Page 96 of Tank’s Weakness

Me

Can you come home? I have something we need to discuss.

Getting the text from Delaney had me on my bike and rushing through traffic without a second thought.

We were having a chat with a former paralegal from the office Blaine works at, but I don’t care what he has to say in this moment.

Nothing good comes from a woman telling you that you need to talk. I mean, I guess she technically said we need to discuss something, but it strikes the same fear into my chest. The need to know what’s wrong and solve it for her is strong.

Acid is at the gate, opening it as soon as I get close. I nod to him before skidding to a stop in front of the clubhouse. I turn off the bike, throwing my helmet to the ground as I stride into the door with purpose.

At first, I don’t see her, and I panic. The main room of the clubhouse is empty. This is where they usually hang out. My mind starts to race, but then I hear the laughter. When I follow it to the kitchen, my heart slows as it takes in all four women sitting on the counter, each with a popsicle in their hand.

“Those are for the children,” I joke.

They all look at me, lips the color of their popsicle.

“Bear is entertaining them. They don’t need to know,” Kelly whispers.

“He won’t say anything.” Delaney smiles. “If he does, I’d have to punish him.”

“He might like that,” Sloane snorts.

“Sloane,” Jane hisses.

“Your secret is safe with me. For now. You needed me, Laney?” I ask.

She sobers, nodding.

“Let’s talk in our room.”

“Sounds ominous,” Jane whispers to Sloane.

“It’ll be fine,” Sloane says at her normal voice level.

That makes me feel a little bit better. If Sloane thinks everything will be okay, then it can’t be too bad. I also like that Delaney confided in her. I know she has Erica, but she has admitted that she has trouble making female friends because they tend to be cliquey. This group isn’t that way. If they like you, you are in. Even if she decides to kick my ass to the curb.

We leave the girls behind and head down into the room we have been sharing. This room has become more than a place to sleep. There are pieces of her throughout it. From her clothes in my dresser and dirty clothes basket to her perfume on my nightstand. There’s the book she’s been reading now that she has some time.

It makes the room feel more like a home.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, wondering if this is where she tells me this life is too much.

That I am too much.

She smiles. “Yeah. I got a call from Principal Marshall. He wants me to come get my stuff from the school. I talked to the lawyer. They said I should go.”

I shake my head. “No. Absolutely not.”

“I didn’t ask. I’m informing you that I’m going.” She folds her arm over her chest.

“Laney, I will let you order me around in every single aspect of our life, but not when your safety is in the equation. If you leave here, he will be waiting. He has been spotted driving by many times. He has eyes on us.”

“I get that,” she says. “I really do, but I can’t stop living my life for fear of what he might do. If I do, it will be like he already won. I want to be safe, so I will let one of the guys trail me, but I need to go, and I need to go alone. If I show up with you, it will make it worse.”

“I don’t like it,” I growl.

She quirks an eyebrow at me. “I know. I don’t necessarily like it either, but I want to get my job back. Until the lawsuit is over, the lawyer thinks it’s best that I not rock the boat. I need to cooperate and not give them any reason to use this against me.”