Page 38 of April 5

The sand turned wet and cold. She no longer dug her toes in but walked on the hard-packed surface.

The waves came toward her and then drew back. She couldn't tell if the tide was coming or going.

Bits of broken seashells littered the ground, only to be stolen by the water.

Jagger stopped and put her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her. His back provided a windbreak, and his body warmed the chill off her.

A seagull swept in front of them. She pressed her back against Jagger's chest, feeling his body rumble with amusement. It wasn't her first time around seagulls. They often came clear to Beaverton if the weather was severe enough to push them inland. But none of them had come so close to her before.

"Thank you for bringing me here." She looked over her shoulder at him. "Isn't it wonderful?"

He gazed out in the distance. "Every place has it's darkness that you don't see."

She turned in his arms to face him. "You don't like the ocean?"

"It serves a purpose." He kissed her. "I prefer being on two wheels, riding the highway."

Hit with an idea, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Let's do that. We can pack some clothes and tour the United States. Just you and me."

"Kat."

"No, really." She stretched to her toes. "There are so many places we could see. You could do as much riding as you want every day."

"I'm not leaving the club." He pressed his forehead against her forehead. "Everything will be okay. You'll be taken care of. Mom's house is yours. The club will look after you. I have enough money socked away to support you for the rest of your—"

"I don't care about any of that." The urge to scream burned her throat. "I only want you."

He palmed the back of her head, bringing her to his chest. She held on to his vest. The family she depended on were the same people who would punish Jagger.

It made no sense that her father would blame Jagger in any way for loving her. He should be thanking him.

She looked into Jagger's eyes. "I'll never forgive him."

"You will." He inhaled deeply. "He has a right to punish me."

"For loving me?" She scoffed. "That's ridic—"

"There's things you don't know, Kat." He blinked an extra second. "You're going to have to trust me that what happens is part of the lifestyle. It's how we keep Havlin a safe place for family. There are too many men who would hurt each other if the bylaws were lifted."

"How can you say that?" Her heart shattered. "It's your life you could lose. You could lose me. Don't I matter?"

"If that happens, it'll be just punishment."

"For loving me? No, I'm the one being punished for loving you." She pushed away from him, no longer wanting to be by the ocean, where she had to yell for him to hear her. "Nobody can tell me that loving you is wrong."

He reached for her. She shook her head and stepped away. Strung tight, her emotions were all over the place. Yelling caused her anxiety to increase.

The last several days, Jagger had walked around as if trying to fit in everything he'd ever promised her into the week and spent more time with her. It was starting to feel as if he expected to be executed by the club. Almost the equivalent of his last supper.

"I thought you were going to fight for us," she yelled.

He refused to answer. Her body shook. Had she fantasized about the day he would claim her as his ol' lady?

During those years, he told her it was impossible because she was too young. She was twenty-fucking-four years old now. How old would she need to be to prove to him and everyone else that she loved him more than anyone?

It wasn't enough that he now touched her in front of the other members if that ended the moment her dad returned.

She turned from him and walked through the sand toward the dune. Each step made it harder to breathe. She could count the times they'd fought on one hand. Looking back, it was always over insignificant things pertaining to her growing up and wanting more freedom.

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