Chapter 23
Boiler
The third day of our search dawned with a heavy sense of desperation. I hadn't slept much, my mind plagued with thoughts of Tank. Every minute she was missing felt like an eternity, and the fear of what might be happening to her gnawed at my insides. Just as I was about to set out for another round of fruitless searching, my phone buzzed. It was Bull.
"Boiler, we got a lead," Bull said, his voice urgent. "That warehouse on the outskirts of town. It's known for some shady shit. Rip found Viper’s killers there. Might be worth checking out."
The mention of Viper’s murder had me so worried, my heart beating a mile a minute. It was a long shot, but it was the only lead we had. I couldn't afford to waste any time.
"I'll rally the brothers," I replied, already grabbing my gear. "Meet you there in twenty."
The Slayers were ready in minutes. We rode out in a thunderous convoy, engines roaring as we tore through the streets. The warehouse was just up ahead, a creepy old building on the edge of town. It was the type of place where bad things went down.
As we got closer, I gave a signal for the guys to spread out and surround the building. Each beat of my heart reminded me of what was at stake. I had to find her. I had no other option.
We stormed the warehouse, splitting up to cover more ground. The place was a maze of dark, grimy corridors and rooms filled with junk and debris. Every door we kicked open, every corner we turned, I half expected to find Tank, hoping and fearing what I might see.
The warehouse was eerily quiet, the only sounds our footsteps and the distant hum of electricity. The deeper we went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. It felt like the walls were closing in, the darkness pressing down on us.
Suddenly, Bull's voice crackled over the radio. "Boiler, we found something. Back room, north side."
My heart leapt into my throat. I sprinted down the corridor, the walls a blur as I raced toward the north side. I burst into the room, and there she was.
Tank was tied to a chair, her body slumped forward, cuts and bruises marring her beautiful skin. The sight of her like that nearly broke me. But she was alive. That was all that mattered.
"Tank," I whispered, rushing to her side. I quickly cut the ropes binding her, my hands shaking. She gazed up at me, her eyes filled with painful tears.
"Boiler," she murmured, her voice weak. "I knew you'd come."
I pulled her into my arms, holding her close. "I thought I'd lost you," I said, my voice choked with emotion.
She leaned against me, her strength returning slowly. "I'm okay now. Thanks to you."
We had to move quickly. The warehouse wasn't safe, and we didn't know if anyone else was lurking around. I signaled to Bull and the others to keep watch as I helped Tank to her feet.
"Can you walk?" I asked, my arm supporting her.
She nodded, though her legs trembled. "Yeah. Just get me out of here."
Swooping her up, I carried her out of the warehouse. The fresh air seemed to erase the suffocating darkness inside. The brothers formed a protective circle around us as we headed for the bikes.
Back at the clubhouse, we tended to Tank's wounds. She winced as I cleaned the cuts and bruises, but she didn't complain. Her resilience was one of the things I admired most about her.
"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."
I nodded, my respect for her growing even more. "Damn right we are."
“I don’t want to kill him or anything, but he has to sign these divorce papers and leave me the hell alone.”
“Agreed. And then we call the cops, and you press charges for kidnapping.”
Tank nodded her agreement. We had discussed it and figured it would be better to have him answer for his crimes. We knew it was like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound, but if anything happened to Jeff, Tank would be the first suspect.
As the sun went down, we got ready for the showdown. The warehouse, standing in the distance, served as a reminder of the impending danger. We parked a short distance away, moving in quietly to avoid detection. The plan was simple. Get in, take out Jeff and his goons, and get out.
Despite her injuries, Tank led the way, her eyes sharp and focused. We moved through the shadows, our footsteps silent. As we approached the main room, we could hear voices. Jeff and buddies, arguing about Tank’s escape, but also laughing, seemingly making more sinister plans. They had no idea what was coming.
Tank signaled for us to spread out, each of us taking up positions around the room. She drew in a deep breath, then stepped forward, her voice ringing out with authority. "Jeff! Your time's up."
The moment Tank's words echoed through the room, the laughter and idle chatter ceased. Every head turned towards her, eyes widening in shock and then narrowing in anger. Jeff, recognizing the woman he thought he'd broken, snarled and reached for his gun.
"You should have stayed down, bitch," he spat, fury contorting his face.
But he didn't get a chance to act. The Slayers and the Hell on Heelz were a well-oiled machine, moving in with precision. Bull, Lynx, and the others took down Jeff's guys in a matter of seconds. The room erupted into chaos, but it was a controlled chaos, our chaos.
I saw Bull grab one of Jeff’s goons, slamming him into the wall with enough force to knock the air out of him. Lynx was a blur, his fists a deadly dance as he took down another. The sounds of flesh meeting flesh, grunts of pain, and the clattering of falling bodies filled the warehouse.
Tank and I moved towards Jeff, our steps in sync, a united front as the Heelz surrounded us. He swung his gun towards us, but I was quicker, knocking the weapon from his hand with a swift, precise strike. Tank moved in with a devastating blow, causing him to bend forward in pain.
Jeff’s eyes were wide with fear. "You won't get away with this," he gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
"We already have," Tank shot back, her voice a deep, threatening growl. "This is for everything you've done to me."
Together, we disarmed Jeff completely, binding his wrists with zip ties. He struggled, but Tank and I were ruthless, ensuring he had no chance of escape.
One of the other men lunged at Tank, a knife glinting in his hand. Her sister Razor intercepted him, twisting his arm until the blade clattered to the ground. With a swift, brutal motion, she knocked him out cold.
Jeff, still on his knees, looked up at Tank with hatred burning within him. "You think this changes anything? You're still a piece of shit, just like you always were."
Tank bent down to his level, her expression cold and unyielding. "No, Jeff. This changes everything. You're done. Your reign over me is over. You’ll sign these papers if you want to leave here with your life."
She put a pen in his hand and held the papers for him. The man scribbled his name. With that, she stood up, turning her back on him. I could see the satisfaction in her eyes, the weight of years of abuse and fear lifting from her shoulders.
We left the warehouse, leaving Jeff and his new buddies behind, their fate sealed as Bull got on the phone to the fuzz.
"Boiler," Tank said softly, looking up at me. "Thank you. For helping with Jeff."
I pulled her close, feeling her warmth against me. "Always, Tank. I'll always stand by you."
Back at the clubhouse, the brothers celebrated our victory. Tank and I shared a quiet moment, our bond even stronger after the ordeal.
"We did it," she said, her eyes shining with pride.
"Yeah, we did," I replied, holding her close. "And this means you’re officially up for grabs."
“Boiler, don’t get any ideas.”