Page 41 of Biker B!tch

"Who did this to you?"

She hesitated, her eyes darkening with the memory. "It was Jeff. He and some help. Some guys who had a score to settle with me. The girls and I took their wallets."

Anger surged through me. Jeff would pay for this. No one hurt Tank and got away with it. But for now, she needed to rest.

"You're safe now," I said, squeezing her hand. "We'll deal with him later."

She nodded, exhaustion in her eyes. "Just stay with me."

"I’m not going anywhere," I promised, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Tank fell asleep soon after, her breathing steady and calm. I watched her for a moment, a fierce protectiveness swelling in my chest. She had been through so much, but she was still standing. And I would be there to make sure no one ever hurt her again.

Throughout the night, I sat beside her, my mind filled with plans. Jeff went too far, and now he's gonna have to deal with the consequences. But for now, I focused on Tank, on keeping her safe and helping her heal.

Morning came all too quickly, the sun spreading a pleasant warmth over the room. Tank stirred, her eyes fluttering open. As she looked at me, a playful smirk slowly spread across her face.

"Morning," she said, her voice soft.

"Morning," I replied, my heart lifting at the sight of her smile.

Tank sat up, stretching. "We need to talk about what happens next."

I nodded, knowing she was right. "We'll figure it out together."

She reached out, taking my hand. "Thank you, Boiler. For everything."

I squeezed her hand, my resolve strengthening. "I'll always be here for you, Tank. No matter what."

Tank looked at me, her eyes still haunted by the events of the past few days. But there was something else there, something that had been simmering beneath the surface. She took a deep breath and finally broke the silence.

“Boiler,” she began, her voice steady but edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “Who was that woman at the club? The one you gave money to?”

I felt my stomach tighten. This was the conversation I’d been dreading. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. “That was Max’s mom.”

Tank’s eyes widened, and I saw a flash of something—hurt, maybe betrayal—cross her face. “Max’s mom? I thought she was gone. You said she disappeared.”

“She did,” I replied, my voice heavy with the weight of my past. “She’s been back in town for a while now. Shows up asking for money. She’s obviously on drugs, and who knows what else. She says she’ll leave me and Max alone if I help her when she needs it.”

Tank’s expression softened slightly, but the tension was still there too. “And you believe her?”

I shook my head. “No, not really. But I can’t take the chance of her sticking around and trying to mess with Max’s life. I don’t want her anywhere near him, so I tolerate it. I give her some money, and she stays away. It’s not ideal, but it’s the only way I can keep her out of his life.”

Tank looked away, her jaw tight. “You should have told me.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “But I didn’t want to burden you with my shit. You’ve got enough to deal with.”

She turned back to me, her eyes fierce. “We’re supposed to be in this together, Boiler. That means all of it. The good and the bad.”

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. “You’re right. I should have told you. I’m sorry, Tank. I just didn’t want to lose you.”

Tank squeezed my hand, her grip strong and reassuring. “You won’t lose me. But you have to be honest with me. No more secrets.”

I nodded, relief flooding through me. “No more secrets. I promise.”

As the day unfolded, we made plans to confront Jeff and his new goons. The brothers were ready to back me up, their loyalty unwavering. But I also knew that Tank needed to be involved. This was her fight too, and she was more than capable of holding her own.

"Boiler," she said, looking at me with fierce resolve. "We're going to end this. Together."

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