Page 135 of Jagger's Remorse

---

I find them in the van. Terrified but unharmed.

"Go," I tell his ex-wife after cutting their bonds. "Take your daughter and go. Don't come back."

"David—Mouse—is he...?"

"Dying."

She nods, tears streaming. Gathers her daughter. "He wasn't always weak. He was a good man once."

"He still is. He just loved you more than his honor."

She kisses my cheek—surprising me—then takes her daughter and runs.

I return to Mouse. Kneel beside him.

"They're safe," I tell him.

"Thank you." Blood bubbles from his lips. "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. They had my girls, Jagger. My baby girl."

"I know."

"Would you... would you have done something different?"

I think about Scarlett. About what I'd do to protect her.

"No," I admit. "I'd have done exactly the same."

He manages a smile. "Tell the brothers... tell them I died fighting. Not... not as a rat."

"You died protecting your family," I say. "Nothing more honorable than that."

His hand finds mine. Squeezes once. "Take care of them. The club. Each other."

"Always do."

Then Mouse is gone.

I close his eyes, say a prayer I'm not sure I believe in anymore.

"Jagger," Scarlett calls. She's standing over Pablo's body, phone in hand. "We need to call Eduardo."

"What do we tell him?"

"The truth. Or at least a twisted version of it." She sways slightly. I catch her before she falls.

"You're hurt."

"The knife went a little deeper than planned. But I'll live." She leans into me. "You did good. Sold the betrayal perfectly."

"Thought you believed I'd actually do it."

"For a second, I did." She looks up at me. "But then I remembered. You're mine. And you protect what's yours."

"Always."

"Your father?—"

"Was a good man who died trying to do right." I help her to one of the intact vehicles. "At least now I know why."

---