Chapter Seven
Tank
I roll into the compound and head straight to swap my truck for my bike.
“He’s already tied up in Maverick’s basement,” Spike says, straddling his own bike. “Didn’t take Foster more than an hour to track him down. The idiot used Abigail’s bank card to buy gas.”
I crack my knuckles, the sound sharp, promising blood. “I know the threat’s about to be handled. But I need someone on Abigail’s place. She doesn’t want me there, and I don’t want her alone.”
“I’ve got prospects on rotation,” Spike says. “Riley and Eli are heading over later today, too.”
I pause. “Not those idiot snipers who let Knuckles and Eli get taken?”
“Nah,” Spike snorts, straddling his own bike. “Those fuckers got stripped of their patches and shoved back down to prospects, but they’re on cleanup duty and get to spend the next year earning their way back up.”
Good.
I swing my leg over my bike, fire it up, and let the engine growl.
Because the man in Maverick’s basement?
He’s already dead.
He just doesn’t know it yet.
By the time we reach Maverick’s place, the house is quiet.
Too quiet for as many people that live inside. Maverick is the Italian mafia Don, and this place is his safe haven for the members of his family who asked for it.
I cut the engine and walk straight around back and through the basement door.
“Maverick texted that he has men down there,” Spike says. “They’re just waiting on us to take over.”
Two men stand against the far wall. Twins. Silent and identical, arms crossed, faces blank.
I’ve dealt with these two before. They’re big fuckers and have anger issues.
Between them…him!
They’ve stripped him naked and chained him to the wall, arms hauled high above his head, wrists locked in steel. His legs are spread and secured, leaving him exposed.
I step closer, boots slow against the concrete, and watch his breathing hitch when he realizes who I am.
He starts talking immediately.
“I didn’t…she wanted…she said…”
I hold up a hand.
Silence falls instantly.
I don’t rush this. I don’t yell. I don’t touch him.
I just look.
I take in the marks the twins left. Just enough discomfort to make him aware of his body. Of his vulnerability. Of the fact that no one is coming for him.
“You know what the worst part is?” I say calmly. “You’re not confused. You know exactly what you did.”
He shakes his head violently.
“I was drunk…she was drunk…we…”
I step close, and his eyes dart to the door. Anywhere but me.
“I’m not here to hear your excuses,” I continue. “I’m here to make sure you never hurt anyone again.”
One of the twins shifts behind me. Hands something over.
I don’t look back.
I keep my eyes on him.
“You don’t get mercy,” I tell him quietly. “You don’t get forgiveness. And you don’t get a quick ending.”
His breathing turns ragged.
I turn slightly, just enough to signal the twins.
“Lock the door,” I say.
The bolt slides home with a final, echoing thunk. The twins remain next to the door…Spike leans against the wall.
I’ll let him have his time before I kill this fucker.
I roll my shoulders, steadying myself…not with rage, but with purpose.
Because what I’m about to do?
This isn’t revenge.
It’s justice.
And when I’m done, there won’t be a trace left of the man who thought he could touch what was never his to fucking touch.
***ABBY***
Eli and Riley make themselves at home, and I have to admit, I needed the company more than I realized.
“Before either of you says anything,” I start, holding up a hand, “I don’t want to talk about what happened to me. I only remember bits and pieces, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m hoping that’s all my mind ever remembers.”
They both nod immediately.
“We just want to make sure you’re okay,” Eli says gently.
“I am,” I say, and I mean it. “Patch gave me the morning-after pill and medication for everything else. I’m not seriously hurt. And almost everything after I left the bar is blank.”
I take a breath.
“I did dream about it last night. Just enough to confirm what I was too afraid to admit. That I was violated. But mentally? I’m okay. If that changes, I’ll tell you. I promise.”
And I do mean every word.
Right now, my body feels more traumatized than my mind. I know shock might be cushioning me. But in this moment, I’m steady.
