Page 225 of Conquered

Her eyelids flutter, her chest rattling with a deep, painful breath as she slowly turns her head to look at him.

“Jax?” she asks, only able to open her swollen eyes a fraction.

“I’m here, Mom,” he says, the heartbreak clear on his face. “The guys and Lilly, too.”

“Lilly?” she questions, her voice rough, turning her head to try and find me in the gloom.

“Hi, Mrs. Griffiths,” I say softly, letting go of Ash and stepping forward, walking towards her bed. I pick up her cup of water, placing a straw in it before bringing it to her lips for her to drink. Jax gives me a grateful look, his eyes shining.

“Thank you, Lilly dear,” she croaks, her voice less raspy than it was before. A lump forms in my throat, hating that she’s thanking me when it is partly my fault that she’s in this position in the first place.

“Was it him?” Jax bursts out, voice hard and cutting. “Was it Dad?”

An anguished look comes over her face then, and she doesn’t take her eyes off me as she replies.

“I’m not as strong as your mother was, Lilly. She was always the bravest of us.”

My world spirals, my breath whooshing out of my chest as I look into her familiar piercing blue eyes, and see the truth of her words, even if I can’t understand them.

“What?” I whisper, but before she can answer, the door bursts open and a nurse strides in.

“Time for more...oh! I’m so sorry. I didn't realise that you had visitors,” she fumbles, flushing as we all stare at her.

“Not to worry, my dear,” Jannet Griffiths responds, a kind smile tugging her split lip, making her wince. “I could do with some more pain relief.”

Jax leaps up, moving to one side so that the nurse can administer the meds. Before I can step away, Jannet grabs my hand, forcing my gaze back on her.

“You have formidable blood in you, Lilly. Don’t let them make you forget it,” she says, her voice quiet but intense, givingmy hand one final squeeze, before letting it go as she closes her eyes.

I look up into Jax’s eyes, finding him looking down at his mother as if seeing her anew. He definitely heard her cryptic remarks, and it’s clear that he has no idea what she is talking about.

She’s just confirmed that she knew my mum, and by the sounds of it, quite well. What did she mean she was strong, the bravest of them all?

Why does it feel like I’m getting more questions than answers, the more time passes?

And the biggest question of all?

Who was Laura Darling?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

JAX

Isit on the chair next to my mom’s bedside, listening to the bleep of the machines and watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. I’m all alone, having sent the others back to Highgate with Lilly, who looked dead on her feet.

I’m gonna fucking kill him, that cuntstain of a father of mine. My lip curls, a sour taste in my mouth as I think of him. I know it was him. I can practically make out that shitty signet ring he wears on his right hand in the bruises on her face.

My fists clench as I catalog her injuries once again, knowing that she won’t tell me the truth, and she won’t report him. I remember the time that I beat the shit out of him, a grim smile pulling my lips up with the memory of his blood coating my hands for once. Looks like he’ll need a little reminder of the lesson that I thought he’d learned that day.

“Be careful, baby.” I hear her rasping voice say, and I look up into eyes that reflect my own. Only hers are full of concern and worry. “I know that look, Jax. Nothing good will come from revenge.”

I take her hand once more, so much smaller than my own.

“He won’t get away with this,” I vow, righteous fire filling my black soul until it’s ablaze. “He will pay.”

“Oh, baby,” she whispers, shifting with a small moan, which only adds fuel to the fire of my anger. “And what if Lilly gets caught in the crossfire?”

The fire goes out, cold dread sitting like a heavy weight in my stomach.