Chapter Twenty Eight

JAGGER LEANED AGAINST the pool table, talking with Bane and Maverick. Katrina sat beside him on the edge of the pool table with her finger hooked in his back pocket. Some of the guys had fired up the grill outside, and burgers and hotdogs were passed around until everyone had a plate.

Daisy stepped closer. "Cora mentioned you're staying in Seaglass Cove with Jagger."

"That's the plan."

"That's exciting." Daisy leaned against the pool table beside her. "If you need anything, feel free to call me or run over to the pool. I'm there Monday through Friday, most of the time. Otherwise, I'm home."

As the president's woman, all other ol' ladies would look toward her for guidance within the club. She would oversee organizing get-togethers, making sure every family had enough money to support themselves and to see after the children of Havlin. No one would go without the bare necessities and have moral and financial support.

Until now, Daisy would've assumed that position as the ol' lady to the vice president.

Mama Sue had taught her by example. She'd witnessed how a true president's woman should act over the years, even though Baller was gone. Every member respected her position, even though her husband no longer sat in the seat.

While she had a temper and rarely had control of her emotions when it came to Jagger, she knew what was expected of her. The other women would never respect her if she failed to step up and take responsibility for them all.

"I appreciate that." She slid her hand up the back of Jagger's shirt. "Have you got something to eat yet?"

After getting wind of the barbecue, she'd made a couple of calls and had the deli prepare enough potato salad and chips for the get-together after Jagger gave her a number of how many people to expect, counting kids.

"I did." Daisy smiled. "Brooke and Cora are outside. They stopped me before I could come inside and find Bane."

It was always awkward getting to know other women. While she'd met Daisy before, it was before the fight at the pool—and she probably made a fool of herself.

"Do you know if Bane has eaten?" asked Daisy.

"I don't think so. He rode in with Jagger about twenty minutes ago, and they've been together ever since."

"I'll go get him a plate while he talks. Do you want anything while I'm out there?"

She shook her head. "I'm good. Thanks."

Left alone with the men, she tuned out their conversation as soon as she recognized the discussion centered around motorcycles. She curled her fingers and scratched her nails against Jagger's back.

He dropped one of his hands between her knees and grabbed the inside of her thigh. It was a nice time with the others. The mild temperature made for a perfect summer evening.

The door opened, and a loud whistle swept through the room. Katrina looked across the clubhouse.

"Rider incoming," yelled Link.

Dio rushed through the door, carrying Skye, Maverick, and Brooke's young girl. "Maverick."

Maverick turned. "Here."

Dio jogged over and set Skye down, speaking softly to her. Before she could see what was happening, Jagger told her to round up the kids and put them in the spare room with the toys and game systems available for the children to play. Brooke, Daisy, and Cora quickly joined her.

Brooke approached Katrina in the room. "I'll stay with the kids."

She squeezed the other woman's arm in thanks and hurried out to see what was going on. Usually when someone yelled, announcing a rider coming in, it meant someone was hurt.

Not finding Jagger inside, she went out the door and stopped. Her gaze followed the crowd. Her heart raced, seeing that it was her dad riding in.

A wave of relief that he was alive left her shaking. Then, the reality of the situation hit her. The members were warning Jagger about trouble coming his way. Her dad had returned to name his punishment against him.

She pushed through the crowd, needing to intercept her dad before he started something she couldn't stop. Her skull pounded. If only they could all sit down and discuss what was happening. Her dad had to understand that she'd made an adult choice to be with Jagger.

Her dad toed the kickstand. She reached his motorcycle and came to a stop in front of him.

Jagger grabbed her arm, pulling her back. She pulled against the restraint, but he never let go.

Her dad removed his helmet. Shocked at his appearance, she cried out. His eyelids were swollen and closed. There were dark purple bruises on his jaw and cheek bones. She had to look at his motorcycle again to make sure it was him because his face was unrecognizable.

"Jesus Christ." Jagger moved forward, catching her dad before he could fall off the bike. "Someone untie her."

Several men rushed forward. Katrina stepped out of their way. That's when she noticed her dad wasn't alone.

There was a woman on the back of his motorcycle. At least, going by the long, black hair and small frame, it appeared to be a woman.

As the helmet came off her, the men grew silent. The woman was in no better shape. Dried blood coated her face. Her lips were swollen and bruised.

The moment Jagger got the rope untied that was holding the woman to her dad's back, a scream froze them all in place. Katrina gasped, looking to her dad for an explanation. But he only held up his hand for everyone to back off.

Once the crowd stepped away, Ruger quietly spoke to the woman, calming her down. Several minutes later, the woman slid off the motorcycle and crumbled to the ground. Katrina covered her mouth in horror. The woman wore men's ripped clothes that hung off her slim body.

"Katrina?"

She hurried forward. "I'm here."

"Take her inside, baby." He slumped forward on the motorcycle. "She knows about you. She'll trust you."

She reached out but was afraid of touching her dad in case she caused him more pain. "You need a doctor."

"I'll be fine." He looked at the woman on the ground. "Get her inside."

She approached the woman and kneeled beside her. Aware of the others watching, waiting, she softened her voice. "I'm Katrina. Ruger's daughter. I'm going to help get you inside."

"Safe?" mumbled the woman.

"You'll be safe here." She put her hand on the woman's arm, testing to see if it would cause her pain, and then helped her to her feet.

The crowd parted for them. She walked slowly, practically holding the woman up. She looked over her shoulder at the door and caught her dad stumbling off the motorcycle before Jagger and two other bikers caught him.

She wanted to help her dad but knew he would want her to help the woman first.

She took the woman to the first bedroom on the right in the clubhouse, away from where the children were kept. There was also a bathroom in that bedroom where she could clean up.

She shut the door and led her to a chair. "Are you able to sit?"

The woman lowered herself down on a moan. Katrina stood back. She had no idea what to do first. There were injuries.

"Where does it hurt the most?" she asked.

The woman reached up to her head and stopped before making contact. Katrina looked all over the woman's scalp but couldn't see where the blood came from. It looked as if she'd had a bloody nose. But if her head hurts, she could have a concussion.

She walked into the bathroom and wet several washcloths under the faucet before returning to the woman. "Did you and my dad have an accident?"

The woman never answered. She offered the washcloth, and the woman held it in both hands, scrubbing at her fingers. There was dirt and grime under the woman's short fingernails.

"I'm going to wash your face to see where you're bleeding." She gently patted her cheeks. "I'll try not to hurt you."

"Ruger?"

"He's getting help." Katrina swallowed. "He's hurt, too."

As she made progress on her face and could see that someone had hit the woman, causing her to have swollen lips and a bruise all along her cheekbone and jaw, she started to wonder who had hurt her. Who had hurt her dad?

They weren't in an accident. There was no road rash, and the motorcycle wasn't damaged.

"Ruger?" She pulled away from Katrina's touch. "I must go."

"You need to stay here."

The woman stood with surprising strength, frantically looking around the room. "No."

"Please, sit." Katrina motioned toward the chair. "I'm trying to help you. We need to find out where you're hurt."

The woman dashed to the other side of the room, opened the door, and hurried out of the room. Katrina threw the washcloth to the floor and ran after her. If the chick didn't want to be here, there was no reason to keep her.

She was more concerned about her dad.