Page 15 of July 27

Katrina had shown him where messages go on the cel. But he had no idea how to send one.

"Tell her I'm fine, and I'll see her when she comes to the clubhouse," he said.

"Why don't you ride to the house and see her yourself? She's not going to relax until she hears from you, and it's not good for her or the baby for her to be up pacing half the night." Jagger lit a cigarette and passed the smoke to Ruger.

"Where are you going?" He inhaled deeply, blowing a stream of smoke up into the air.

He'd stayed out of their life since he gave Jagger permission to be with Katrina. Katrina had picked the person she wanted to be with, and he wouldn't disrupt her relationship. It took a lot out of him, but he had to admit that at one time, he would've approved of Jagger loving his daughter. He couldn't pick a better man for her. Jagger would protect her.

But Jagger had broken his loyalty by crossing the boundaries. While he'd paid the price and the past was the past, it continued to hurt.

He missed his friend.

Yet, he felt robbed of his daughter.

"Going to the clubhouse." Jagger stepped off the road. "There's a delivery from Moroad coming in a couple of hours. I'm going to get a head start on separating the bundles."

"When there's an opening, I'd like to get on the crew and out of the shop."

Jagger chuckled. "I figured you would, but you're a new transfer, regardless of being a long-time member. You'll wait your turn."

He grunted. He'd expected nothing less.

Leaving Jagger, he rode to the new house Jagger and Katrina had bought. It was a fine place to raise a family. He was proud of her.

He wound down the driveway through the grove of trees and parked in front of the single-story ranch-style house. Once he cut the engine, he could hear the hum of the ocean in the distance, but the water was out of sight. Jagger had made him a nice, secluded home in the coastal range. No one could approach the house without coming up the driveway.

The front door opened, and Katrina hurried out. He raised his hand, letting her know to slow and calm herself.

Behind the strength she displayed for everyone, she was wild. Her emotions controlled her attitude. For how strong she came across, she had a tender heart.

"Where have you been?" Katrina stopped in front of him, breathing heavily.

He wrapped her in his arms. "On a ride."

"Not for the club." She bent backward, looking up at his face. "Where did you go?"

She wasn't going to let it rest. Now that she was the president's ol' lady, she had all information at her fingertips.

He smoothed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. "Rachel needed a little help, so I stayed with her last night."

Katrina wrinkled her nose. "I thought she left."

"She did." He stepped away. "Why don't you climb back into bed and sleep? It's early. I'm going to grab breakfast—"

"Come in, and I'll cook your breakfast." She grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the house. "Afterward, I'll show you the baby's room. Jagger put the crib up last weekend."

Katrina's smile made him walk into the house to spend time with his daughter. They never got time alone anymore. He'd enjoy every minute before the real world returned to beat him up.

Chapter Eight

Ruger pushed out the clubhouse door with a beer bottle in one hand and a lighter in the other. He lit the cigarette in his mouth. The music and raised voices behind him no longer entertained him. He was on his eighth beer and still couldn't relax enough to go to sleep.

Maverick and Bane stood at the fire barrel. He looked over at the row of bikes. Jagger hadn't shown up to the party. He had to admit his respect for his MC brother rose even more, knowing he stayed home for Katrina's sake. His daughter had no business being around the bikers in her condition. She was a hard worker, always jumping in to pour a drink or two. Pregnancy wouldn't stop her, and Jagger was smart enough to know the only way to keep her calm and stress-free was to entertain her at home.

"Yo, Ruger." Dio held up a blunt. "Want a hit?"

He shook his head. Life in prison had taught him a lot. Once he let anyone into his life, he was vulnerable. If he hadn't given a shit about Jagger, he would've let him take the rap for killing his father's murderer, and he could've raised Katrina.