Page 44 of Tank

A slow, devastating smile spreads across Tank's face. He leans in, brushes a feather-light kiss against my forehead. "Then come with me, little one. Let me show you what the future can hold."

Hand in hand, we slip out of Perdition, the roar of engines and the shouts of our fellow Reapers fading behind us. Tank leads me to his bike, helps me onto the back with a gentleness that belies his fierce exterior.

As we race through the night, the wind whipping past us and the stars blurring overhead, I cling to Tank's solid warmth. My heart hammers against my ribs, anticipation and hope and a bone-deep certainty that whatever lies ahead...

We'll face it together. Always.

The bike slows, pulling up to a small, unassuming house at the edge of town. Confusion knots in my gut as Tank kills the engine, helps me off with a steadying hand.

"What is this place?" I ask, taking in the tidy porch, the freshly painted shutters.

Tank's hand finds the small of my back, a grounding touch. "It's yours, Sophie. If you want it."

I whirl to face him, eyes wide. "Mine? What do you mean?"

He takes a deep breath, like he's steeling himself. "I bought it for you. Fixed it up. Thought you might like a place of your own, away from the chaos of Perdition."

Disbelief crashes through me, warring with a desperate, fragile hope. "You... you did this for me?"

Tank's gaze finds mine, unwavering. "I'd do anything for you, little one. Anything to keep you safe, to give you a chance at a fresh start."

Tears blur my vision, my throat tight with emotion. I step closer, press my trembling hands to his chest. "Tank, I don't know what to say."

His fingers thread through my hair, tipping my face up to his. "You don't have to say anything. Just let me show you."

He leads me up the porch steps, unlocks the front door with a key from his pocket. As we step inside, my breath catches in my throat.

The living room is awash in soft, warm light, casting a gentle glow over the plush sofa and the colorful throw pillows scattered across it. A vase of fresh flowers sits on the coffee table, their sweet scent perfuming the air.

But it's the details that steal my breath, the little touches that speak of care and consideration. The soft blanket folded over the back of the armchair, the stack of books on the end table, the framed photos of serene landscapes on the walls.

"Tank," I whisper, my voice choked with tears. "It's perfect."

He steps up behind me, his arms coming around my waist, his chin resting on the top of my head. "I wanted you to have aspace that's just yours. Somewhere you can feel safe, where you can start to heal."

I lean back against his solid warmth, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. "I don't know how to thank you."

Tank turns me in his arms, his eyes shining with an emotion that steals my breath. "You don't have to thank me, Sophie. Seeing you happy, seeing you safe... that's all I need."

And as he leans down to capture my lips in a kiss that's both tender and fierce, I feel something settle deep in my soul. A sense of belonging, of hope, of a future that's brighter than anything I ever dared to dream.

In Tank's arms, in this house that he built for me... I'm finally home.

I step out of Tank's embrace and move towards the front door, my hand trailing along the smooth wood as I go. The porch is bathed in golden afternoon light, the breeze carrying the scent of fresh-cut grass and blooming flowers.

I lean against the doorframe, my eyes drawn to the horizon, where the sun is just starting to dip below the treeline. It's a view I never thought I'd see again, not after everything I've been through.

But here I am, standing in the doorway of a house that's mine, with a man who loves me by my side.

The tears come then, hot and fast, streaming down my cheeks. But for once, they're not tears of pain or fear. They're tears of gratitude, of relief, of a joy so profound it takes my breath away.

Tank's hand finds mine, his fingers lacing through my own. "You okay, little one?"

I nod, not trusting my voice. I squeeze his hand, hoping the gesture conveys everything I'm feeling, everything I can't put into words.

We stand there together, watching as the sun sinks lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It feels like a moment suspended in time, a perfect snapshot of peace and contentment.

My mind drifts to the past, to the darkness and the pain and the fear. It's still there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to drag me back down. But standing here, with Tank's solid presence beside me, I know I'm strong enough to face it.

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