Page 24 of April 5

In his pocket, his phone vibrated. Katrina wasn't going to give him any peace tonight.

Looking at the screen, he frowned. It was Bane.

"Yeah?" he said.

"How close are you to coming back to the clubhouse?"

"I just got back and parked my bike."

"Stay there. I'll come out."

He put the phone back in his pocket and lit a cigarette. It was going to be a long fucking night. His balls ached. His head pounded. The only thing he could do was go inside and pick up his best friend, Jack Daniels.

The back door swung open, and Bane stepped outside, looking around. He moved away from his bike and got out of the shadows.

His V.P. came right to him. "Sorry to spring this on you, Prez, but I got a call from Hatchet."

The president of Havlin, who'd taken over after Baller got murdered, rarely called unless shit was going down or it was time for the quarterly meeting.

"They took Mama Sue to the hospital—"

"Why?" Tension braced him for bad news, and he tossed his cigarette to the ground.

"They believe she had a heart attack."

"Get Hatchet on the phone and have someone grab my duffle from my room." He pulled out his phone and called Wire.

Wire answered on the first ring. "Prez?"

"I need a favor," said Jagger.

"Name it."

"I need to leave town and could use your Sprinter van."

"Sure. I'll get Katrina out and—"

"Leave her alone. She's going with me." He disconnected the call and found Bane holding a phone out to him.

Wide awake, all he needed to do was get to Beaverton. Nothing else mattered. His mom needed family around her.

As Hatchet filled him in on finding his mom slumped over on the porch in her rocker and gave him the hospital information where the ambulance took Mama Sue, he prepared himself for the worst. Three hours was a long time to travel when each second mattered.

Chapter Ten

MIST COATED THE VAN'S windshield, splintering the headlights aimed in their direction with each passing car. Katrina sat in the passenger seat, wrapped in a blanket, and prayed Mama Sue would be okay when they arrived at the hospital.

She should've been there with her, maybe she could've helped or recognized that she was having a heart attack. Jagger's mom had always been there for her when she needed her most.

Guilt filled her. Instead, she was foolishly chasing Jagger.

Mama Sue was the one constant person in her life. A strong woman who hadn't abandoned or forgotten about her. Her dad had committed a crime with no thought that he'd had a daughter to raise, leaving her behind. Jagger chose life with Havlin over a life with her.

Tears pooled, threatening to spill. She inhaled deeply, refusing to let herself lose hope. Mama Sue had to live. If anyone could survive a heart attack, it would be her.

She had the strength of a saint.

Glancing at Jagger, her heart ached. She couldn't forget that despite loving Mama Sue with all her being, Jagger was her real son, and he was worried about his mom.

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