“One last thing,” Riley says carefully. “Then we’ll change the subject. Foster found the man who did it. Tank and Spike are taking care of him as we speak. He won’t hurt you again.”
I nod. I already figured as much. Bubby texted earlier to tell me Tank was with him and that men were covering my shop.
“So,” I say, forcing a lighter tone, “Tank.”
Eli gives a small, sad smile. “He’s admitted his feelings for you.”
I don’t react. I just wait.
“We all saw it,” he continues. “The other night, when he realized you didn’t miss Christmas to avoid him. When he realized we all forgot to tell you about the last-minute change. He lost it. The thought of you being alone snapped something in him. He said he was going to bring his woman home.”
Riley swallows. “We’re so sorry. We really are. We only found out around two that morning, and we were still cleaning up from the carnival. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I forgive you,” I say quietly. “I do.”
They both look relieved…but I’m not finished.
“But it wasn’t just forgetting to tell me,” I continue. “I was already feeling left out. No one wanted my help with the fundraiser. The visits got shorter. The calls got quicker. I felt like I was being left behind.”
My hands twist together in my lap.
“And that wasn’t even the part that hurt the most.”
They both go very still.
“It was knowing you all sat around that tree opening gifts… and no one noticed I wasn’t there.” My voice stays calm, but it shakes anyway. “Wasn’t there a gift for me? Didn’t anyone notice my presents weren’t being opened?”
Riley’s eyes fill instantly.
“I know you all have families now,” I whisper. “Kids. Responsibilities. I get that. But Spike is my only family. Him and Sammy.”
I look up at them, my chest aching.
“And he didn’t even notice I wasn’t there.”
The silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable.
It’s heavy.
And for the first time since everything fell apart, I feel like I’m finally being heard.
I don’t raise my voice. I don’t cry.
“I need you to understand something,” I say quietly. “Because this didn’t happen all at once. It wasn’t just Christmas. It was slow.”
Riley’s brows knit together. Eli swallows hard.
“It was the little things,” I continue. “The way no one asked me to help anymore. The way every answer became we’ve got it covered. The way I stopped being needed.”
“That wasn’t...” Riley starts.
“I know,” I say gently. “You didn’t mean it. That doesn’t make it hurt less.”
Eli’s eyes drop to the floor.
“I used to feel like part of the Shadows,” I say. “Not just the President’s sister. Not just the Princess you had to protect. I was family. I mattered.”
My chest tightens, but I keep going.
“And then one day, I realized I could disappear for days at a time… and no one would notice.”
Riley’s breath stutters.
“I moved out because I needed to move on,” I say softly. “And everyone told themselves it was fine because I smiled. Because I said I was okay. Because I didn’t want to be a burden.”
Tears spill over Riley’s lashes.
“I sat alone in this apartment night after night,” I continue. “Listening to silence. Convincing myself that I chose it. That I wanted it. That I was strong enough to handle it.”
Eli’s hands start shaking.
“And then Christmas happened.”
I finally look at them.
“I stood outside the gate with gifts for every single one of you. Gifts I picked out with love. Gifts I wrapped by myself in my shop late at night because it made me feel close to you.”
Riley lets out a broken sob.
“I watched you all laughing,” I whisper. “Opening presents. Holding your kids. Being a family.”
My voice cracks, but I don’t stop.
“And I realized that I wasn’t part of that anymore.”
Eli’s tears fall freely now.
“When I went to that bar?” I admit quietly. “That wasn’t about being reckless. That was about being tired of feeling invisible.”
Eli lets out a sound that’s halfway between a sob and a gasp.
“I needed someone to see me,” I say. “To choose me. To want me.”
“Abby,” Riley cries. “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.”
Eli sinks onto the couch beside her, his face buried in his hands.
“We failed you,” he whispers. “We were right there… and we still failed you.”
I finally let the tears fall then. Quietly but heavy.
“I don’t want apologies,” I say softly. “I just need you to understand why this broke me.”
Riley looks up at me, eyes red and swollen.
