Rough Justice (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #1)(21)
“It was too easy between us, babe. And you know how I feel about getting seriously involved. Too much of a risk for you, for me, and for the club.”
She shot him a sideways glance. “You’re still not over her, are you?”
Jagger huffed his annoyance. Sherry knew better than to bring up Christel. He would carry the guilt of her death for the rest of his life. Atonement lay in ensuring it never happened again. “Don’t go there.”
“If not me, who else?” She curled her hand around his arm and scooted over the worn wooden step, closer to him. “You don’t talk about her. You don’t let anyone else talk about her. And ever since she died, you don’t let anyone in. I know I’m not her, but we were good together. I can make you happy. Lord knows you need a little happiness in your life.”
He gently detached her hand from his arm and stood, putting some distance between them. “What did I just say?”
“Don’t go there.”
“And what did you do?”
“I went there.”
Jagger ran his hand through his hair “And that is the reason it wouldn’t work. Aside from the fact that my position as president would put you in danger, you don’t seem to understand our politics: You don’t challenge me. You don’t question me. You don’t disobey me. And you sure as hell don’t presume to tell me what I need, even if it is coming from a good place. What I need is someone who can navigate the politics and work with me, not against me. You need to find someone who can look after you, make you happy, and keep you safe.”
“I thought that was you.”
Jagger inwardly cursed himself for not ending it sooner with her. He’d known from the start Sherry wasn’t right for him, but loneliness had driven him to take what she offered until he realized too late that she’d given him everything.
He remained standing in silence watching Wheels play Frisbee with Max on the front lawn. Another problem he would have to deal with. Wheels was a competent prospect and well-liked by the brothers, but something about him didn’t sit right. Sometimes he was too well spoken for someone who claimed only a high school education. Other times he seemed almost too well informed about the biker scene in Conundrum. And although he was always sociable, he never revealed much about himself. Not that Jagger was a big talker, but usually this far into a prospect’s year, he had the measure of the man. Wheels, however, was still an enigma.
“You seemed pretty sweet on that Black Jack girl you let get away.” Sherry’s soft voice derailed his train of thought. “Vexy.”
“You’re just determined to go all the places you shouldn’t go.” Jagger tempered his anger by holding out a hand and helping her to her feet. They’d had some good times together and she’d been genuine in her affections. But he needed to end this now, before she read anything into this brief encounter.
“Axle thinks you don’t have what it takes to lead anymore.” She followed him down the stairs. “He said if you’d made her pay for what the Black Jacks did, we would be the dominant club in Montana. No one, not even the Black Jacks, would mess with us, because they would know we had no limits when it came to revenge. He says he would have done it for the club.” She cocked her head to the side. “Of course, maybe I misheard. It was … you know … pillow talk.”
If she thought to make him jealous, she was on the wrong track. He didn’t do jealous. He’d never cared enough to be jealous, except maybe with Christel. If a woman he was with wanted to be with someone else, he had no problem letting her go. Everyone deserved to find their little piece of happiness. But not by fraternizing with the enemy.
“First, Sherry, we are the dominant club in Montana.” He stopped and turned to face her. “Despite what the Jacks say. And second—” His brows drew together. “—what the f*ck are you doing with Axle? He’s out on bad terms, dead to the club. If you’re with him, then you’re not with us.”
Sherry paled. “Not now. It was before you kicked him out. The night of the fire. I was looking after him after Zane beat him up.”
“Better be.” Jagger’s face hardened. “If I find out you’re with him, or passing on information—”
“I’m not.” She held up her hands palms forward. “I’m loyal to the Sinners. I have been for five years. That isn’t going to change just because you and I aren’t together. It’s just … you know Axle, sometimes he doesn’t think before he acts.”
Mollified, he grunted. “Stay away from him. A man who would take the life of an innocent woman would have no qualms about hurting one either.”
“Maybe she’s not so innocent.” Sherry paused midstep. “Maybe she’s setting you up. What if the fire was a diversion and the Black Jacks’ real goal was to get her into the clubhouse, maybe into your heart? She certainly caught your attention.”
Jagger folded his arms as an unfamiliar swell of emotion threatened his control. “She’s gone. So, whether she’s playing me or not is irrelevant.”
Gone, but not forgotten.
Gone, but soon to be seen.
What the hell was he doing holding a meeting in her bar? The Sinner’s Tribe owned four bars and two strip clubs in Conundrum, and if he’d really wanted neutral ground, he could have met the Devil Dogs MC at any civilian bar in the city. But the answer came in a heartbeat. He wanted to see her again. No. He had to see her again. And hell, she’d as good as given him an invitation. He didn’t want to be impolite and turn it down.