Juice couldn't believe Jax was telling him to do this. To kill an innocent girl, one whom had lost a child because of their guns. However, when he refused, they would kick him out. He would lose everything he loved. 

Everything except from Alex, he realized. 

Alex wouldn't want him to do this. She wouldn't want the father of her child to kill innocent women. This was exactly what she had warned him for, and he knew she would be insanely disappointed in him if he obeyed Jax just like this. Maybe, she would never forgive his cowardliness. 

And even if Alex hadn't been there; would he really be able to live with this? 

The Russians... Miles... Killing them had almost made him hang himself. How much more would he suffer if he went through with this? Squaring his shoulders, he thought of his unborn child. He wanted their baby to have a father it didn't have to feel ashamed of. 

"No," he said. 

Jax raised his eyebrows. "No?"

"No."

Jax clenched his jaw. 

"Find another way to solve this problem. When I signed up for this, no one told me I'd have to kill innocent girls to cover up for our own mistakes. So no, I won't do it. If this is who we are now, I don't want to be part of it anymore."

"You think you can just walk away from the club? After how you betrayed us? I would think about that twice if I were you. Only one person has to hear that your girlfriend is in prison and she'll come out in a casket."

Juice's shoulders tensed. And that asshole really dared to call himself a president? 

Taking of his kutte, he threw it at Jax's feet before turning around and leaving the building. 

These were threats, nothing but threats. The rest of the club would never support his decision to get rid of Alex, just to punish him. He was hundred percent sure Kozik was never going to agree. 

Right when he crossed the threshold, he thought of something else. "You better come up with a solution in which the girl isn't going to die, like the Jax who was my friend once would have done. If not, I won't hesitate to tell Nero what you planned to do with the girl."

Before Jax could answer, Juice slammed the door behind him. 

Whether he would regret this or not — he was done with this.

. . .

Although she was on a tight schedule in which there wasn't much room for spare time, it still felt like the days were passing by very slowly. The hearing was next week. She'd already had a few conversations with the club's lawyer; they expected eighteen months. There was nothing for it than to do her time. She would be separated from her baby for almost a year, but there were worse scenarios to think of. They could've put her away for life too.

A guard led her to the visitor's room where she expected to see Mila, who visited her every week. To her bewilderment, she saw a man with the cap of his hat pulled over his eyes. Alex however would recognize him anywhere and she started to walk faster. 

"Juice!" she called out when she neared the table. 

She'd been convinced that she wouldn't see him as long as she was inside, and she barely trusted her eyes right now. He looked up. His eyes were shining, the relief visible. Yet, he looked better than she thought he would. He leaned over the table, taking her hands. 

Alex wished she was allowed to hug him, but she would have to stick to holding hands. 

"Didn't expect to see you here."

"I can't stay away from my girl for over a year, right?"

Seeing him smile gave her a warm feeling. Only now, she realized how much she'd missed that smile. "I thought all club members were supposed to stay away."

Juice cleared his throat, his shoulders seemed to tense. "I'm not a Son anymore."

She stared at him in disbelief. "What? Did they kick you out?" Anger coursed through her veins and she clenched her hands to fists. 

"No," he said quickly. "I quit. You were right, Jax started to act like a manipulative dick. And I thought... for the safety of our child it's better that Daddy isn't in a motor gang anymore." He looked at her. "But if they decide to patch you in, I'd be happy for you."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Alex shook her head. Lately she'd given it a lot of thought. Her future. It had always been her goal to get her top rocker, but she was satisfied with how far she'd came. Jaeden's words had got her thinking. Yeah — she was mad with him. She felt betrayed, blamed him for having to give birth in prison. But she also understood why he couldn't turn a blind eye to the things the club did. Things even Juice could no longer live with. 

When her boyfriend, who had been a full patched member for years, realized that this wasn't the world he wanted to raise his child in, could she really blame Jaeden for not being able to sleep at night knowing his best friend was involved in the drug and gun trade? 

Those weren't questions that were easy to answer, especially because her feelings were so conflicted. She had to admit to herself that her brother had lost his way, which had led to his death. It wasn't easy. Nevertheless, this whole quest had taught her what had been so attractive about the Sons of Anarchy. She'd gotten a glimpse of the brotherhood and she understood Kip's longing for a family like that. In that respect, it felt like a mission accomplished. She really believed all this had brought her closer to her brother. 

However, the club was the reason he was dead. 

He might have died as a hero by trying to save a baby, but without the club the baby never would have been in danger at all. 

If there was one thing his death should teach her, was that she didn't want to expose her own child — Kip's niece or nephew — to that same danger. Juice and she were responsible for the child now, and she believed he'd made a wise decision. 

"I'm proud of you," she said. Her thumbs caressed the back of his hand. "I think you made the first wise parental decision." She lifted the corners of her mouth. "And I can't stay behind now."

His lips bent into a smile too. 

A genuine, free smile. Perhaps the most beautiful smile she'd seen up to now.