Page 122 of Ruger's Rage
Ruger sighs, dropping into the chair beside me. "Club shit is complicated. Rookie was made to look like a fool. That's hard for any man to get past, especially a prospect trying to earn respect."
"You should talk to him. Tell him to give her a break."
"We don't interfere in personal shit between brothers and their women." His tone is gentle but final. "Some betrayals can't be fixed, darlin'. Trust is earned, not given."
I know he's right, but it still bothers me to see Kinsey isolated after everything she's done to prove her loyalty.
"What about Bailey?" I ask quietly, the question that's been weighing on me for weeks finally surfacing.
Ruger's expression shifts, almost imperceptibly. "Church voted. It's done."
I nod, not needing more details.
I think we all knew what would happen when the club held church to decide her fate.
The first time they voted, they couldn’t come to an agreement on what to do with her and decided to give it a two week break.
But betrayal only has one punishment in this club.
I look at Ruger and he gives me the quick version: it was quick, clean, she never saw it coming.
I still don't know how I feel about it.
On one hand, she endangered all of us, helped Marco find me, nearly got Sarah killed.
On the other, her words that night in church keep echoing in my head—about being treated as disposable, about being passed around and discarded.
It could have been me, in another life.
If Ruger hadn't seen me as more than just a body to use.
"Hey." Ruger's fingers tilt my chin up. "You're thinking too hard. Today's a celebration."
I force a smile. "You're right. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. Just be here." He kisses me softly. "With me."
The party continues around us, cake is cut, presents opened.
Sadie Jo loves the laptop, throwing her arms around both of us in gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squeals. "Now I don't have to use the computers in the library!"
"You're welcome, sweetheart," I tell her, surprised by how natural it feels to have this girl hug me, to care about her happiness.
Coin watches us, smiling widely. "You're good with her," he comments when Sadie Jo returns to her friends. "Both my girls adore you."
"They're easy to adore back," I reply honestly. "You've raised good kids."
"Trying to." His gaze shifts to Ruger. "Not always easy being a single dad."
Ruger wraps an arm around my waist. "We should head out if we're going to make our reservation."
I check the time, nervous butterflies immediately taking flight in my stomach. "Right. We should go."
Ellie approaches before we can leave, pulling me into a tight hug. "It's going to be fine," she whispers. "They're your family. They love you."
"They haven't seen me in so long," I whisper back. "What if they?—"
