†††
Blake, Vlad, and I ride the elevator in silence, my body too exhausted to tense up. We've spent the entire day in the training room. It's late, and sleep is calling me. Stepping into the apartment, Blake and I run right into the rest of the team. They stand in the foyer, amidst a heated discussion. Vlad comes to my side, lightly touching my hand and nodding toward the group. I glance at Blake, and he follows us to the side of the entrance.
"Fifteen girls in this area have disappeared in the last forty-eight hours. They're going to auction right here in the city. This may be our only chance," Jax says, his voice louder than usual.
"Interpol will never give the green light on this, Jax. You can't fucking ask her to do it," Dresden snaps.
Oh no . . .
"It's her job. I'm not asking. This is what we do. What she does."
"No, she needs a fucking break. We've only been on this assignment for a few weeks. We'll get another opportunity."
"Sir, we don't have enough intel. It's too risky," Hayato says in a quieter tone.
"No, we won't. This isn't up for discussion. Inside sources say the auction goes down in seven days. She has to be on the inside within the next four."
"No, she doesn't. This is bullshit, and dangerous. Hayato's right. We don't know about this ring. You could get her killed," Sammi says, tears pooling in her eyes.
I think I'm going to puke.
"What ring," I say loudly.
Everyone turns, finally registering the three of us standing behind them. Pain flashes across every face except Jax. His is stone.
"Lily, no. It doesn't matter," Sammi, pleads.
"What ring?" I take a step forward.
"The Taurus," Jax says with finality.
I sigh. "What do we know so far?" I gesture for us to move to the kitchen. We each take a spot around the island, Blake and Vlad staying on either side of me.
"They're filling the pool. They'll auction off at least twenty girls, maybe more. You know how this works."
Yes, I do.
"Sammi, Dresden, thank you for trying, but this is my choice. Leave this alone guys, I know what I'm doing."
Blake touches my arm and my insides tighten."Lily, what’re you thinking?"
"She's thinking about getting her things ready. She has a job to do, Mr. Mason," Jax hisses.
"Fuck you and her job." Blake slams his fist on the table.
"Calm down," I say in a low voice. I take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Jax, but this assignment comes first. I'm not going this time."
I glance up and several mouths hang open.
"What?" His eyes narrow, sweat beading on his forehead.
"I said, no."
"You're going to do what you're told."
"My job is here. Now, if you'll excuse me."
I stomp to my bedroom and slam the door. I need time to myself, time to think about what I just did. I've never told Jax no before. Sharp pains shoot through my chest, my lungs constricting. It's like I've betrayed him in some way. He's going to go to Hyde, and this time, I doubt I'll be able to talk my way out of it. Leaving Interpol wouldn't be such a big deal if I had something to fall back on, but I don't. I never went to school, never learned anything other than what Jax taught me.