Coming Home

Chapter 1

Leilani's POV

"Listen, Samantha, right now, I've got Club business. You two, ya sit tight, don't leave until I tell you it's okay to leave. You got that? You're too close to the club right now. They're gonna hit us hard anyway they can." My uncle Alex, sternly telling my mother, rubbing his eyes like he permanently has sleep on his mind. I sit on the couch, reading the book in my hand, trying to tune their argument out. "So what, she's not supposed to get an education, huh? We just sit here and wait for your club to keep us safe? What about work? How am I supposed to keep food on the table? A roof over our heads? Is the club gonna help us with that, too?" She counters back to him. He sighs, knowing she's just trying to keep me safe. I can't take it any longer. "Ma, I can wait for college. And the clubs always provided for us. There's no reason for us not to trust in them now. " I say to her, looking up. She hated that I admired the club. Mostly because of Jax, but I couldn't help it. He was so- so dreamy. The kind of bad boy you couldn't help falling in love with. She knew herself, marrying my dad. Part of the reason she even resented her brother. I don't know if it was because he brought us here after dad died or because he never liked dad in general. Uncle Alex never thought that the brown truck driver being an ex-gangbanger, was good enough for his sister. But I'd like to hope, he was grateful that I came out of it. "If you want to make something of yourself, you go to school. You don't wait because outlaws started a war and let their families down with them, Lani." She states, turning her eyes to focus at me. I roll my eyes, knowing she was blaming the club for things that most definitely made sense. "Alex, I'm still going to work. And she is going to finish college. You and your clubs war is stopping her from becoming the very thing that will bring you down in the end. You are using your bullshit as an excuse to keep her from it. Criminal justice is her passion. And you are shitting all over it. We left Bakersfield to get away from this shit. Not come to something worse. I don't even know who you are anymore!" She yells at him, throwing the dish rag on the counter and clanking dishes around in the sink as she washes them. "Sam Listen. You gotta understand.  This club. It provides for you. For us. Pablo isn't around anymore. You came here because you couldn't raise her alone. She's grown up now. I can't keep her from the club and the life I love. And live.  But I can tell you that if you walk out of that door, you may not walk back in it. That is exactly what I am telling you, Goddammit! Now, the club and I are gonna do everything in our power to keep you guys safe. But for now. Lani is right. College can wait. She can make her own decisions and right now, she is making the smart one, which is what you should be doing. Do you understand that?" He explains as he puts his hands on the counter. The argument stops when a hand knocks on the door, pulling focus towards it. I stand up, looking towards uncle Alex, trying to see if I should open it. He nods and throws his hand towards the door. "It's Juicy boy. He's your bodyguard until we know it's safe to be alone. You leave, he leaves with you." He tells us as I open the door, revealing Juan. He nods, smiling as he walks in. "Hey Lei, did you read the book I gave you last week?" He asks, walking in and taking a seat. Alex sighs, rubbing his temples. "Keep an eye on them. I have to meet Clay at the garage. One or both leave, you follow. Got it?" He questions Juice. He nods and waves to my uncle as Alex walks out. "Yeah, I actually started it. I had to finish the one from
Edward Lee first, the poem one that Jax gave me, " I say to him. He nods, looking away, knowing that being in love with Jax would only end in heartbreak. "So Jax and Tara finally got together. Guess they used to be together in their teen years. Gemma Hates her. Can't figure out why, too scared to ask any of them. Gemma is like, terrifying." He tells me, eating one of the mints out of my mom's candy bowl. She rolls her eyes and walks towards her room. When she comes back, she's dressed for work. "Mom, he told you we couldn't leave. Or that we should at least not have to. He said the club would help. Why are you deliberately putting yourself in danger?" I ask, filling my cup with water. "Listen, I don't rely on you, the club, or this boy right here. If he's supposed to protect anyone,  it should be you. And you tell Alexander I said that." She says, looking at Juice. He looks up, looking back between me and my mother. "Who's Alexander?" He asks, genuinely confused. Jesus, was he really that dumb? "Look. I'm going to work, you, young man, will stay with Leilani. If that is what my brother wants. But I will not have one of you heathens standing around at my work, costing me my job." She tells him while grabbing her keys. I roll my eyes and look at Juan as he stands up and gets on the phone, assuming he's calling my uncle. "No. She told me not to follow her. Yes, to stay with Lani. No, she said she doesn't want the club around her work, but you wanted them to be watched. I just need to know which one to keep an eye on, " Juice explains into the phone. He agrees to what is said, hanging up. "I'm supposed to stay with you, if that's okay. It's not like either of us have a choice. Clay and Jax are going to go talk with Unser. Zobelle and Weston are pushing hard on the club. And the war with the mayans, you're in as much danger as Tara or Abel is." He states, sitting back down again. Gosh, Tara? What does Jax even see in her? Because she's his high-school sweetheart. We all know those don't last or work out in the end. Does Jax really believe she won't turn on him and his club the second she's put in heat?