Chapter 8

~lily~

As I walked down the stairs, I could feel eyes on me. I looked around, noticing the girls all staring at me, one in particular giving me a nasty glare.


I smiled back and continued walking until I heard a small feminine voice behind me.


“Your name’s Lily, right?”


I turned around and came face to face with a tall, slim female with golden hair and hazel eyes. I smiled. “Yes, I am.”


“My name is Jen. You probably don’t know me since I came after you left, but I’ve heard all about you from the other girls.”


I looked over her shoulder as the other girls watched our interaction.


“Probably bad news, I bet.”


“Oh no,” Jen said quickly. “Well, besides Priscilla. She’s infatuated with the prez,” she added, rolling her eyes.


I chuckled softly. “Figures. There’s always one in every group.”


Jen smiled sympathetically. “Yeah, well, she thinks she owns the place. Just ignore her. The rest of us are actually pretty nice.”


I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. “Thanks, Jen. It’s good to know not everyone is out for blood.”
She laughed. “We’re not all like Priscilla. Anyway, if you need anything, just let me know. I’m usually around.”


“Will do,” I replied, giving her a grateful smile.


As Jen walked away, I felt a little lighter. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad if I stayed here after all. I continued down the stairs and headed toward the bar, hoping to get a drink and clear my head.


Snake was leaning against the bar, chatting with one of the other guys. He glanced up as I approached and gave me a nod. “Hey, Lily. Need a drink?”


I smiled. “Yeah, that would be great.”


He motioned to the bartender, who quickly poured me a whiskey. I took the glass and sipped it, feeling the warmth spread through me.


“Feeling better?” Snake asked.


I nodded. “Yeah.


Just as I was about to take another sip, there was a big commotion.


“Everyone, hands in the air!” someone shouted from out front.


My eyes grew wide when I realized the police were here.


“Nobody moves!” another officer shouted.


“What the fuck is happening?” Nick started to say.


I stood behind the counter, listening to the commotion out front. We were out of sight from the police, but we could hear everything that was happening.


“We have a search warrant! We’re here looking for a Lily Johnson. Maybe you guys know her since she used to hang around here before,” an officer stated.


Nick grunted at his words. “We haven’t seen Lily in years, officer, so you’re barking up the wrong tree.”


I quickly decided to hide, not wanting them to find me in case they chose to search the place. I glanced around, spotting a small storage room behind the bar. I ducked down and slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind me.


I could hear the officers moving through the clubhouse, their heavy boots thudding on the wooden floors. I held my breath, praying they wouldn’t come my way. The storage room was cramped and dark, but it was better than being found.


The noise outside continued, voices raised in frustration and anger. I could hear Nick arguing with the officers, his voice growing louder as he tried to keep them from searching too thoroughly.


“Look, I told you, she’s not here!” Nick shouted. “You’re wasting your time!”


“We have to be thorough,” one of the officers replied. “We have reason to believe she might be hiding out here.”


“Reason? What reason?” Nick retorted. “This is bullshit!”


I pressed myself against the wall, heart pounding. I could hear footsteps getting closer, and I held my breath, hoping they wouldn’t check the storage room. The doorknob rattled, and I froze, waiting for the door to swing open.


But then, the footsteps retreated, and I let out a shaky breath. I listened as the officers continued their search, moving through the clubhouse.


After what felt like an eternity, the commotion started to die down. and I could hear Nick’s voice, still gruff and irritated, as he spoke to them.


“If she shows up, we’ll let you know,” Nick said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.


Finally, the front door closed, and the clubhouse was silent. I waited a few more minutes before cautiously opening the storage room door. Snake was standing nearby, keeping watch.


“Coast is clear,” he said quietly, helping me out of the cramped space.


I nodded, my legs shaking as I stood. “Thanks, Snake.”


Nick walked back in, his expression hard. “They’re gone for now, but you need to be careful Lily no leaving the clubhouse.