Chapter 3 - Tank
Amelia’s been through hell, but there's still steel in her spine.
The kind that doesn't bend or break, no matter how much pressure is applied. It reminds me of something my drill sergeant once said: "It's not about how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."
This woman has been hit harder than most, yet here she is, still moving forward. For her daughter. For herself.
"We need to move you both to the safe house tonight," I say, pulling myself back to the task at hand. "Pack whatever you brought with you. We'll leave in twenty minutes."
Jenny nods. "We don't have much. Just what we could fit in my car."
"Your car stays here," I tell her firmly. "We'll take one of ours. Less chance of it being recognized if your ex has put out feelers."
Amelia swallows hard. "He has. He's already texted my mother's nursing home pretending to be concerned about finding us."
"All the more reason to move quickly." I turn to Luna. "Can you help them get ready? I need to talk to King about our next steps."
"Of course." Luna gives Amelia's shoulder a gentle squeeze.
As the women gather Anna and head toward the back of the clubhouse, I make my way to King's office. He's already there, phone to his ear, probably updating the rest of the club on our change of plans. When he sees me, he wraps up his call.
"Rage and Torch succeeded," he tells me, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Warehouse is ash, no casualties."
I nod, relieved. "Good. One less thing to worry about."
"So," King leans against his desk, arms folded. "Your sister and her friends. What's the plan?"
"Moving them to the cabin tonight. Beast will come with us as backup. I'll stay there until tomorrow, then head to Riverbrook to deal with the ex-husband."
King raises an eyebrow. "You're going to Riverbrook alone?"
"No," I concede. "I'll probably take Steel. He knows how to handle cops without leaving evidence."
"This guy's dangerous?"
"He fractured her ribs last month. Put bruises on his five-year-old daughter's arm three days ago."
King's expression hardens. "Then he's already a dead man walking. He just doesn't know it yet."
"I'm not looking to start a war with the Riverbrook PD," I say. "But I need to make sure he understands that Amelia and Anna are untouchable now."
"And if he doesn't get the message?"
I meet King's gaze steadily. "Then I'll make sure he's not a problem anymore."
"Just be careful. We're already stretched thin with the Eagles."
"I know. I won't be gone long." I hesitate, then add, "Thank you. For backing my play on this."
King gives me a rare smile. "She's your sister. That makes her family. And we protect family."
With a nod, I leave to make preparations.
First, I grab my go-bag from my room—always packed with essentials for unexpected trips.
Then I head to the garage to prep one of our unmarked vehicles, a nondescript black SUV with tinted windows and reinforced doors.
Not bulletproof, but sturdy enough to withstand most threats.
As I'm checking the tires, Beast appears in the garage doorway, his massive frame blocking most of the light.
"So," he says with a smirk, "I hear you're driving a car tonight instead of your bike. Must be serious. You hate cars."
I straighten up, fixing him with a flat stare. "Get your shit together. You're coming with us."
His eyebrows shoot up. "To babysit?"
"To provide additional security," I correct him. "No Savage Rider walks alone during tough times."
Beast's smirk widens. "Tough times, huh? Sure it's not because you need moral support facing your little sister? She seems like she can hold her own."
I throw a rag at him, which he catches easily. "She gets that from our mother."
"She gets something else from your mother too," Beast says, his tone shifting. "That smile. Lights up her whole face."
The comment catches me off guard. I stare at him, not liking the way his eyes soften when he mentions Jenny's smile.
"She's twenty-four," I say pointedly. "Too young for you."
Beast holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Just making an observation, brother. No harm in appreciating beauty."
"Appreciate from a distance," I growl. "She's been through enough without adding biker drama to her life."
The truth is, I have no right to play the protective big brother. Not after leaving her behind. Not after years of minimal contact. But old instincts die hard, and something about the way Beast looks at her sets off alarm bells.
"Relax, Tank," Beast says, clapping me on the shoulder as he passes. "I'll keep my appreciation respectful. Besides, I'm not the one stealing glances at the pretty single mom."
Heat creeps up my neck. "I'm not stealing glances."
"Sure you're not." Beast chuckles. "And I'm not six-foot-four and devastatingly handsome."
I shake my head. Beast is an idiot, but he's observant.
Too observant. I have been noticing Amelia.
Not just her situation, but her. The curve of her cheek.
The determination in her eyes. The way she seems to stand a little taller when she's near Anna, as if drawing strength from her daughter's presence.
And she is beautiful, despite the bruise on her face.
Or maybe even because of it. Because it shows what she's survived.
But she's also vulnerable, traumatized, and in danger.
The last thing she needs is another man complicating her life, especially one like me with more blood on his hands than I care to remember.
I finish prepping the SUV and return to the clubhouse just as Luna is helping the women gather their things.
Anna clutches a worn stuffed rabbit, her eyes wide as she takes in the club members moving around the main room.
I watch as Beast crouches down to her eye level, his enormous frame somehow making itself less intimidating.
"That's a cool rabbit," he says gently. "Does he have a name?"
