Page 34 of April 5

Walking to the clubhouse, he went with confidence. They would never find someone better, with his experience, to run the club. It wasn't a line of bullshit. He'd stand behind it.

As he walked to the table, he stopped at Bane's chair because his vice president had stepped into the role of president. He remained standing, refusing to sit in a position he had no interest in.

He wasn't handing over the president's patch. They'd have to rip it from his vest.

"We followed the bylaws set before us to deal with the transgression and had the five officers vote. If it was not unanimous, we then had twenty percent of the chapter in attendance that would give us the majority." Bane stood. "But it never came to that. The vote was unanimous."

The pressure in his head intensified. If he had his life to live over again, he'd do the same damn thing. There was no life without Katrina in it.

His only regret was that he tried to do the right thing and put distance between himself and Katrina. He'd wasted a lot of years with her.

Bane stepped away from the chair. "Take your spot, Prez."

Relief hit him in the gut. He changed positions with Bane. Looking around the table, he nodded at each officer. He received the loyalty he'd drilled into the club from the beginning. He would not let them down.

"When Ruger gets back, he'll have the final say in the punishment. Whatever outcome comes afterward, Bane will be here to handle everything." He sat and exhaled. "Katrina, in the meantime, is staying with me. If someone has a problem with that, speak now."

His heartbeat filled the silence.

Picking up the gavel, he hit the table.

Chairs scrapped back. The men left.

Bane, Dio, Wire, Cord, and Rush remained sitting. The clubhouse cleared out quickly, giving the officers time to talk privately.

"Appreciate the support." Jagger leaned back in the chair. "I trust that each of you will hold up your responsibilities toward the club when the punishment is handed down."

"Fuck, Jagger." Dio leaned forward. "I understand the need for the bylaws, but I don't see Ruger docking your pay or taking your seat from you. That motherfucker will take the option to kill you without losing any sleep."

"Katrina's an adult." Cord pulled on his beard. "It doesn't seem right that you're punished for loving her when she's old enough to make her own decisions."

"My mother raised her. I was in her life daily as she grew up. I've loved her whole life." He shrugged. "She's twenty-four years old, and I'm forty-six. I started sleeping with her when she was eighteen—that's not a crime. What I did was personal against Ruger. He asked me to protect her, and I broke the bylaws getting emotionally and sexually involved with her without seeking my brother's permission first."

"At least you waited." Rush stretched his arms out and tilted back in the chair. "Half the fuckers standing outside wouldn't have waited. Hell, Ruger's one of them. He's stood in line to fuck the bitches in Beaverton at more parties than I can count. He sure in the hell wasn't asking to see their driver's license to make sure they were legal age."

"It's his daughter." Jagger stood. "He's got the right to do what he wants with me."

"He took off." Dio thumped his fist against the table.

"He'll be back." He walked away from the table.

The others could talk about his problem until they accepted what would happen. As for him, he was done. Katrina was waiting for him.

Chapter Fifteen

KATRINA PACED THE ROOM, going back and forth in worry. She couldn't sit still. Despite Jagger not telling her what was going on, she knew.

The bikers could vote him out of the club, all because he loved her, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

They would respect him less if she voiced her support. No man wanted a woman to fight for him in front of his brothers.

It seemed stupid to her that she couldn't defend Jagger. But it was life for him.

She wasn't his ol' lady. There was nothing she could do.

Guilt ate away at her. Ruger was her father. She felt responsible.

Being intimate with Jagger came with consequences. When she was young, he'd warn her about the others not understanding their relationship, and she had to stop hugging, kissing, and touching him.

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