Snake nodded. “Yeah, that may work. It could be a temporary position until Raptor gets his shit together, but if things go badly with his little boy, then whoever’s president will stay.”
“You don’t think Raptor will tell Hammer what’s going on?” Neon asked.
Anger had Tank nearly rising out of his chair and across the table. “What the fuck? Raptor’s no traitor!”
“Raptor was raised in the club, and he wants what’s best for the brotherhood,” Maniac calmly interjected.
“But he lied to Tank about the money. He gave the okay to Hammer to shake down hard-working citizens. I don’t know…” Neon’s words trailed off.
Snake slapped the table. “Raptor’s solid.”
“One hundred percent,” Fester seconded.
Tank leaned back in his seat. “Does anyone else think the way Neon is?”
Ice gave a chin lift. “I can see where Neon’s coming from. I’m gonna admit, I’ve got my doubts.”
“Let’s take a vote. All those in favor of Tank speaking to Raptor about a temp prez, raise your fists.” Snake was the first to raise his.
In the end, three out of twelve had misgivings about trusting Raptor to stay true to them and the club. Since the majority ruled, the consensus was that Tank would speak with Raptor.
“The only thing we got left to settle are the candidates to take Raptor’s place. Let’s think about it, then we can meet back here next week. I’d like to have some members to offer up to him.”
“We may have someone in mind,” Snake stated matter-of-factly.
“Sounds like a plan.” Maniac looked around the room that had filled up since the group had first arrived. “There’re some cute sweet pieces hanging out at the bar.”
Fester rolled his head. “Not for me. I’m gonna have one more beer and head home.”
Snake chuckled. “Your old lady would kill you if she ever caught you looking at another chick.”
“What can I say? My woman’s crazy about me.”
The men guffawed, and then the conversation turned to motorcycles.
Tank took a long pull of his beer and looked out over the moonlit beach as his brothers talked amongst themselves. Staring at the ocean was a woman on the beach with her back to him. Tracing her ass with his eyes, a slow grin eased across his lips.
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me,” he mumbled under his breath. He downed the rest of his beer and rose to his feet. “I’m outta here. Keep me in the loop if anymore shit goes down.”
“You got that look in your eye, bro. Are you gonna duck in the back for a quickie with that big-tittied waitress?” Snake asked.
“Not exactly.” Picking up his beer bottle, he threw a ten-dollar bill on the table.
The gritty strains of hard rock music filtered down to the beach as Tank strode over to the familiar woman with the fine ass and high ponytail throwing stones into the water.
There’s no fuckin’ way. This is too perfect.
“Well, out of all the beaches in the county, we end up at the same one.”
Looking over her shoulder, Lena smiled at him, but her eyes were troubled.
“Hi,” she breathed, then looked back at the water. Her shoulders slumped forward as she stood on the sand, perfectly still.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he squeezed gently.
“Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer.
“Hey, you can tell me what’s bothering you.” He tried to turn her toward him, but she wouldn’t budge. “Lena, it’s okay.”
Suddenly, she jerked away and spun around, her chin raised in the air, glaring at him in defiance.
He took a step back and put his hands up. “Whoa. I’m not trying to give you a hard time or anything. I was hangin’ with my bros and saw you, and just came over to say hey.”
Lena sniffled and wiped her nose, then folded her arms under her chest as she stared up at him. “Sorry. I’m in a shit mood. I came out here for a little peace and quiet. It’s been a crazy week so far.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
The question surprised the hell out of him, and he thought he must’ve lost his fucking mind. He couldn’t remember when he’d given a shit about a woman unless someone was hurting her, insulting her, or she was riding his dick. After his divorce, those had become the three terms of interaction. And at the moment, he was crossing that line while he watched Lena’s face crumple a little around the edges. There was obviously something wrong, that was clear as hell, and it killed him to see her upset.
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”
Grunting, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can tell something’s bothering you.”
She took a seat down in the sand, wrapping her arms around her legs and hugging her knees to her chest. Lena kept staring out at the ocean, and he kept staring at her, unable to rip his attention away from her sad expression. When she looked up at him through her lashes, his damn heart fell to his feet, and he almost couldn’t breathe. She’s so damn gorgeous. He couldn’t leave her like this, alone.
“Fine. If you won’t talk, we’ll sit. I’ve got nothin’ to do.”
Tank eased his ass onto the sand next to her, making sure there was plenty of room between them. Wanting to give her time, he looked up at the stars, knowing that eventually, she would come around. If she didn’t want to talk at all, well, at least she knew he was there.
Fuck, the last time he’d been this consumed by a woman’s feelings was when he was married. After that clusterfuck, he’d sworn not to get invested again. Too many women out there played mind games and loved taking men for a long ride off a short pier. His ex-wife had made it damn clear that he was nothing but a walking wallet with arms, and she had screwed with his head in the process. Yeah, Trish had been a neurotic piece of work, with all the major hallmarks of a true fucking crazy, jealous, lying cheat.
“Fuckin’ bitch,” Tank muttered under his breath, rubbing a hand down the back of his neck as a shudder ripped down his spine at the mere thought of her and that time in his life.
Lena looked over at him. “What?”
“Nothing.” Ducking his head, he looked at the silver moonlight shimmering on the water.
“You really don’t have to be here. I’m fine.” Her voice was strangled with emotion.
“I know.”
After what seemed like an hour, he heard her shift. From the corner of his eye, he saw her scoot closer, the low sound of sand scraping against her shorts melting into the humid air. He remained still and quiet, worried he would spook her.
“I guess…” Her words trailed off, but he didn’t pressure to her to continue.
They remained still, and he breathed in deep, wondering how long they were going to sit there while she worked through whatever was going on in her head.
“I miss my parents. I’m having a hard time with it, and I thought getting out of my condo might do me some good.”
The words were barely out before she started crying. Burying her head into her knees, her soft sobs racked through her shoulders, shuddering down into her bare feet burrowed into the sand.
Tank slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Shit. It’s okay, darlin’.” When she didn’t jerk away from him, he pulled her into his chest. Lena’s arms immediately went around him, and he kissed her cheek while rubbing her back. “It sucks. I know it must fuckin’ hurt like hell. Get it all out.”