Lola ran around the apartment. She pulled open the few drawers that were left untouched. Her slim fingers wrapped around the knob of a drawer, and she pulled it, but it wouldn't budge. She couldn't remember what was in the drawer. Was it clothes? Books? She had no clue, and apparently, she wouldn't find out. Lola stepped back. The duffel bag was next to her feet on the floor with one book and a pair of shoes inside. She stood staring at the drawer, wondering not only what was in it but also realizing it was the last of her personal effects.
A whipping sound echoed past her, and a large hand grabbed the knob and broke the drawer by pulling it open. He held the board in his hand and looked at Lola's shocked face. She slowly turned her head, her eyes following swiftly but unable to take in the view. His face was covered in blood splatter. Drops fell from his mouth, and his teeth were stained crimson.
"Jax?"
His eyes fell down her body to her feet. He looked at the bag that lay open, and his shoulders fell as he sighed.
Lola licked her lips and looked away.
She closed her eyes and remembered where she was and what happened outside less than twenty minutes ago.
She pulled out everything in the drawer and stuffed it in the bag. Jax's hair fell on his face. His honey-brown eyes were smeared with the blood from the men who had attacked them.
He didn't know the right words to say or if they even existed. All he knew was that Lola planned on running alone.
"They'll come back," Jax said and threw the board on the floor.
"Yes, I know." Lola zipped up the bag and threw it over her shoulder. She turned and stared at Jax, gazing deep into his conflicted eyes.
He had to take her home, to bring her back to the pack, but he knew it was impossible as long as she didn't trust him.
"You're running," he stated and lifted his head.
Lola gulped, her hand gripped harder around the bag strap. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head down.
"Why are they after you?" She stepped back and looked toward the door. Jax waited for an answer while thinking of every possible outcome.
"I don't know," she whispered, shaking her head.
"Lies," someone sanding in the doorframe said. Ash fiddled with the blanket that had been put up. He whistled and looked with something that reminded them of guilt.
"I guess this is my fault, huh?" he said, scanning the raided room.
The guilt quickly vanished. His eyes narrowed, and he looked between Jax and Lola.
"You know why they're after you. You just won't tell us. I get that. I mean, why trust a hot stranger? Or Jax, for that matter. You don't know us, and we just dumped a shit ton of information on you that would drive anyone away. The funny thing is, though, it didn't drive you out of town. You stayed, ready to comply, until those corpses out there showed up." He looked at Jax. "Nicely done, by the way." He winked.
Jax rolled back his shoulder and stepped in front of Lola.
"Why are you here?" Jax growled. Ash smiled. He saw Lola shrinking in the back, and when their eyes locked, she stepped forward.
"To ask this one why she stayed." His voice lowered an octave, and his eyes narrowed to slits. He was amused, as always, but now there was more to his gaze. He saw it as a game to find out her reasons for doing as she did.
Lola stepped out with her bag in hand and faced Ash head-on. His eyes twinkled deviously, and he held his arms by his side. His shoulders were slowly rising in defense.
"It's none of your business," Jax said and stepped an inch to the side. An audible sigh left Lola's lips as she pressed him away.
"I don't need you protecting me," she groaned and threw her bag over her shoulder. "I'm not staying, not anymore." She walked toward the door.
Ash stepped to the side and intercepted her as she was leaving. "Can't let you leave," he said.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
They all turned, their heads snapping as they looked toward the blanket being pushed aside. Melissa stood wide-eyed, staring into the apartment.
Her jaw dropped. She was heaving, and her clothes were soaking wet. Her scarf had been pulled up over her head to protect her newly blown-out hair, but wet strands hung heavy in front of her face. Her mascara was smeared under her eyes, and her footsteps left something red on the floor behind her. "Did you know there are dead people outside?" She gasped in horror.
Jax bit his tongue and turned with a deadly glare at his cousin.
"You didn't take care of them?" he seethed.
Ash shrugged his shoulders, and his eyes widened a fraction.
"I didn't think anyone would be outside right now," he defended.
"Dead bodies!" Melissa repeated. "Three of them." Her voice lowered to a whisper. She started swinging on her feet as her eyes flickered around the room.
Her face grew pale as all the blood rushed down from her head.
"Melissa?" Lola watched in fear as her friend fell against the doorframe. Jax was there in a flash. He grabbed her head before it hit the floor and gently placed it down on a book that had been thrown on the ground. He looked over his shoulder at Lola, who was running over to them. She fell on her knees and grabbed Melissa's face. It only took a minute before she regained consciousness, and her eyes darted around the ceiling.
"Did I faint?" she asked, sounding mortified. Lola scoffed. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, of course not. You were just tired after running up the stairs." Melissa pressed her hands against the floor and got up on her feet. She glared at Lola, who reached under her arm to help her up.
"You'd never make it as a lawyer. You're a sucky liar," she spat and pulled her arm free. Melissa fixed her bag on her shoulder and ran a hand through her wavy hair. "What's going on here?" she asked and stepped into the studio apartment.
"Uhm. I, uh," Lola scratched the back of her head. She looked at the duffel bag she had dropped when Melissa fainted. How did she explain to her best friend that she was leaving? Melissa's eyes fell to the bag waiting on the floor.
"What's that?" She flicked her head and stared at Lola.
Everyone stood silent. Jax was behind Melissa. Ash stood leaning against the dresser with his arms crossed and a grin on his face. Lola was standing eye to eye with her best friend, the girl who had become her family, the only person who made her question whether leaving the town was even an option.
Melissa narrowed her eyes and looked around. "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!"