Page 9 of Tank

When I finally surface, blinking against the muted light of the room, Tank is still beside me. He's slouched in a chair, his massive frame dwarfing the furniture. Dark circles shadow his eyes, a testament to the long hours he's spent watching over me.

"Hey," he rumbles, leaning forward. "How you feeling, little one?"

I lick my cracked lips, my throat parched. "Like I've been hit by a truck," I rasp, wincing at the sound of my own voice.

Tank's lips twitch, a hint of a smile. "Yeah, you look like it too."

A startled laugh bubbles up in my chest, the sound foreign and fragile. It's been so long since I've had a reason to laugh, to feel anything but fear and despair.

Tank reaches for a glass of water on the nightstand, holding it to my lips. I drink greedily, the cool liquid soothing my raw throat.

"Easy," he murmurs, pulling the glass away. "Don't want you getting sick."

I nod, sinking back against the pillows. My gaze drifts around the room, taking in the sparse furnishings and the faded posters on the walls. It's not much, but it feels like a sanctuary, a place where I can finally breathe.

"Thank you," I whisper, my eyes finding Tank's. "For believing me. For... for giving me a chance."

Tank's expression softens, his hand coming to rest on mine. "You don't have to thank me, Sophie. You're one of us now. We take care of our own."

There's a fierce protectiveness in his words, a promise that goes beyond mere obligation. It's a promise of family, of belonging, and it's something I never thought I'd have again.

As I lay there, my hand in Tank's, I feel the first stirrings of something I haven't felt in a long time.

Hope.

Exhaustion seeps into my bones, the weight of the past few days finally catching up with me. My eyelids grow heavy, the room blurring at the edges as I struggle to stay awake.

"Sleep, little one," Tank murmurs, his voice a soothing rumble. "You're safe now."

I want to protest, to cling to this moment of peace, but my body betrays me. My eyes flutter closed, the darkness pulling me under like a gentle tide.

As I drift off, I feel Tank's hand slip from mine, the loss of contact sending a flicker of panic through me. But then I hear the scrape of a chair, the creak of leather as he settles in beside the bed.

I force my eyes open, just a sliver, and see him there, a silent sentinel watching over me. His arms are crossed over his broad chest, his gaze fixed on the door, as if daring anyone to try and come through it.

There's a fierceness in his posture, a raw determination that speaks of a man who would go to war for those he protects. And somehow, impossibly, I know that includes me now.

I let my eyes close again, the knowledge of Tank's presence chasing away the last of my fears. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel truly safe.

As sleep claims me, I hear the rumble of motorcycles in the distance, the sound a lullaby that promises freedom and a new beginning. And with Tank watching over me, I know that this is just the start of my journey.

I may be broken, battered, and bruised, but I'm not alone anymore. I have the Iron Reapers at my back, and a man who believes in me even when I don't believe in myself.

And that's enough to give me hope for tomorrow.

FOUR

TANK

I burst into the Iron Reapers'meeting room, my heart pounding in my chest. The guys are gathered around the table, nursing beers and shooting the shit. But as soon as they see me, the room falls deathly silent. They know something's up.

Mason, Prez to all of the Iron Reapers MC, locks eyes with me from across the room. I give him a tight nod, my jaw clenched. He straightens in his chair, his brow furrowing.

"What's going on, Tank?" Dagger asks, leaning forward. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The image of Sophie, bruised and bleeding on my doorstep, is seared into my mind.

"It's Sophie, the girl from last night,” I say, my voice rough with barely contained rage. "Those bastards...they had her. Kept her locked up for years. Beat the shit out of her."

---