Layla’s POV
The compound felt different when we got home. Quiet. Heavy. The men moved slow, their bodies tired from the fight. Blood was cleaned. Wounds were wrapped. Everyone just wanted to sleep.
But Jax wasn't sleeping.
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone. His face was pale. His jaw was tight. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
I sat next to him. I touched his arm. "Jax? What is it?"
He didn't answer. He just kept staring at that screen.
"Jax, talk to me. You're scaring me."
He put the phone down. He looked at me. His eyes were strange. Far away.
"Nothing," he said. "Just tired. Go to sleep."
I knew he was lying. But I didn't push. Not then.
Days passed. Things got calm. Viper was quiet. Lacey was gone. Colt stopped texting. For a little while, we could breathe
