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“How’s he doing?” Spike asks as I step into the war room.
“He’s finally asleep,” I say, dropping into the empty seat beside Tank. “Abby’s over there now in case he wakes up and needs help with something.”
“Speaking of Abby,” Spike says, rubbing a hand down his face, “I’ve agreed to officially let her open her shop. Her and Lila are heading over tomorrow to get things started. She plans to open next month.”
“It’s not safe for her to be working outside the compound right now,” Tank says, voice flat.
“I know,” Spike sighs. “Last damn thing I want is those girls beyond these walls. But you know Abby, Tank. If I keep saying no, she’s gonna feel trapped. And I can’t have that. Not after everything she’s been through. We’ll have men with them at all times, and Foster is making sure the security system is top-notch.”
“We don’thavethe extra men,” Tank snaps. “Not to stand around all fucking day watching over them simply because the woman doesn’t want to do as she’s fucking told.”
Damn it. I should’ve sat beside Bones.
“The only reason I’m not jumping up to kick your ass for talking about my sister like that,” Spike growls, “is because I know exactly how you feel about her. But let’s get something straight, brother.”
Tank stiffens beside me, but Spike doesn’t give him a chance to speak.
“You’ve made your place in her life pretty fucking clear. You’ve pushed her away while she was practically begging you for attention for years.Years, Tank. You don’t want her close. You don’t want her attention. You don’t want her love. You sure as hell don’t want her wearing your property patch.”
Spike’s voice is low and dangerous.
“So you have zero fucking rights to argue with me aboutmydecisions formysister.”
Tank looks like he’s been punched in the gut, but Spike isn’t done.
“And in case your math skills need refreshing,vice fucking president?” Spike snaps. “We’ve got well over three hundred men. Plenty to keep Abby and Lila safe while she opens her damn shop.”
The room falls quiet.
Spike leans back in his chair like he didn’t just verbally skin the second-in-command alive. Meanwhile, Tank sits there like he’s wrestling a demon inside his own chest. And I know that demon well…hell, we all do.
Tank’s been brushing off Abby’s crush for years. Not because he’s not into her. Not because he doesn’t want her. The man fucking loves her.
But because he doesn’t think he’sgood enoughfor our club princess.
And even though Spike has given his blessing a dozen damn times over, Tank still keeps pushing her away.
He’s fighting a battle he’s destined to lose.
Because when it comes to Abby, Tank’s heart doesn’t stand a chance.
One day…maybe sooner than he thinks…he’ll cave. He’ll give in. He’ll admit the truth we all already know. And he’ll put his patch on her the way he’s always secretly wanted to.
I just hope the stubborn bastard isn’t too late when that day finally comes.
Abby’s been through hell. A hell that she’s still not fully recovered from. But none of that diminishes how fucking beautiful she is…inside and out. And if she ever decides to let herself love someone else…it won’t take long before some lucky bastard swoops in and treats her exactly like the precious woman she is.
Tank better wake the hell up…or he’ll lose her without ever having her at all.
“Now, the reason I called you all over here this late is that we’ve just received an email,” Spike says. “Our presence has been requested.”
“Ourpresencehas beenrequested?” I smirk. “Where to? Buckingham Palace?”
“Better,” Foster laughs. “The Moretti Estate.”
“The Italians?” I stare at him. “I think I’d rather go to London.”
