Page 52 of May 11

Jagger rubbed his forehead while he studied the photo and grunted. Wire, not recognizing the man from the photo, only knew he was a patched-in club member going by the vest he wore.

Havlin Motorcycle Club was close to a thousand members strong, with headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. There were chapters in Mt. Hood, Sunriver, Bend, and Seaglass Cove. It was impossible to know every member.

"Tell me what's going on." Jagger handed back the picture.

"The photo is Cora's brother from..." He blew out his lips. "Thirty years ago. His name is Jeff Albright. He took off when he was eighteen, and from what Cora knows, he never came home or contacted her parents."

"And ...you think she's found him in the club photo from years ago?" Jagger knocked his knuckle against the picture on the wall.

He dipped his chin. "Cora's alone. Her parents died last year. She took off on a west coast adventure to find her brother. A brother who doesn't even know she exists. She needs to tell him their folks passed away before she can go on with her life."

Jagger whistled under his breath. "Hell of a story, brother."

Amid what was going on with Havlin and Los Li, Cora's troubles seemed normal to him. If not normal, then fixable.

"I'm not going to share any information with you until I make a few phone calls. You'll have to give me a couple of days."

"Thanks, Prez."

"Don't thank me yet. You might've just opened the gates of hell," muttered Jagger.

Cora walked out of the hallway, carrying her bag after showering. Her wet hair hung past her bare shoulders.

She'd put on a sundress that hugged all her curves and walked barefoot toward him. Her gaze flickered between him and Jagger as she tried to read the mood.

As she reached him, he put his arm up. She stepped close and pressed against his side as he brought his arm down across her shoulders.

"Did you have enough hot water?" he asked.

She beamed at him. "It was wonderful."

He chuckled. It'd be nice if he could take her back to his house and enjoy showering with her whenever he wanted.

"I ordered pizza." He kissed the top of her head. "It'll be delivered any minute."

She hugged his side. "That sounds wonderful."

Jagger studied Cora. Wire slapped his president on the shoulder. Their business was done.

"Hungry, Prez?" he asked.

Jagger ignored him and said, "How old are you, Cora?"

Cora straightened at being called into the conversation. He kept his arm around her, lending support. To others, the president of Havlin could be intimidating.

She moistened her lips. "I'm twenty-one."

Jagger studied her until Wire started to wonder what was going on. "I'll let you two get on with your night."

Wire rolled Cora to the front of him, putting both arms around her as Jagger walked off. "Man, I'm starving."

Cora inhaled deeply. "Did I do anything wrong?"

"Not with me."

"I'm talking about Jagger. I don't think he likes me," she whispered.

"Nah." Wire looked over her head at Jagger's retreating back. "He's just got a lot on his mind."

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