Spark in the Dark

Chapter 164

It felt a little like deja vu to Shawn as she walked into the clubhouse with Lyla right beside her. The only difference was Nero and Juice were with them and Jax was already there this time. She tried to think of the last time they had been on lockdown this much, but nothing came to mind.

Juice went with the others and Nero turned to Lyla and Shawn. "Game of pool? You two against me? The odds are in your favor."

"You're going down, old man," Lyla told him and went for the pool table.

"Ouch. Take it easy with the old man stuff, love," he joke with her. "We don't know how long we're stuck here. It's best we all get along."

"Especially considering we seem to be in this situation a lot lately," Shawn agreed. "Damn. I don't think we've ever been on lockdown like this before."

"I have," Lyla told her. "You haven't."

"When would you have been on lockdown without me?"

"When Weston took you from Cara Cara."

Nero raised an eyebrow. "So, this has happened before?"

"Oh, yeah," Lyla told him.

"Should I be concerned about history repeating itself around here?" Nero asked.

"Probably," Shawn told him bluntly. "At least it's Wendy this time."

"You don't like her, huh?"

"Not much to like," Shawn said with a shrug. "I'll break."

Nero let the subject drop and the three played pool. Some of the guys left after a little while, but no one said anything to them about being allowed to leave. Nero and Lyla got themselves a drink while Shawn stuck with a bottle of water. Tara came into the bar from the hall soon after and saw Shawn. She approached her and touched her arm to get her attention.

"Can I talk to you?" Tara asked when Shawn looked at her.

"Sure," Shawn said and handed Lyla her cue. "I'll be back. Keep playing without me."

Shawn followed Tara down the hall and into the dorm where Thomas was napping in his carrier and Abel was coloring at the desk. Tara shut the door behind Shawn. Shawn's interest increased. Whatever this was about, Tara didn't want anyone to overhear.

"So, what's up?" She asked.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Shawn answered shortly. "C'mon, you did not bring me down the hall, away from everyone else, and shut the door just to see how I'm feeling. Spill it."

Tara sighed. "I've been doing a lot of thinking about what would happen to the boys should something ever happen to me and Jax-"

"Oh, boy."

"- and I was considering making a will and naming a guardian for them. Specifically, you."

"Does Gemma know about this?"

"No. I'd like to keep it that way for now. I'm sure you can understand why."

"Yeah, I guess I can. Why me?"

"You stood up to Gemma when she was high and was going to take the boys. I think one of the job requirements for being the boys' guardian is not being afraid of Gemma."

"You're probably right about that," Shawn said with a scoff. "Does Jax even know?"

"I'll have to work on him with it, but if it's you I'm sure he'll agree. He trusts you."

"Is that the other job requirement?"

"In a way."

Shawn considered it for a minute. "I'd have to talk it over with Juice."