Chapter Seventeen
Sapphire
By the time she walked into her bedroom, her heart was still racing. She wanted to rip Sable apart.
How could she do that?
How could she share a secret that wasn’t hers to tell? And why?
Sapphire felt hurt, anger, and betrayal so deep it burned. Of all the people she thought she could trust, her sisters were it. And now, she didn’t even have that.
Flopping on the chair in the far corner, she rested her face in her hands and let loose a heavy sigh. What was she going to do? It was clear Sable wasn’t a good fit to run the club, Piper was out, too because of possible conflict, and Scarlet was too tender-hearted. So honestly, that only left her. Either she took over or let it fall apart. Her mother’s legacy — gone.
“Hey,” Tank said softly. “I’m going to go jump in the shower.”
Okay,” Sapphire answered. “Towels are in the top cabinet.”
“Thanks.”
Once Tank was out of the room, Sapphire pulled the letter from her mother out of the book and reread it.
“Oh Mom, what do I do?” she asked knowing she wouldn’t receive a reply. “This isn’t the life I wanted. This isn’t how things were supposed to be.”
For what felt like a lifetime, Sapphire sat there contemplating the future of the Iron Angels. Take it or leave it. The internal struggle felt like a school bus was sitting on her chest. She struggled. Sapphire was losing everything she worked so hard to obtain, mainly her freedom and independence. Her mother was tied to this place. She lived and breathed for the Angels, and that wasn’t anything Sapphire ever wanted.
Make the Angels your own... Let them help you heal...
Her mother’s words jumped off the page she held in her hand. Could it be that easy? Was anything ever really that easy?
Let them help you heal...
Standing, Sapphire walked over to the window and stared out into the darkness.
Let them help you heal...
Suddenly, a single raindrop splattered on the window, followed shortly by another and then another. Lightning crack across the sky, thunder boomed, and the clouds opened up. Rain fell in sheets.
“Cleansing the earth,” Sapphire whispered, her breath fogging the glass.
Let it heal you...cleansing the earth and my soul.
All at once, Sapphire knew. She would lead the Iron Angels. She was a Kimber. She was a woman of strength and determination. Made of steel, capable of carrying the world, the keeper, the protector — Sapphire was the President of the Iron Angels MC.
No more pity party. It’s time to get my shit together and handle this.
Taking a deep breath, she allowed her decision to slowly sink in. She was going to do this. She was going to woman up and do the one thing she never wanted.
You got this!
And in that moment she knew, she really did have this. She would lead the Angels just like she did everything else in life. With heart, integrity, strength, and passion. She was a queen, a warrior, and she would present herself as such.
“Care to share what has you so occupied?” Tank asked, standing in the bathroom doorway wrapped only in a towel.
“I’m going to do it,” Sapphire replied. Seeing Tank raise a questioning eyebrow, she elaborated. “I’m going to take over the club.”
“Okay,” Tank’s brow furrowed.
“What?” Sapphire asked.
“Nothing.”
Tank moved towards the bed and threw back the covers. Sliding under the sheet, he laid back, folding his arms under his head. Sapphire could tell something was bothering him.
Did he not want her to take the reins? But, why not? What difference did it make to him? He would be going back home soon.
“Tell me,” Sapphire replied. “Something is wrong. Do you not think I can do the job?”
“Oh, I think you can definitely do the job,” Tank answered. “I have no doubts about that.”
“Then what is the problem? Why the sudden change in mood?”
He sat there quietly for so long, Sapphire’s irritation began to grow. She hated to be ignored.
“I...” Tank paused.
“You what?”
“I just thought.” He sighed. “I just thought that maybe you’d come back with me. See where this goes between us. I like you. A lot. And I think you like me, too.”
“I do like you, Michael,” Sapphire smiled. A real smile for what felt like the first time today. “Just because I stay here, doesn’t mean we can’t see what happens between us.”
“How?” he asked. “How do we give this a chance with us living four hours away from each other?”
“We find a way,” she answered. “We can both travel back and forth.”
“Long distance relationships never work.”
“Then,” Sapphire sighed. “Then I guess we don’t.”
Stripping out of her pants, she tossed them on the chair and made her way to the bathroom without saying another word. She needed a shower. She needed to wash away the dirt and grime of the day, both literally and figuratively.
By the time she exited the bathroom, Tank was softly snoring. She stood there for a moment just taking in the sight of him. How could one person come to mean so much in only a matter of days? Moments earlier, she had stood under the spray and let the tears fall. Tears she would never let him see her shed.
Feeling completely exhausted, she walked over to the bed and gently crawled in next to him. The moment her weight hit the bed, Tank rolled over and pulled her snugly against his chest. The last thing Sapphire remembered before sleep finally took over was Tank’s soft voice calling her His Angel.
* * *
Sapphire woke to the rays of the sun shining through the window. Turning over, she looked to where Tank had been sleeping, but his spot was empty; the sheet had long ago gone cold. Sitting up, she listened for any sound, but there was nothing.
Sapphire climbed out of bed and after grabbing clothes from the closet, made her way down the hall to join the land of the living. Her body ached. The emotional twists and turns of yesterday had taken their toll, but she would never let it show.
Following the smell of coffee and bacon, she entered the kitchen and nearly froze in her tracks. Tank was standing in front of the industrial stove surrounded by half a dozen Angels, each one seemed to be fawning over him and fighting for his attention. For a moment, red hot jealousy flowed through her.
He’s mine.
But he wasn’t. Not really.
“Okay ladies,” Tank said. “Breakfast is served.”
Tank placed a large platter of bacon on the counter and looked up to see Sapphire standing in the doorway.
“Hey, baby,” he said smiling. “Just in time for breakfast. Have a seat and I’ll fix you a plate really quick.”
A satisfying smile spread across Sapphire’s face as looks of disappointment passed over several of the women’s faces.
“Coffee?” Tank called.
“Yes, please.”
Sapphire walked to the table at the back of the kitchen area which was currently occupied by all of her sisters. With each step she took, anxiety filled her. In the center of the table was her mother’s chair. Empty. Now, it would be Sapphire’s chair. The moment she sat in it, everyone would know. As she neared the table, it was almost like silence fell across the room. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. Everyone was waiting to see where she would sit. Stepping up to her new spot, she pulled out the chair and sat. The moment her ass hit the seat, a loud cheer erupted.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the look of shock on Sable’s face. Again, a feeling of satisfaction filled her.
“After breakfast, we need to talk,” Sapphire said, glancing her direction. “Meet me in my office.”
“Your...”
“My office,” Sapphire repeated.
“I have some things to do this morning.”
“That’s fine,” Sapphire smiled. “They can be done after we talk.”
“But...”
“But nothing. My office. After breakfast.”
Sable closed her mouth firmly and gave a curt nod.
“Here you go, beautiful,” Tank said, setting her breakfast and coffee in front of her.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Tank walked over to the table where the rest of the Henchmen were sitting and took the seat next to Reaper. Sapphire wanted him to sit with her, but that would mean they were together. And at this point, that wasn’t the case. Sapphire’s life would be here and his was in Dallas.