Page 48 of Tank
Fuck, this is not good.
“Darlin’, save your strength. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. The girls made me see the truth, and then Willow told me you were in trouble.”
“Scott, I’m not surviving this,” her breathing is getting worse. I look at Joker, and he nods.
“Help is coming, brother,” he says as he holds a crying Carrie.
“They’d better hurry up,” tell him. “Don’t talk like that. You’re strong,” I say to Pandora.
I try to reassure her, but I can feel her slipping through my fingers.
Cass, Rafe, and Kate come running into the room. Kate takes one look at Pandora and nearly collapses, but Cass catches her, holding her in his arms. I ignore them as I look at the beautiful woman lying in my arms.
“I love you,” she murmurs.
Those are her last words.
EPILOGUE
TANK
It’s been a month since I watched the life drain out of the woman I love. When she uttered those final words, my heart broke into millions of pieces, and the pain poured out of me in a roar so loud.
Doc and Rafe tried all they could as we rushed Pandora to the hospital. The hardest part was watching her being wheeled through those doors and not being able to go with her.
I sat in that waiting room, once again, covered in blood. I couldn’t bring myself to wash it off, it being the last remaining part of her. Just sitting there, waiting for the doctors to confirm what I already knew. The woman I'd loved was gone. She had died in my arms in that warehouse. Willow and some other woman had joined the club in the waiting room. Some good news did come while we were waiting for my world to end. Wrench had made it. He's awake and looks to be making a full recovery. Both him and Wire had a long journey ahead of them, but the club would back them all the way.
“Family of Pandora Jones,” a doctor calls.
I leap from my seat and head straight for him.
“I’m her man,” I explain to him.
“Pandora sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, which did nick an artery. She had lost a lot of blood, I’m sorry . . .”
I can’t hear anymore. I fall to my knees with my head in my hands, and I cry.
“Tank, did you not hear that?” Carrie starts saying.
“Brother, she’s alive,” Prez says.
I feel several small arms wrap around me. Looking up, I notice it's both Carrie and Kate.
“But you said she lost too much blood. You said you were sorry.”
The confusion is noticeable in my voice.
“Yes, Mrs. Jones lost a lot of blood, but we managed to complete several blood transfusions. I was apologizing for having taken so long to speak with you, but your wife gave us quite the scare, as we did nearly lose her. However, she is a fighter. She is now in recovery; I’ll give you a few minutes, then a nurse will come take you to her,” the doctor finishes.
“Thank you, Doc,” Prez says, shaking his hand.
I stay on my knees, with Carrie and Kate clinging to me like little monkeys.
“She’s alive,” I whisper as if saying it out loud will make it not true.
“Yeah, she’s alive,” Kate replies with so much emotion in her voice.
I think the two girls in my life love Pandora as much as me. I pull myself together, and the girls let me up off the floor, but stay close. I take a few deep breaths to steady myself.
