Page 28 of April 5

He pushed out of the building. Halfway across the lot, a force plowed into the back of him, latching onto him. He stumbled forward under the weight, keeping his assailant from biting the ground. He knew who attacked him because he'd had her body pressed against him more times than he could count.

"You can't do this to me." She clung to him. "I need you."

She struggled, lashing out. He grabbed her arms and threw her over his shoulder, not letting her hit him.

Great sobs racked her body as she struggled to breathe and scream at him at the same time. Her emotional outburst was aimed at him but understanding sucker punched him. Caught up in losing his mom, he'd let Katrina take care of him. But he hadn't taken care of her.

His mom was the closest thing Katrina had to a parent. The one person who knew about his relationship with Katrina and supported her through the struggles of loving him. His mom would've liked nothing more than to see her son and her adopted daughter make it out of the world together.

He grabbed Katrina, holding her tightly to his chest as she battled her sorrow, screamed her heartache, and fought her fears. The words tumbling out of her mouth made no sense, and they weren't aimed at him or anyone else anymore. She wanted her Mama Sue back.

Her weight grew heavier, and he went down to his knees, holding her to his chest. He understood her pain. A pain he drowned in the bottle and kept buried deep inside of him. But Katrina needed the release.

A group of bikers clustered at the back of the building. He ignored the gawkers. Katrina hadn't picked now to fall apart. He'd given her a reason by letting her know he was leaving. He should've known how hard she'd take the news.

And while she fell apart, he thought of ways to make her feel better.

Ruger was gone. There was no one stopping him from taking care of her.

She needed to get away from the club and the only home she remembered and find a safe spot to mourn. He pushed to his feet and carried her to the van.

He hadn't planned on taking her back to Seaglass Cove. But Ruger wasn't here to stop him. If his MC brother had a problem with him taking care of Katrina when she needed someone to help her, then Ruger could come and get his daughter.

For now, he was taking her home with him.

At the van, he set her down on her feet. "Do you need anything before we go?"

She looked back at the house where Mama Sue raised her. He turned her face away from the memories. That house would always belong to Katrina. When his mom turned eighty, he'd helped her put the deed in Katrina's name so that she always had a house that belonged to her.

"All her things are going into storage." He smoothed her hair off her face. "You're not losing anything more."

"I want her back," whispered Katrina. "I just want her back."

"Get into the van. We'll stop for gas, and then I'll drive straight to Seaglass Cove. Why don't you stretch out on the couch and sleep."

She walked inside and curled into a ball on the couch, cuddling her pillow to her chest. He sat in the driver's seat and sent a text to Hatchet. Then, he texted Ruger.

Katrina's a mess. I'm taking her back to Seaglass Cove. Come and get her.

Before he left the city limits of Beaverton, Katrina fell asleep. She'd worn herself out.

He couldn't relax, though. More and more, he felt himself backed into a corner.

Chapter Twelve

JAGGER PULLED BEHIND the clubhouse. Katrina had put on her shoes and sat in the passenger seat twenty miles back. They'd both taken the trip in silence.

A familiar biker stood out amongst the line of motorcycles. He glanced at Katrina, wondering if she noticed. Going by the heavy exhale, she'd seen her dad.

"He told me he was on a ride." She hugged her middle. "I was telling the truth."

"Apparently, he was riding in this direction." Jagger unfolded himself out of the seat.

"Jagger?" She swallowed. "I don't want to go back. I just can't. Not now."

"I'll talk to him. You can't drive back until you've had time to rest. This week has been shit for sleep for both of us."

"What if I want to stay permanently in Seaglass cove?"

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