Page 37 of Tank
“Nightshade is not a he,” Reck explains.
“What do you mean, not a he? What the fuck is he then?” Joker growls, again not thinking before he speaks.
“Nightshade is a woman. Tank’s woman, to be precise,” Prez tells us.
I can feel my eyes get so wide, they nearly pop out of my head.
Holy shit. My Pandora is Deadly Nightshade. I take a moment to let the news sink in. All eyes seem to be on me, waiting for my reaction.
“No wonder she didn’t want to tell me what she did for a living. How do you explain that to a date?” I say, releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“So, you’re telling me that Carrie and Kate are running around Pine Ridge, trying to save Wire, with the deadliest killer out there?” he asks with disbelief in his voice.
“Pretty much sums it up,” Reck says with a shrug of his shoulders.
“They could be already dead, and we wouldn’t know it. Never find their bodies. She could have done anything to them,” Joker starts raging.
I react without thinking, grabbing him by the neck and pinning him to the wall.
“Calm the fuck down, brother. Pandora wouldn’t hurt them. She’s helping them. Remember the part where she is on our side. Plus, I hear you saying shit like that again about her, and we’re going to have problems,” I threaten.
“You claiming her?” Prez asks as I let go of Joker.
I’ve never tackled him like that before, and you can clearly see the shock on his face.
“Not without talking to her first. We didn’t leave it so great before all this,” I tell him honestly.
Taking out my phone, I try to call Pandora, but she doesn’t answer. So, I decide to text her instead.
Me: I know who you are now. It doesn’t change a thing.
Pandora: It changes everything.
Me: Not for me. I know how I feel about you. You being the badass I already thought you were, does not affect how I feel. Please let me know where you are.
Pandora: Why? So, you and the others can come take over, because we’re pathetic weak women who can’t do this without you?
Me: Fuck no. So, we can back you up. That’s our family too. Family protects each other. Let us protect you.
Pandora: . . .
Pandora: . . .
Pandora: I don’t need protecting. Your club hasn’t really done a great job on protecting themselves up to now. One brother missing and one in the hospital fighting for his life.
Me: That’s not fair. I tried to save Wrench. We were under fire, and I was trying to help Wrench. You think I don’t feel bad enough as it is, fuck darlin’?
Nothing. She doesn’t reply to that. I’m left hanging, and not knowing where they are or what they are doing drives me crazy. Plus, she’s not wrong. I haven’t done a great job of protecting my brothers. I honestly believe they can handle it, but that doesn’t mean they should do it alone.
“What did she say?” Reck asks.
I look up from my phone and find everyone looking at me.
“She won’t tell me where they are.”
“Didn’t think she would,” Prez replies.
Joker still looks really worried and not at all okay with any of this.