“We won’t ever let this happen again,” she says fiercely. “I swear it. Never.”
Eli nods, crying openly now. “Whatever you need. We’ll do it.”
I reach out and take both their hands.
“I don’t need you to save me,” I say. “I just need you to see me.”
They both nod.
“We all sat down last night and really thought about the many times you reached out,” Eli says. “Even when it was just to say hi.”
“And how busy we were,” Riley adds quietly, “that we’d send a quick reply or rush through a phone call before hanging up.”
“It wasn’t intentional,” Lila says from behind me. “We just weren’t used to talking over text because we were always around one another. We sometimes didn’t check our phones for hours…or days.”
I turn. “How long have you two been here?”
“Long enough,” Sunny says softly. “Long enough to realize how horrible we’ve been as friends.”
“It’s not just on you,” I admit. “I share the blame. I could have come to the compound. I could have stayed. I thought I needed space… silence.”
“And now?” Eli asks.
“Now?” I exhale. “Now I just need my family.”
Riley’s face lights up. “So you’re moving back in?”
“We’d all love that,” Lila adds quickly.
“Tank would too,” Sunny says with a hopeful smile. “He finally admitted he loves you. You can finally be together.”
I take a deep breath and say the words that have been sitting heavy in my chest all day.
“I don’t think Tank is what I want anymore.”
Every smile fades.
“Well… that’s not entirely true,” I continue quietly. “Tank and I are meant to be together. I’ve always believed that. I never understood the intensity of what I felt around him, but I didn’t really need to. I just knew.”
I swallow.
“But being rejected by the person your heart chose for years does something to you.”
No one interrupts.
“Tank owns my heart,” I say honestly. “He always will. I’ve already accepted that I may never love someone the way I love him.”
Sunny’s eyes shine with tears.
“But I still hope I fall in love again someday,” I continue. “It might not be as intense. It might not feel the same. But it’ll still be real.”
My hands curl together.
“I can’t allow myself to hope anymore. I can’t put myself in a position where one more rejection could break what little I’ve managed to hold together.”
I look up, meeting each of their eyes.
“Tank only thinks he loves me now because of what happened.”
The words land heavily.
“And I refuse to build a future on tragedy.”
Riley is the first to speak.
“Abby, I hear what you’re saying,” she says softly. “And you’re right. What you went through…what you endured…it changes things. You don’t owe Tank anything.”
I nod.
“But,” Riley continues, carefully, “what you and Tank have? It’s rare. It’s powerful. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t just happen.”
Sunny steps closer. “We’re not saying you should run to him,” she adds quickly. “Or forgive him overnight. Or pretend the past didn’t hurt like hell.”
Lila’s voice shakes when she joins in. “We’re saying… don’t close the door forever just because you’re afraid to hope.”
Eli meets my eyes, steady and sure. “You don’t have to choose him right now. Or even soon. But don’t erase the possibility of him earning his way back to you.”
My chest tightens.
“He spent years keeping you at arm’s length,” Eli continues. “If he wants you? He needs to work for it. Consistently. Loudly. Without you having to ask.”
“And on your terms,” Riley adds firmly. “Not his guilt. Not his fear. Not what happened.”
Sunny reaches for my hand. “You deserve to be loved without hesitation. Without conditions. Without silence.”
I breathe through the ache building in my throat.
“What if I can’t handle hoping again?” I ask quietly.
“Then don’t,” Riley says simply. “Not yet.”
“Let him hope,” Lila says. “Let him prove.”
Eli gives a small smile. “And if he’s really the man we all think he is? He’ll wait. He’ll fight.”
Silence settles over us.
“I don’t want to be rejected again,” I admit. “I don’t want empty promises.”
“Good,” Sunny says. “Because what you deserve is effort.”
I nod slowly.
“I’m not closing the door,” I finally say. “But I’m not holding it open either.”
Riley smiles through her tears. “That sounds exactly right.”
And for the first time in days, the knot in my chest loosens just a little.