CHAPTER 2: THE MEN WHO CAME LOOKING
The diner fell silent as Reed Mercer stepped inside.
Jax immediately recognized him.
A Black Vulture.
One of the men he had spent eight years hiding from.
“What do you want?” Jax asked coldly.
Reed smirked.
“The boss wants to see you.”
“I’m not interested.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
Reed tossed a photograph onto the counter.
Jax looked down.
It was Emily and Noah.
Someone had been watching them.
Even after all these years.
Rage filled his chest.
“They never stopped, did they?”
“Nope,” Reed replied.
Suddenly, headlights appeared outside.
Three black SUVs pulled into the parking lot.
More Black Vultures stepped out.
The diner tensed.
Walter quickly moved closer to Noah.
Jax stepped in front of them.
“Take Noah and leave through the back.”
Noah shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
The boy's voice trembled.
“I just found my dad.”
The words hit Jax hard.
He knelt beside him.
“You need to go with Grandpa.”
“But what about you?”
Jax forced a smile.
“I'll find you.”
Noah stared at him for a moment.
Then quietly asked,
“You won't leave again?”
Jax felt his throat tighten.
“Never.”
Finally, Noah nodded.
Walter hurried him toward the back exit.
Just before disappearing, Noah turned around and waved.
Jax waved back.
Then the door closed.
Seconds later, the front door burst open.
Black Vultures flooded into the diner.
Jax stepped forward.
For years he had run from them.
Tonight, he wouldn't run anymore.
May you like
Because now he had something worth fighting for.
His son.
