Page 50 of July 27

It didn't matter how hard she fought for Ruger; he would always choose his daughter over any woman. She learned that fact when they were locked in the basement together, fighting for their lives. Because of his love for Katrina, she fell in love with him.

Ruger strongly loved his daughter and put her first in his life.

A love she wished her father had for her. But he'd loved the criminal lifestyle more than his family.

She shifted. He planted his hand on her thigh and kept her from moving away from him. She gazed at him, imploring him to understand. Any relationship between them was going to cause a wedge between him and Katrina. She'd seen how upset Katrina had gotten when she showed up with her dad.

"Hey, baby." Ruger patted the couch on his other side. "Get off your feet."

Katrina sat down and spoke with her dad low enough that Rachel couldn't hear the conversation. She stared out at the room, trying to hide her curiosity about what they talked about but smart enough to know they needed time to themselves.

Dio returned to the couch,, and instead of sitting on the other side by Katrina, he leaned against the arm near Rachel. "What are your plans for later?"

Her cheeks flushed. She and Ruger flirted moments ago about having sex when they got home, but she wasn't going to tell Dio that.

"I'm not sure," she said.

"Daisy's opening up the pool once the sun goes down. A few of us are going swimming. Why don't you and Ruger come?" Dio motioned with his chin. "It's hotter than hell outside."

It was an unusually warm day for the coast. She glanced at Ruger, but he continued to talk.

Before she could say more, Skye, the young teenage girl who belonged to Maverick and Brooke, walked with a skip as she headed toward Dio on gangly legs. When she arrived, she leaned into him, covered his ear, and whispered.

Dio shook his head. Skye pulled back with a frown.

"Your parents would kill me." Dio tapped Skye's nose with his finger. "Besides, Maverick isn't going swimming."

"I know. That's why I want to go."

"You swim almost every day after school and all summer long." Dio picked up her hand. "I'm surprised your fingers don't look like prunes."

Skye sighed. "But I've never swam at night."

"And you won't." Dio linked his fingers with Skye, softening his answer. "You have to be eighteen years old. Sorry, princess."

Skye jerked away from him and stomped off. Dio scratched his head. Rachel watched the exchange. Skye was a wild child. She had the run of the clubhouse when she visited, but she'd noticed that she spent more time with Dio than her parents—like most teenagers, which wasn't unusual.

It was the opposite of how she grew up.

By the time she turned ten, Rachel had spent most of her time in her bedroom when she was home to avoid talking with her dad and brother. At that age, she wanted what all the other girls her age had, not what she had at home. It was part of growing up.

"Rach?"

She turned her attention to Ruger. "Hm?"

"I'm walking outside with Katrina. You want to stay here or come with me?"

Her chest tightened. "I'll come."

She wasn't afraid of staying inside the clubhouse without him. She'd feel better with him.

She stood. Ruger slid his fingers into her palm, and she held onto two of his fingers.

Outside, she looked up at the sky. The sun had already gone down.

Her stomach growled. The aroma from the grill in the corner of the parking lot hung in the air. It wouldn't be long, and they'd go back to the cottage.

Ruger led her over to the line of motorcycles and stopped.

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