Page 31 of July 27

"Want some?" She held the bag toward him.

He dug a handful out, spilling more than he picked up. After a few minutes, Rachel slowed down and rolled up the bag, putting it beside her.

"Can I ask you something without you getting mad?" she asked.

He grunted. He'd never hurt a woman.

"Why doesn't Katrina like me?"

"She doesn't know you."

Rachel rolled toward him without raising her head. "That wasn't an answer. I can tell when someone likes me, and she definitely does not like me."

He chewed on the inside of his cheek, knowing she was right. Katrina grew up strong and opinionated within the walls of Havlin. She was tough. She had to be while he was in prison. But he also knew what Rachel was asking.

"Katrina's protective of me." He stared at the sky, uncomfortable with talking about his personal life. His family.

"She loves you. I get that," said Rachel.

No, nobody would understand. He'd done her wrong, and he couldn't undo the damage he caused. Katrina was the way she was because of him.

"I left her when she was four years old, and there will always be that fear that she'll lose me again." His chest tightened whenever he thought about what he'd done to his daughter. "I did that to her. It has nothing to do with you."

"But, it does. She views me as a threat," mumbled Rachel. "She's afraid of losing you to me."

Before he could answer, Rachel put her hand on his chest. His balls ached.

"You could tell her that her fears are for nothing and you're only helping me." Rachel pushed up onto her elbow and looked into his eyes. "Now that I know what she must be thinking, it's important that you tell her why you're helping me. Tell her the truth."

"What's the truth?"

She sat up, crossed her legs, and faced him. "You owed Shady a favor."

"That was paid off the second I got you out of that house, Rach."

She tilted her head. "But if you don't owe him. Then, why...?"

He let his head fall back, and he gazed at the sky. Hell, if he could explain why he kept looking after her. She'd be better off without him. But she had no one. At any other time, she could take care of herself. She was a strong woman. A smart woman.

What Los Li had done to her would've killed a normal woman. There were beatings every day. Threats of what they would do to her. She lived in constant fear. It was only understandable that she still worried about them coming after her.

He'd never know how Shady got mixed up with Los Li. But he knew their reputation. He'd dealt with Los Li members in prison. He'd heard the stories on the outside.

"Ruger?" She paused. "Why are you still helping me?"

He met her gaze. He'd lived more than three lifetimes. Had a history of disappointing people.

Her lips pursed. He was hurting her by not answering. He could see it in her face.

"I don't know," he muttered.

"Ruger." She leaned closer. "Tell me I'm not going crazy. That everything I see isn't something I'm imagining."

"You're not crazy." He hooked her neck, bringing her down on top of him.

He captured her mouth. Those luscious lips, naturally pouted.

Consumed with how her mouth enticed him, he somehow ended up with his hands cupping her breasts. His thumbs strummed her hardened nipples under her sweatshirt. All his senses boiled in awareness, pressuring him to do more.

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