Grizz already had the back alley cleared, having knocked out a guard who was waiting there.
"Get her on the bike, Jax! We'll hold them off!" Grizz yelled, pulling his own weapon.
Jax didn't argue. He sprinted toward his custom black chopper. He strapped Lily securely into the specialized leather harness he usually used for hauling heavy gear against his chest. "Hold onto me, Lily. Like a baby koala. Don't let go."
"I won't!" she sobbed, locking her arms around his neck.
Jax fired up the engine. The roar of the V-twin motor ripped through the night. He slammed the bike into gear just as two of Leo's men rounded the corner of the building. Jax twisted the throttle, driving the heavy machine straight at them. The men dove out of the way as the chopper tore down the dirt road, leaving the screaming sirens and gunfire behind in a cloud of dust.
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As they flew down the dark highway under a canopy of stars, Jax could feel Lily trembling against his chest. Eight years of guilt, grief, and unanswered questions burned in his gut. Rose was alive. She had hidden her daughter, named her after the flower she loved, and taught her to look for the Iron Wolf.
He roared into the night, swearing an oath to the open road: he would tear the world apart to find her.
