Chapter Fourteen
Tank
“Do you really think you have a chance?”
Tank turned at the sound of the female voice. Sapphire’s sister Sable was leaning against the door frame.
“Excuse me?” He asked.
“Sapphire. Do you really think you have a chance with her? She wants nothing to do with the MC lifestyle. So why waste your time?”
“First of all, what happens or doesn’t happen between Sapphire and I is none of your business. Second of all, what the fuck is your problem? Are you always this salty?”
There was something about Sapphire’s sister that rubbed Tank the wrong way. From the moment Sapphire and the Henchmen walked into the Angel’s clubhouse, Sable had a red laser sight on Sapphire’s back.
“My problem,” Sable sneered. “Is that Miss Goody Two Shoes was always Mom’s favorite. Poor Stephanie. Kidnapped, raped, and beaten. Boo hoo.”
Raped?
Tank stood there speechless.
“Sable you are such a bitch!”
Tank looked past Sable to see a red-faced Scarlet.
“You know it’s true,” Sable argued.
“You don’t know shit,” Scarlet fumed. “However, what I do know is as soon as Sapphire finds out what you just did, your ass is out of here.”
“She can’t kick me out,” Sable grinned. “Only the head of the house can and we both know she won’t be taking the position.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Scarlet replied. “I have every reason to believe Sapphire will definitely be taking over the house.”
“Not a chance,” Sable said, shaking her head as she turned and walked back past Scarlet. “Not a chance.”
“I am so sorry about that,” Scarlet sighed.
“Don’t be,” Tank replied. “It’s not your fault. But seriously, what is her problem?”
“To be honest, I have no clue.”
“Um,” Tank hesitated. “What she said about Sapphire...”
“You should talk to Sapphire about that.”
“Right.”
Tank watched as Scarlet walked away, but he wasn’t really seeing her. His mind drifted back to the day everyone was at Diesel’s place and learned of Sapphire’s kidnapping and the events that followed.
Fourteen years old. Raped.
Tank’s chest began to hurt. A fourteen-year-old child. A baby. He knew first hand of the horrors this world hid. He had seen them several times, not only during his years in the military, but also since. Not to mention, his time helping the Devil’s Henchmen had shown him things that still haunted his nights. He needed to talk to Sapphire, but how would he even begin to bring up the topic?
With a heavy sigh, he went to find the one person who might be able to help him — Reaper. He knew his friend would never betray Sapphire’s trust, and that was okay. Tank respected that. What he needed was someone who could tell him how to approach the subject with her.
“Hey, man,” Tank called, jogging up beside Reaper.
“Hey,” he replied. “Getting everything handled inside?”
“Yeah. It’s a mess, but it’s coming along.”
“Good. I’d like to get this place at least half-ass livable again by tonight.”
“We’ll get it all done,” Tank said. “But that’s not why I came out here.”
“Oh.” Reaper’s interest was piqued. “What’s up?”
“Sable cornered me in the kitchen.”
“Oh fucking hell,” Reaper sighed. “What did she have to say?”
“She mention Sapphire being raped,” Tank blurted out.
“That fucking bitch!” Reaper growled.
“So it’s true?”
“You need to talk to Sapphire. However, once she hears what Sable did, you will probably have to talk to her through a glass window.”
“I know I need to talk to her,” Tank sighed. “But how? What do I say?”
“Honestly?” Reaper asked. “Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t ask. Don’t say anything.”
“But...”
“Listen to me, Tank,” Reaper said, voice suddenly stern. “Don’t ask. When Sapphire is ready, if she is ever ready, she will tell you. She went through hell back then. But she is also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and every trial and tribulation molds us into the person we are needed to be. She takes that shit seriously. So, when she is ready, she’ll tell you. On her own terms.”
Tank thought about everything Reaper had just said and from what he already knew about Sapphire, Tank also knew Reaper was right. Sapphire wouldn’t take it well if Tank just blurted out what he had been told.
“If it were true,” Reaper asked, “Would it make a difference? Would you stop being her friend?”
“No.”
“Would you stop being interested in her?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then why drag the memories back?”
“Good point.”
“Trust me, Tank.” Reaper placed his hand on Tank’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “When she’s ready, she’ll tell you everything.”
Tank’s mind was racing. He wanted... He wanted to run to Sapphire, wrap her in his arms, protect her from the world, but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate that. Sapphire wasn’t the typical woman. She didn’t need saving, or protecting. She kicked ass and took names. She was the type of woman that handled her own shit. No matter what life threw her direction, she dealt with it and moved forward. That much was obvious in just the short amount of time that he’d known her.
“Speaking of the devil, or Angel,” Reaper grinned.
Turning towards the house, Tank spotted Sapphire standing on the front porch. Even from a distance, he could see she was carrying the weight of the world. The moment she turned her bright blue eyes his direction, he began to move. The look she sent to him spoke volumes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
“Nothing,” Sapphire sighed. “Everything. I don’t even know.”
“Come on,” Tank said, reaching for her hand. “Let’s walk.”
“I can’t,” Sapphire gave a small sad smile. “There is still so much to do.”
“And it can wait,” Tank argued. “Let’s walk.”
Tightening his grip on Sapphire’s hand, Tank pulled her down the steps and around the side of the house towards the woods.
“Another walk in the woods with a stranger?” Sapphire said.
“I don’t think we can be considered strangers anyone, do you?”
“Probably not,” Sapphire replied.
Entering the woods via a well-worn trail, the two continued to walk in silence for some time. Tank had no idea where the path led, but figured Sapphire would know the area. Coming to a small clearing, he stopped walking when they reached the center.
“Now,” Tank said, turning her to face him. “What’s wrong?”
Sapphire stood there, not saying a word. Giving her time to process her feelings and whatever else was going on, Tank just waited.
He watched as she reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a piece of paper. When she reached out to hand it to him, he hesitated.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“A letter from my mom.”
Taking the paper, he slowly unfolded it and began to read.
“Wow,” he whispered as he read it to the end.
“Yeah,” Sapphire sighed.
Tank looked up to see a single tear fall down her cheek. Reaching up, he used his thumb to gently swipe it away.
“So...” Tank said. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Sapphire whispered. “This was never the life I wanted.”
Tank felt torn. He knew he should encourage her to follow her heart, but at the same time he wanted her by his side. Even though they had just met, he wanted her. He wanted to explore a life with her. One day at a time — and see where things went. But if she stayed here, there wasn’t a way to make that happen. A relationship would be almost impossible.
“I wish I could give you the answers,” Tank said. “But at the end of the day, the decision has to be yours.”
“I know,” Sapphire sighed. “I just wish I knew why it was so important that I take over. Why not Piper, or Sable. Okay, I understand why not Sable, but Piper would be great.”
“Piper can’t because it would cause too much backfire with the police gig,” Tank answered. “And Sable, well I don’t mean to be rude, but that bitch is...well, a bitch.”
“Why?” Sapphire asked.
“Why what?” Tank replied.
“Why is she a bitch?”
“Oh. Um...”
“What did she do now?” Sapphire rolled her eyes.
“Nothing really.”
“Michael...” There was warning clear in her voice. “What did she do?”
“I think that is the first time you’ve ever called me by my real name,” Tank grinned. “I like it.”
“Stay on topic,” Sapphire warned again. “Now, spill it.”
“It’s not important,” Tank replied.
He didn’t want to have this conversation with her. He didn’t want to tell her what he knew, what he’d been told.
“Honestly, baby,” Tank said, pulling her into the circle of his arms. “It really isn’t important.”
“Fine,” Sapphire sighed. “It’s not like I need more things to deal with right now.”
“Exactly.”