Page 43 of Tank

A lump forms in my throat. These hardened men, with blood on their hands and violence carved into their souls, they went to war for me. Fought and bled and nearly died, all to bring one broken girl home.

"Thank you," I manage to choke out. Tears blur my vision once more, but I don't bother hiding them now. "All of you. I can't...I don't..."

"We know, little one." Tank's arm slips around my waist, steadying me. Anchoring me. "You're family. And we take care of our own."

Looking around at these fierce, loyal men - my saviors, my protectors, my home - I feel something slot into place deep within me. A sense of belonging, of purpose. The shattered pieces of my soul, slowly mending back together.

I am Sophie, survivor. Sophie, Valkyrie. And I am exactly where I am meant to be.

I venture deeper into Perdition, each step measured and purposeful. The adrenaline from earlier still sings in my veins, but a new sensation overtakes it now - an urge to comfort, to heal, to guide.

I find them huddled together in a back room, a tangle of limbs and tear-streaked faces. Chloe and the other women, my sisters in suffering. They look up as I enter, eyes wide and wary, until recognition dawns.

"Sophie," Chloe breathes, untangling herself from the others. She meets me halfway, throwing her arms around me in a fierce embrace. "You're here. You're safe."

I cling to her just as tightly, savor the solid warmth of her. The tremors wracking her frame mirror my own. "We're all safe now," I whisper into her hair. "It's over. We made it out."

Slowly, hesitantly, the other women approach. I open my arms to them, draw them into the hug one by one. We stand there, holding each other up, lending strength and sharing pain. United in our survival.

"What happens now?" one of them asks, voice small and shaking. So young, too young for the horrors etched into her skin. "Where do we go from here?"

I pull back slightly, meet each of their gazes in turn. "We heal," I tell them firmly. "We lean on each other. We take back our lives, one day at a time."

Chloe's hand finds mine, grips tight. "Together," she says, and it's a promise. A vow. "No matter what comes next, we face it together."

Murmurs of assent ripple through the group. Tentative smiles emerge, fragile but genuine. The road ahead won't be easy, I know. The scars we bear, both seen and unseen, will take time to fade.

But we are warriors, each and every one of us. We have endured the unimaginable and come out the other side. And with the love and support of the Iron Reapers, our new family...I know we will emerge stronger than ever.

I catch a glimpse of Tank across the room, watching me with an intensity that steals my breath. His dark eyes hold a swirl of emotions - pride, admiration, and something deeper, something that makes my heart race and my skin tingle.

He inclines his head slightly, a silent acknowledgment of the moment I've shared with the women. The corners of his mouth lift in a faint smile, and I feel a rush of warmth flood through me.

Tank. My rock, my protector, the man who has stood by my side through the darkest of times. Without him, I wouldn't be standing here today, offering comfort and hope to others.

As if drawn by an invisible force, I find myself moving towards him. The women disperse, some seeking out patches of their own, others huddling together in small groups, their voices a low hum of shared experience and budding friendship.

Tank's gaze never wavers as I approach. "You're incredible, you know that?" His voice is a deep rumble, sending shivers down my spine. "The way you are with them, the strength you give..."

I duck my head, suddenly self-conscious. "I'm just doing what anyone would do."

"No." Tank reaches out, cups my chin gently, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. "Not anyone. You, Sophie. You're fucking extraordinary."

The raw honesty in his words, the depth of emotion in his gaze...it steals the air from my lungs. I sway towards him, drawnby the magnetic pull that has existed between us from the very beginning.

Tank's hand slides from my chin to the back of my neck, his touch a searing brand. "I need to show you something," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. "A surprise."

Curiosity sparks through me, mingling with the ever-present desire. "A surprise?"

He nods, a hint of nervousness flashing in his eyes. "I've been working on it for a while. Wanted to wait for the right moment."

I search his face, trying to read the secrets hidden there. "Tank, what-"

"Do you trust me, Sophie?"

The question hangs between us, heavy with unspoken meaning. And in that moment, I realize the answer has never been clearer.

"With my life," I breathe, the words a sacred oath. "Always."

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