Page 41 of Jackson

“Jackson,” she calls again, this time she is rushing toward me, stopping in front of me. “How bad is it?”

“Don’t know,” I grind out. “I’m good, darlin’, just give me a second.”

She reaches around into my pocket, pulling out my phone, then she turns on the flashlight. I don’t even have the energy to argue with her about lighting up our location. She holds the phone to my chest and a little gasp leaves her lips. “There is so much blood, I need to slow it down.”

She acts without thinking, and I don’t have it in me to stop her.

She pulls off her shirt, not caring that she is left with nothing on, and she bundles it into a ball, baby in one hand. It’s fucking impressive, the way she acts without thought, finding an inner strength she usually keeps locked away. She presses her shirt against my chest and then orders me to tear mine so she can use it to tie the bundled shirt down.

Once she has it secured, she reaches up, placing a hand against my cheek.

Fuck, how was I ever mad at her? This woman is incredible.

“We’re nearly there, can you walk?”

“Yeah, baby,” I murmur. “Let’s move.”

The pressure against my shoulder helps enough for us to move through the woods and closer to where someone will hopefully be waiting. Ava sleeps through the lot of it, only stirring a few times. Serenity hushes her back to sleep and she snuggles into her mama, not bothered by the fact that we’re bounding through the woods. That baby will sleep through anything. She has always been so calm.

We reach the road, and I can see headlights. I pull Serenity behind me as I try to focus, making sure we’re going toward the right car. Motorcycles rumbling in the distance alerts me to the fact that Spike has the club on board and they’re making their way closer. When Cade gets out of a large black truck, holding his gun out, I know we can move.

“Go straight to the truck, get in, lock the door,” I order, pulling Serenity and Ava close as we cross the road.

Cade spins toward us and then lowers his gun when he realizes who it is. Shoving it into his jeans, he moves closer. “You’re hit,” he growls, his eyes dropping to my shoulder.

“I’m good. We gotta move. Anyone could be watchin’.”

He doesn’t hesitate.

We get in the truck and get the fuck out of there.

Once we’re in a safe location, Cade stops the car and dials Spike to find out what’s happening.

“Talk to me,” he demands, his voice rough.

“Whoever it was managed to get away. They think it was Hound or someone workin’ for Hound, but we can’t be sure. He fucked off into the darkness when they went after him. They’re scourin’ around now, seein’ if they can find anything. You all good?”

“We’re safe,” I mutter from the background. “Need a location to go to, got to stitch up my shoulder.”

Serenity’s eyes flash, but she doesn’t say anything.

If she had her way, we’d be on our way to a hospital. But right now, that can’t happen. It’s too risky.

“Go to the southside warehouse; we have men surrounding it, keepin’ a look out, it’ll be the safest we can get right now.”

“On it,” I growl.

Cade speaks to Spike for a minute or two longer about swapping cars so we’re not followed, then we hit the road again.

We can’t stay still for too long.

The risk is just too big.

We need to finish this.

Now.

“YOU GOOD?” CADE ASKS, holding the knife in his hand, his eyes scanning over Serenity before meeting mine again.

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