Page 54 of July 27

"I can swim." She coughed.

"Looked like you were drowning." He carried her through the water until he stood at the five-foot mark. "Swim your heart out."

She doggy paddled back and forth and around him. He ducked his head and came up, knowing he'd have to wait to have her until they got home. Now that she could touch the bottom of the pool, her confidence grew.

Dio swam over to him. "Are you guys going to the beach afterward for the fireworks?"

"We're going to head home in a few minutes." He ran his hand over his face, getting the water out of his eyes. "You?"

Dio was a good guy. Unlike many others who feared him because of his reputation and felony record, Dio never let that stop him. He always went out of his way to talk, and he enjoyed riding beside him.

"I'm going to meet up with Maverick and Brooke. They went over early to get a good spot on the sand." Dio pulled himself out of the pool. "Catch you tomorrow."

He tagged Rachel's ankle and grabbed her before she went underwater. She instantly let him support her.

"Is Dio related to Maverick or Brooke?" asked Rachel.

He shrugged. "Not that I know of."

"Hm."

"Why?"

Rachel wound her arms around his neck. "He seems protective of Skye like he could be her uncle."

"Havlin members are tight. It's a brotherhood." He swung her into the water.

At one time, he and Jagger were closer than blood brothers. Now, because of Katrina, they were family. Each member of Havlin joined the club for their own reasons, most needed to surround themselves with family they chose.

Rachel ran her hands up his chest. "How often do you come to the pool?"

He dunked and shook his head, forgetting that his hair was gone. "Often enough."

"So, we can come again?" She floated.

He chuckled. "Are you swimming naked next time?"

"No." She put her feet down and stood. "But I'll admit that nobody is looking at us."

She was too occupied with swimming to notice. But he'd bet his Harley that if she decided to swim naked, every male here would check her out. She was beautifully mysterious. It was impossible not to watch her—whatever she was doing.

He never stood a chance. From the second he laid eyes on her, chained to the pipe in the basement, bloody and beaten, he could barely make out her features, and despite the abuse she'd endured, she hadn't given up.

"Ruger?"

His heart raced. He could've lost her several times over the time they were held captive. If anything had gone wrong, Los Li would've killed them both.

She touched him. "Are you okay?"

He hooked her neck and brought her to him, kissing her mouth. She'd never know how much she meant to him. He wouldn't put that on her.

She was taking on enough by being his woman.

Chapter Twenty Six

Rachel stared at the date on her phone. July 27th.

The air thickened, making the silence press in on her. She'd put the date out of her mind with everything happening between her and Ruger.

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