Anna regards him cautiously before answering. "Hoppy."
"Hoppy. That's perfect." Beast nods seriously. "You know, Hoppy looks like a brave rabbit. Is he brave like you?"
A small smile tugs at Anna's lips. "I'm not brave."
"Sure you are," Beast insists. "Moving to a new place takes lots of courage. I bet Hoppy is proud of you."
The interaction surprises me. I've seen Beast break a man's jaw for looking at him wrong, yet here he is, speaking softly to a frightened child, somehow knowing exactly what to say.
"We're ready," Jenny announces, coming to stand beside me with a small duffel bag over her shoulder.
Amelia follows, carrying a larger bag that must contain both her and Anna's belongings. It's pitifully small for what should be a life's possessions. I reach out to take it from her, our fingers brushing as she relinquishes the weight.
"Thank you," she says quietly, and I'm not sure if she means for taking the bag or for everything else.
"Car's out front," I tell them, turning away before I can dwell on the warmth of her skin against mine. "Beast will ride with us. Security precaution."
As we head outside, I scan the street for anything suspicious. It's a habit, ingrained by years of military training and heightened by our ongoing war with the Iron Eagles. The street is quiet, just a few locals heading home from the bar down the block.
I load the bags into the trunk while Beast helps Anna into her car seat.
My sister slides into the back next to her daughter, leaving Amelia to take the passenger seat beside me.
The arrangement feels oddly domestic, like we're just a family heading out for a weekend trip rather than running from a violent ex-husband.
I pull away from the curb, driving casually but alert, taking a roundabout route to make sure we're not followed.
In the rearview mirror, I see Jenny whispering something to Anna, who giggles softly in response.
Beast catches my eye from his position in the third row of seats and gives me a thumbs up to indicate everything's clear.
"So," Jenny breaks the silence after a few minutes. "What did you mean by 'tough times'? Is there something going on with the club?"
I consider how much to tell her. The less she knows about our war with the Iron Eagles, the safer she is. But she's not stupid, and she deserves some explanation.
"We're having some issues with another motorcycle club," I confess. "Nothing for you to worry about. It's being resolved."
"Is it dangerous?" she presses.
"Everything in life is dangerous, Jen," I reply. "Crossing the street is dangerous. Dating is dangerous. Apparently, even being a cop's wife is dangerous."
She falls silent, and I immediately regret my harsh tone.
"I'm sorry," I add more gently. "Yes, there's some risk involved with the other club, but we have it under control. The safe house is secure, and no one will connect you to us. You'll be safe there."
Amelia shifts beside me, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap. "Will you stay? At the safe house, I mean."
Her voice is so quiet I almost miss the question. When I glance over, her eyes are fixed straight ahead, as if she's afraid to look at me when asking for reassurance.
"Yes," I tell her. "Tonight and part of tomorrow. Then I need to handle some business, but Beast will stay with you until I get back."
She nods, visibly relieved. "Thank you. For all of this. I know we're strangers, and you didn't have to help us."
"You're not strangers," I correct her. "You're Jenny's friend, which means you're under our protection now."
"Our protection," she repeats, testing the words.
"The Savage Riders look after their own," I tell her, the words coming easily to my lips. "And now, that includes you and Anna."
I turn onto a narrow dirt road that winds through dense forest, the SUV's headlights cutting through the darkness.
After about two miles, the trees open up to reveal a small clearing with a cabin nestled against the tree line.
It's nothing fancy. Just a two-bedroom structure with a wide porch and reinforced shutters, but it's solid and secure.
"Home sweet home," I announce, pulling up to the front. "At least for now."
As I kill the engine, Anna's sleepy voice drifts from the back seat. "Mommy, is this our new house? It looks like the one from the story about the bears."
Amelia turns to look at her daughter, and for the first time since I met her, a genuine smile spreads across her face. "It does look a little like that, doesn't it? But no bears here, just us."
"And the big men," Anna adds, pointing to Beast and me.
"Yes," Amelia agrees, her eyes meeting mine over the center console. "And the big men to keep us safe."
Something awakens in my chest at her words—a protective instinct that goes beyond club obligation or family duty. I want to keep them safe. Both of them. Not just because Jenny asked me to, but because they deserve better than the fear they've been living with.
"Let's get you settled," I say, breaking eye contact. "It's been a long day."
As we unload the car and move into the cabin, I catch Beast watching my sister again, his expression softer than I've ever seen it.
Jenny doesn't seem to notice, focused on helping Anna get comfortable in the new space, but I do.
And despite my earlier warnings, I can't find it in me to be truly angry.
After all, who am I to judge? I've spent the last hour trying not to stare at Amelia, trying not to notice how, despite the bruise darkening her cheek, she's absolutely gorgeous. Trying not to imagine what she'd look like with her guard down, smiling freely, without fear shadowing her eyes.
Yeah, I'm in no position to lecture Beast about inappropriate attractions.
But that doesn't mean I won't try. Because that's what big brothers do, even ones who've been absent for too long