Chapter Eleven

THREE DAYS LATER, JAGGER pulled himself out of his drunken stupor and showered. He'd attacked the bottle in the only way he knew to numb the pain of cremating his mother and adding her to the slot on the wall at the cemetery with his father.

His lifestyle had no room to mourn. He was responsible for too many men, too many families. It was time to go back to Seaglass Cove.

He walked into the main room of the clubhouse and scanned the area. He found Katrina behind the bar. The days and nights blurred in his head. He barely remembered her serving him the alcohol and him yelling at her to get away from the bikers. When that hadn't worked, he'd done the only thing he could do while he was inebriated. He told Ruger to take care of his daughter, or he would.

She spotted him and carried over a glass of tomato juice. "This'll help."

Compassion oozed from her despite his treatment. He didn't deserve her.

He brought the drink to his lips, but before he drank, he asked, "Ruger?"

"Out."

He took a drink, almost gagging when his stomach rolled. "Does he know you're here?"

"He came by the van earlier to tell me he was riding and wouldn't return until tomorrow." She folded her arms and then flung them straight down to her sides. "He knows I work for the club."

He raised his brow. Just because she had a job didn't mean having her around the men was the smartest decision. If he had his way—fuck it.

"I need to get back to Seaglass Cove." He set the glass down. "I'll have one of my men bring you your car."

"I'll go back with you."

He shook his head and instantly regretted it. "That can't happen."

"I came here with you."

"Kat." He pressed his lips together. "We're both hurting. Stay here. Take your time."

"What about you?" She stuck her chin higher. "You lost your mom and think you can jump back into running the club today?"

"That's exactly what I plan on doing."

She shook her head. "Mama Sue was right."

"About what?"

"You're just like your daddy." Her gaze intensified. "The only woman strong enough to make him listen was Mama Sue."

"And you think you're the woman who can boss me around?" He scoffed. "Wake up, Kat. You know what kind of life I lead." He stood and leaned over her. "You're not strong enough to survive."

She flinched before she could hide the pain he'd caused her. He walked away, knowing he only lied because she was better off in Beaverton than fighting a losing battle for him.

She had every reason to hate him. He needed her to hate him because it was impossible for him to stop loving her.

Despite what came out of his mouth, he held on to her like a dying man, knowing she was his saving grace.

If he could go back twenty years and stop Ruger from taking the pistol he'd used to shoot his father's killer, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

But he couldn't rewind the clock.

Once he checked in with the men packing Mama Sue's belongings and putting them in storage, he needed to hit the road back to Seaglass Cove.

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.