“We’re going back to Yonkers,” he said.
Her breath caught. “Back to Yonkers,” she echoed.
“Your sister’s right,” he said. “You’re safer with people around and with her club.”
Lillith blinked, because that wasn’t something she expected him to say. “You sure about that?” she asked.
“No,” he said honestly, and then glanced at her. “But I’m sure as hell not letting you get taken.”
Something in her chest tightened. “Tank?—”
“Don’t,” he said quietly, starting the truck. “Don’t make this something it’s not.” She wanted to tell him that it was too late. This thing between them was happening whether he liked it or not.
“Buckle up,” she breathed as he pulled out of the parking lot. She had a feeling that things were about to get bumpy.
As they pulled out of the lot, heading back toward Yonkers, Lillith leaned back in her seat, her mind racing. Everything was changing—fast. But for the first time since this all started, she didn’t feel like she was just reacting to what was happening around her. She was choosing her next move. She had chosen to call her sister and to go back home. She was just happy that her sister was able to convince Tank that it was a good idea.
When she glanced over at Tank, watching the way his grip tightened on the wheel, the way his eyes stayed sharp, alert, she knew one more thing. He was choosing too, even if he hadn’t said it out loud yet. He was choosing her, and she knew that he was going to fight it tooth and nail.
TANK
They pulled into town at around dawn. Yonkers looked the same, even though he expected it to look different somehow. Maybe that was just wishful thinking, and that was the problem. He had been doing too much thinking since Lillith had tumbled into his life. Or, maybe it was the other way around, since he stumbled into the church accidentally, where the Royal Harlots met.
He felt like there wasn’t a target sitting in his truck, and that had him feeling uneasy once he crossed city lines. There wasn’t a countdown ticking somewhere he couldn’t see, but he could feel that something was off. Tank slowed a block out, eyes sweeping the street like he expected it to bite him.
“Relax,” Lillith said quietly. “You’re doing the thing again.”
“I won’t relax here,” he muttered. “This is where someone tried to take you,” he reminded.
“Yeah, I’m getting that,” she sassed. He didn’t answer. Honestly, he didn’t have the energy. His focus was already on the building ahead—the church, or what used to be one. Now, it looked like something else entirely. It wasn’t finished yet, but it looked lived in.
Motorcycles lined the side of the building, and seeing them there made him smile. He remembered the first day that he met Lillith, and the back pew was lined with bike helmets. Tools were still stacked near the open doors, and fresh lumber leaned against one wall. The place was a work in progress, just like everything else.
Tank pulled the truck to a stop, but he didn’t kill the engine right away. Instead, he watched and waited for any signs of trouble. A woman stood by the door, and he saw a few more moving inside. Two more shadows shifted deeper inside the building.
“Home sweet home,” Lillith said softly beside him. Tank finally killed the engine.
“This isn’t home,” he said.
“Give it a minute,” she shot back. His jaw tightened because that wasn’t the part that bothered him. The part that bothered him was how easy it would be for her to think that after such a short amount of time.
“Stay close,” he said, opening his door.
She snorted. “You say that like I’ve got somewhere else to be.” He didn’t respond. He just stepped out of the truck and was already scanning the street again. He didn’t see any noticeable danger, but that didn’t mean anything.
He moved around the front of the truck just as the church door swung open. Ember stepped out, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight. She stared him down, and if he was being honest, she intimidated the hell out of him. Her presence didn’t ask for attention; it just took it. Ember didn’t smile. She just looked straight through him, and then at Lillith, and back to him again.
“About time,” she said. Lillith didn’t hesitate. She moved past Tank, closing the distance and pulling Ember into a quick hug. Tank watched, not because he cared about their reunion, but because he watched everything—always. Especially when itinvolved Lillith. Ember hugged her back, and then she stepped back, her hands landing on Lillith’s shoulders.
“You good?” she asked.
“I’m okay,” Lillith said.
Ember’s gaze flicked to Tank. “Define okay,” she demanded.
“Well, I haven’t been kidnapped today,” Lillith said dryly. Ember’s expression didn’t change much, but her eyes sharpened as she stared him down again.
“Let’s get inside,” she said. It wasn’t a suggestion. She called for the other women, and the rest of them appeared. There were about five or six women—maybe more. They were all watching him as though assessing him. Tank didn’t miss the way they positioned themselves protectively around Lillith and Ember. They were watching their territory, and he was a fool to walk into the church, but there was no way that he’d leave Lillith.
