Page 17 of Tank

We move from store to store, trying on clothes and accessories. With each passing minute, I feel a bit of the weight lifting from my shoulders. It's not just the distraction of shopping; it's the love and support radiating from my friends, the knowledge that I'm not alone.

As we sit down for a quick lunch, Carlie reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. "I'm so proud of you, Sophie," she says softly. "You're one of the strongest women I know."

Tears prick at my eyes, and I squeeze back, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. Jenny leans in, her smile gentle. "We've got your back, babe. Always."

And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I start to believe that maybe, just maybe, I can reclaim my life from the ashes. That with my friends by my side and Tank's love to guide me, I can learn to live again, to hope again.

It's a small step, this shopping trip. But it feels like a victory, a defiant middle finger to the darkness that tried to break me. I'm still here, still fighting.

And damn if it doesn't feel good.

I step into Perdition, the air thick with tension and the smell of cigarettes as I stride into the room, my boots echoing on thescuffed floor. The boys are gathered around the table, their faces grim and determined.

I spread out the intel we've gathered, marking locations and timelines with sharp, precise strokes of a red marker. The map is a tangle of lines and circles, but to me, it's a roadmap to revenge. To justice.

"The trafficking ring is operating out of these three warehouses," I say, jabbing a finger at the map. "Shipments come in every other Friday. Girls are moved to these holding locations before being sold."

My jaw clenches as I think of Sophie, of the horrors she endured. The thought of other innocent women suffering the same fate makes my blood boil and my trigger finger itch.

Roach leans forward, his eyes hard as flint. "We gonna hit 'em all at once, or take 'em down one by one?"

"All at once," I reply, my voice brooking no argument. "We can't risk them getting wind of our operation and scattering like rats."

Murmurs of agreement fill the room, and I feel a surge of pride in my brothers. They may be a bunch of rowdy, foul-mouthed bastards, but they're loyal to the bone. They'd ride through hell itself if I asked them to.

"Brick, you and your crew will take the north warehouse. Roach, you've got the east. Bulldog, the south. I'll lead the charge on their main base of operations."

I meet each of their gazes in turn, seeing the same fierce determination burning in their eyes that I feel in my own heart. "We'll give 'em a taste of their own fucking medicine," I growl. "And we'll make damn sure they never lay a hand on another woman again."

As the boys disperse to prep for the assault, I take a moment to breathe, to center myself. Sophie's face flashes through mymind, her haunted eyes and trembling lips. The need to protect her, to avenge her, is like a fire in my veins.

I'll burn the whole fucking world down if that's what it takes to keep her safe. To give her a chance at a future free from fear.

And God help anyone who gets in my way.

I set the map aside, my mind drifting to Sophie even as I try to focus on the mission at hand. The way her delicate frame molds perfectly against my chest as she sleeps, the soft whisper of her breath against my skin...it's enough to drive a man to madness.

I want her, body and soul. Want to chase away her demons and show her what it means to be cherished, to be loved. But I can't. Not now. Not when she's still so broken, so fragile.

I have to be strong for her. Have to put her needs before my own desires. Even if it means denying the ache in my heart every time I look at her.

The rumble of a familiar engine pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance out the window to see Sophie climbing off the back of Carlie's bike. She's smiling, a genuine smile that reaches her eyes for the first time since I found her. The sight of it damn near takes my breath away.

I meet her at the door, my hands itching to pull her into my arms but settling for a gentle squeeze of her shoulder instead. "Hey, little one. How was your day with the girls?"

"It was...good," she says softly, leaning into my touch. "Really good. I almost felt normal again, you know?"

"I'm glad, sweetheart. You deserve to feel normal. To be happy."

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the rest of the world falls away. It's just us, lost in each other's gaze, the air heavy with unspoken longing.

"Thank you, Tank," she whispers, her voice wavering with emotion. "For everything. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You never have to find out, little one. I'm not going anywhere."

I pull her into a hug, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair as she clings to me. It's a promise, a vow. No matter what it takes, no matter how long the road ahead may be...I'll be there. Every step of the way.

She's not alone anymore. And she never will be again.

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