Page 67 of Tank

“Listen, Svetlana, we know who you are. Your best bet for getting out of here is putting the gun down,” Marx says in a measured tone.

Mira frowns, then turns to look over her shoulder. “Lana?”

Svetlana grins at Mira, reaching to the top of her head and pulling off the dark wig, revealing slicked back blonde hair. “I knew you’d recognize me! It’s fate, Mira, we’re meant to be together! You don’t have to be here any more, with these filthy pigs,” she spits. “I know what they’re like, that woman, Whitney, she told me all about them. That’s why I’m here now, I’m tryingto save you! Whitney said that they were going to hurt her and her boyfriend and I knew I couldn’t leave you here, in a place with dangerous men,” she says quickly, not even taking a breath.

“Oh, we did hurt her little boyfriend,” Fox smirks.

“See Mira! They’re bad men, you need to come with me now, we can run away and live happily ever after. I have my own business, I can support you, I love you!”

Mira’s eyes grow wider and wider until Lana gets to the end of her pleading and then Mira’s face softens. “Oh Lana, you are a great person, I’m sure of it, but I’m afraid I can’t go with you. I can’t live with you and I can’t love you because I love Tyson.” Her eyes flick to mine, “And, if Pres allows it, I have a home here, and friends here.”

Lana deflates for a moment and then straightens, rage distorting her sharp features, making her seem even more unhinged. “But I LOVE YOU!” she screeches, bringing the gun up, pointing it directly into Mira’s face.

I feel my body moving before my mind tells me to, but I know that if Svetlana pulls that trigger I’ll be too late. I lunge toward my love and out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a Skechers sneaker, swinging in an arc and kicking the gun out of Svetlana’s hand in a technically perfect roundhouse kick. A bang sounds out and then a grunt, but all I can focus on is my woman.

“Mira, Doll, look at me, look at me baby,” I push her blonde curls out of her face to be met with a wide grin.

“Sorry Nana, but that was fucking awesome! Did you see what Pops did?”

Looking behind Mira, Svetlana is on the ground, Tav standing over her pointing his weapon, Gus and Pops staring down at her.

“Mr. Tombs?” She says, looking at Pops in confusion.

“Oh yeah, surprise! I can walk.” Pops waves his hands and then walks behind the bar, pouring himself a drink. “Chewy andJules have three guys they found out back, the Landrys have one a piece. What do you want us to do with them Pres? Please say Rev Room, please say Rev Room?” he pleads, mumbling something about not seeing action for a while even though they dealt with the orc guy yesterday.

Marx’s answer is drowned out by Rider’s whine, “She shot me in the ass! Switch, I need help!” he demands.

Switch rolls his eyes as he checks over Remy, “It’s a fucking graze. And what the hell were you doing to be shot in the ass? Were you running away?”

“No! That old man had the gun doing fucking somersaults in the air and it got me!”

“You can wait.” Switch turns to look at us. “Brothers, I need Takoda and Remy in my clinic. I checked their stats, both are fine but will have killer headaches tomorrow.”

Wire scoops his Ol Lady into his arms and carries her down the hall, followed by Fox and Nitro with Takoda.

Switch grabs Rider by the scruff of his neck and starts to drag his big ass down the hall toward his clinic. Mira’s tinkling laughter has me grinning.

Marx runs a big hand down his face. “Fuck, what are we gonna do with her?”

“May I offer a suggestion?” A collective groan has us turning toward Roman, standing in the doorway with his large blonde husband at his back. Marx glares silently at him, so he continues. “Do what you want with the men, but I will take Svetlana.”

At the sound of Roman’s voice Svetlana looks toward him, then drops her head, “I’m sorry Pakhan, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“I understand, Lana. Your father said you were having troubles again. How about we send you somewhere nice, and you can have a little rest?”

“At the same hospital as last time?” She looks up, eyes full of hope looking more like a lost little girl than a crazed, obsessed gun woman.

“Would you like that,sladkya?”

“Yes, Pakhan, they were nice to me. Is Katarina still there?” She moves toward Roman then stops abruptly, flicking her eyes at Marx who gives her a nod.

“Yes, I believe she is,” Roman says in a gentle voice, showing yet another side of him. The man is full of contradictions. Just when I think I have him figured out he does something else to change my perception. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to figure him out.

My woman has been watching the scene, and as Svetlana moves to pass her on her way to Roman, Mira stops her with a hand on her arm. “Lana, thank you for my gifts and for liking my books.” She smiles at her gently then pulls the other woman into her arms. “Thank you for not killing me or my friends.”

Lana beams at her and stares until Roman gently takes her arm. He looks toward Marx, “President?”

Marx nods, “You take care of her Roman, and we’ll take care of the others.” Roman raises a brow at him, “If we find out they’re innocent and they didn’t hurt my people, they’ll be free to go. If not, then I’ll leave them in Pops’ and Chewy’s hands.” Pops fist pumps in the background, a wide grin splitting his face.

---