Page 27 of April 5

"I'll park the van at the mother chapter while we care for my mom." He stepped away from her and held out his hand.

She knew the rules. No affection in front of her dad. They had to keep their relationship secret.

Chapter Eleven

THREE DAYS LATER, JAGGER pulled himself out of his drunken stupor and showered. He'd attacked the bottle in the only way he knew to numb the pain of cremating his mother and adding her to the slot on the wall at the cemetery with his father.

His lifestyle had no room to mourn. He was responsible for too many men, too many families. It was time to go back to Seaglass Cove.

He walked into the main room of the clubhouse and scanned the area. He found Katrina behind the bar. The days and nights blurred in his head. He barely remembered her serving him the alcohol and him yelling at her to get away from the bikers. When that hadn't worked, he'd done the only thing he could do while he was inebriated. He told Ruger to take care of his daughter, or he would.

She spotted him and carried over a glass of tomato juice. "This'll help."

Compassion oozed from her despite his treatment. He didn't deserve her.

He brought the drink to his lips, but before he drank, he asked, "Ruger?"

"Out."

He took a drink, almost gagging when his stomach rolled. "Does he know you're here?"

"He came by the van earlier to tell me he was riding and wouldn't return until tomorrow." She folded her arms and then flung them straight down to her sides. "He knows I work for the club."

He raised his brow. Just because she had a job didn't mean having her around the men was the smartest decision. If he had his way—fuck it.

"I need to get back to Seaglass Cove." He set the glass down. "I'll have one of my men bring you your car."

"I'll go back with you."

He shook his head and instantly regretted it. "That can't happen."

"I came here with you."

"Kat." He pressed his lips together. "We're both hurting. Stay here. Take your time."

"What about you?" She stuck her chin higher. "You lost your mom and think you can jump back into running the club today?"

"That's exactly what I plan on doing."

She shook her head. "Mama Sue was right."

"About what?"

"You're just like your daddy." Her gaze intensified. "The only woman strong enough to make him listen was Mama Sue."

"And you think you're the woman who can boss me around?" He scoffed. "Wake up, Kat. You know what kind of life I lead." He stood and leaned over her. "You're not strong enough to survive."

She flinched before she could hide the pain he'd caused her. He walked away, knowing he only lied because she was better off in Beaverton than fighting a losing battle for him.

She had every reason to hate him. He needed her to hate him because it was impossible for him to stop loving her.

Despite what came out of his mouth, he held on to her like a dying man, knowing she was his saving grace.

If he could go back twenty years and stop Ruger from taking the pistol he'd used to shoot his father's killer, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

But he couldn't rewind the clock.

Once he checked in with the men packing Mama Sue's belongings and putting them in storage, he needed to hit the road back to Seaglass Cove.

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