“No shit,” he grumbled as Cait came out of the office, looking just as surprised to see him as Gia was.
“What happened?” Gia eyed him curiously. “Are the girls and Leah okay?”
“As well as can be expected.” They’d be better if I were there.
Cait joined them in her torn jeans and Converse, her sweater hanging loosely over her thin body. Her short black hair was tucked behind one ear as she gave him a scrutinizing look. “You look like hell, which I guess is to be expected, but have you gotten any sleep?”
“I’m fine.”
Gia planted a hand on her hip, eyes narrowing, as she and Cait exchanged a disbelieving glance. Cait crossed her arms. They were tough, but while Gia was mouthy, Cait was quiet. Years of abuse did that to a person. When Cait had first come to work for Tank, she’d been alone in the world, unlike Gia, the younger sister of Rubin “Justice” Galant, an attorney and Dark Knight. Gia had been a wild child, getting into trouble and partying too much when Justice had turned to Tank for help. Tank had taken Gia and Cait under his wing. They’d become family, and two of his most trusted friends.
“We know that grumble. You’re not fine,” Gia said as she and Cait circled him like vultures.
“We’re worried about you,” Cait said firmly. “The accident wasn’t just traumatic for Leah and the girls. You couldn’t save her brother, Tank. That had to affect you.”
He clenched his jaw, not wanting to think about any of it.
Gia took his arm, her gaze softening. “Talk to us. Let us help.”
“You’re the one who taught us to talk things out,” Cait reminded him.
“For Christ’s sake,” he gritted out. “Yeah, that sucks, and it’s tough. I’d have given my life for him, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“If it’s too hard to be with Leah and the girls, that’s understandable,” Gia said.
“Yeah, it’s like a constant reminder,” Cait added.
“I just said it wasn’t that.” He yanked his arm out of Gia’s grasp. “I fucked up, okay? I got too close. I kissed her, and she kicked me to the curb.”
“Whaat?” Gia dragged out the word. “This I’ve gotta hear. I always thought you knew what you were doing with women. What happened? Did you use too much tongue? Not enough?”
Tank scowled. “I fucking know how to kiss a woman.”
“If you say so,” Gia teased.
“Gia,” Cait warned. “This is serious. Leah’s been through a lot. Maybe it’s just too much.”
“You think I don’t know that?” He paced. “I don’t blame her for needing space. She doesn’t want the girls to get too attached in case it doesn’t work out. But that doesn’t change the fact that every part of me wants to be there with them.”
Gia’s brows lifted. “Sounds like she knows you aren’t a long-term prospect.”
Frustration pounded through Tank’s veins. He crossed his arms and lowered his chin, holding Gia’s gaze. “She can’t know that.”
She and Cait exchanged another glance.
Fuck. “Fine. It’s a valid assumption. But I told her that’s not what this is.”
“And she’s supposed to just believe you?” Cait held out her palm, like, Really? “That’s a lot to ask of anyone, much less a girl who practically ran away from you all summer and just lost her brother.”
“Okay, bossman, what do you think is going on between you two?” Gia asked.
“Something big,” he said firmly, pacing. “Something real.”
Gia watched his every step. “I’ve never seen you like this. Could it be that you just feel a bond with her because you have this tragedy in common and you both lost a sibling?”
“Of course I feel that bond, but that’s not all this is. It’s Leah. It has been since I first saw her, and now it’s her and the girls. I can’t fucking explain why I feel it, especially with all they’re going through. But it feels bone deep.” He grasped for a way to explain it. “Like when I took my first motorcycle ride and I felt like I’d found a piece of me that I never knew was missing. That’s what being with them feels like. Like we fucking belong together.”
“Damn.” Gia shook her head. “Not that I condone you comparing Leah and her girls to a motorcycle, but I get you, Tank. That’s big.”
“The only time I’ve ever felt like that was when I came here and got to know you guys,” Cait said. “So what are you going to do?”
“Give her space,” he said sharply. “I’m not an asshole. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let them go through this alone. I’ll be there for them and keep my fucking lips to myself.”
“Sounds smart,” Cait said.
“If he can do it.” Gia waved a finger at him. “Look at the man. He’s all tangled up.”
Tank swore he had smoke coming out his ears. Holding back his emotions from the only three people he’d ever wanted to share them with sounded like a goddamn nightmare to him. There was no fucking way he could sit still and work today, but maybe he could outrun his feelings. “I’m outta here.”
He blew through the doors and climbed onto his bike, heading out to meet the guys.
Twenty minutes later he rolled down Gunner’s driveway, passing several groups of guys in the driveway and yard, all wearing vests or jackets with Dark Knights patches. These were the most loyal men Tank knew, and he was proud to be among them. They’d been there for his family when Ashley had passed away, and he knew he could call any one of them, day or night, and they’d have his back. And the night of the accident, a few calls had ensured they’d have Leah’s and the girls’ backs, too.
He parked by the other bikes. Blaine and Maverick were talking with Justice on the grass, and Baz was on the phone a few feet away. Gunner, Zeke, and Zander were on the porch with Sidney and two of Gunner’s dogs. Gunner was holding the fluffy white kitten he’d taken in over the summer. Tank couldn’t help thinking about how much the girls would like to see that kitten.
As he took off his helmet, guys called out to greet him. Climbing off his bike, Tank acknowledged them with a nod. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to his mother. Heading out for a ride. Any chance you can check on Leah later?
“Hey, Tank,” Blaine called over. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Plans changed.” Tank’s phone vibrated, and he read his mother’s response. Sure. Everything okay? He thumbed out a response as he headed for the guys. Yeah. Thanks. Love you. He pocketed his phone.
“Hey, man.” Maverick bumped fists with him. He was a big dude with dark hair, ice-blue eyes, and a close-cropped beard. He looked so much like Blaine and his other siblings, no one could tell he’d been adopted. “How are Leah and her girls holding up?”
“It’s a long road. You know how it is.” Every damn one of us does. “I sent Chloe an email late last night about making something for me. Do you know if she got it?” Chloe Mallery was Maverick’s fiancée.
“Yeah, she’s got you covered.”