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Instead of finishing my shopping as well as other errands, I leave the cart in the middle of the aisle and haul ass—as much as a pregnant woman can—out of the grocery store. I speed-waddle across the parking lot, not stopping until I’m in my car, and lock it up tight.
“Aaaah!” I let out a long scream that does fuck all to relieve my stress and fear before starting the car and racing home.
Who was that, and what did he want?I don’t have any answers, but I know his words are threats, and that man scares the hell out of me.
I pull into the parking garage with my heart still racing, pausing only for a moment to wonder if I should’ve gone to Tank at the Reckless Souls clubhouse. I hurry to the elevator. I’ll call Tank as soon as I’m safely locked away inside my apartment.
Turns out, it’s not at all necessary because the man himself is leaning against my door when I step off the elevator. Curiosity is my first thought, but right on the heels is relief and joy at seeing Tank’s big body, his dirty blond hair that looks a lot darker since he damn near has a buzz cut.
When he looks up and notices me, his beaming smile sends lightning bolts of lust pulsing through my body. Something about his presence makes me feel calm and settled, safe.
“Tank. What are you doing here?”
His gaze is equal parts happiness and annoyance, neither of which I understand completely. “I’m here to take you to the clubhouse with me. Now.”
I shake my head. “We’ve already talked about this,” I remind him. “And I really don’t like your tone.”
He grins, but there’s very little humor in it. “I’m sure you don’t, but I don’t like hearing from my Prez that someone’s been following you and putting your life—and our baby’s life—in danger. Were you ever going to tell me about it?”
I sigh, feeling guilty as I push past him and unlock my door. “You just got out of jail, Tank, and there’s so much going on with your MC that I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me?” He grips my arm and turns me to face him. “It’s no fucking bother to know you need me to protect you, Sophie. Goddammit, if something happened to you, I would never fucking forgive myself.”
I believe him with my whole heart, but it doesn’t change how I feel about going back to the clubhouse. “I don’t belong there, Tank. Nova’s not there, and he’s the only reason those guys treat me halfway decently.” I keep shaking my head, thinking of my last visit to Reckless Souls headquarters. “I’ll be fine here. I have a gun, and Josie checks on me every day.”
“Sophie,” he sighs heavily, taking my hands in his, kissing the knuckles on each hand. “I’m not asking.”
I sigh. His commanding tone is kind of dreamy, but it’s also annoying as fuck. I slide my hands from his grasp, shaking my head as I put more distance between us. “Yeah, well, I’m not going with you. End of story.”
Tank laughs, and the sound is rich and deep. I’d almost forgotten his beautiful and contagious laugh. “Wouldn’t it be great if that was the end of this?” He shakes his head. “What you don’t seem to understand, sweet Sophie, is that’s my baby you’re carrying. Our baby and I won’t let you or our baby get hurt when I can prevent it, which I can. So get your beautiful, sexy ass in gear because we’re heading into lockdown, and we need to get back ASAP.”
“No.” I fold my arms across my chest, determined and defiant. “If you need to go, that’s on you. But I won’t be locked down anywhere.”
Tank’s stare is like a drill, trying to bore right through my defenses. “Soph, I can’t find these fuckers and keep tabs on you at the same time. Not when some creep’s out there following you.”
I bite my lip, looking anywhere but at his piercing gaze. “Tank,” I start, hating how my voice wavers.
“I mean it,” he cuts in, and his voice is like gravel mixed with authority. “We’re not having this out right now.”
“I’m not trying to pick a fight,” I snap back, but then I’m spilling everything, about the creep at the store, the threat against his life. It tumbles out in a breathless rush.
“Fuck,” he swears, his face setting like concrete. Anger rolls off him in waves, almost tangible. “Sophie, just... pack. Please.”
I stand there, frozen at his tone that leaves no room for arguments. It’s kind of hot, which is all kinds of fucked up, but I instinctively bristle at his command. “I can’t.” My words come out quiet and shaky, and I hate it.
“Why not?”
“Because they treat me like shit, Tank. The baby and I don’t need that kind of stress.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I’m so hormonal I can’t do anything about it. “I went to them scared and full of questions, and it was made abundantly clear to me that I’m an outsider. After all the years working for Nova at the clinic, they acted like I’m not welcome anymore. I’ll feel better if I stay here. I promise I won’t go outside again.”
His broad shoulders fall, and he presses his forehead to mine while his hands cup the sides of my face. “I’m so sorry, Sophie. I really fucking am. It kills me to know you weren’t treated right, but I need you to trust me. Not my brothers, just me. Can you do that?”
I do trust Tank more than I realize until this very moment. “I trust you, Tank. But I don’t feel comfortable there. Why can’t you stay here with me?”
“Look,” he starts, and there’s a weight in his sigh that tells me this is serious. “Shit’s going down that I can’t tell you about yet. But believe me, you’ll be safer at the clubhouse. I gotta have my head in the game. You get that, right?”
I let out a sigh because, yeah, I get it. But that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. “I do, but—” How can I argue when I know he needs to be laser-focused for whatever bad-news-biker drama is about to go down?
“I’m up for a little...persuasionif you get my drift,” he says, his voice dropping to a husky, melt-the-polar-ice-caps tone.
