Tank (Dixie Reapers MC 9) Read online

  “Are we going to eat here all the damn time just because you want to bang the hot little Hispanic girl?” Tempest asked. “Because the food is decent enough, but I’m starting to get tired of it.”

  “No one said you had to come along,” I told him, my gaze still locked on Emmie.

  “And miss it when you finally find your balls and go talk to her?” he asked. “No, until you man the fuck up and ask her out, I’ll just keep tagging along. Might be worth it if she shoots you down. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman turn you away, except that federal agent. That one over there, she doesn’t look like someone who would be interested in a guy like you.”

  “Why’s that?” I asked.

  “For one, she’s what? Five feet nothing to your six feet five? How the hell would that even work?” Tempest asked.

  I looked over at him and raised a brow. “Really? Do you need lessons? Is that why you’re still single? Not keeping the ladies happy in the bedroom?”

  Tempest flipped me off, and I went back to watching Emmie.

  No one knew her story. I’d asked around, but she was a complete unknown. No family in the area, and I’d heard she was staying at some shit motel on the other end of town. It wasn’t safe, and I’d taken to driving by there when I knew she was going home from work. Even though I made sure she got into her room without any problems, it was impossible to guarantee her safety past that. Not unless I camped out at her doorstep all night.

  The bell over the door jingled, and Emmie went deathly pale, dropping the plate she’d been carrying. It shattered at her feet, but she was frozen in place. My gaze locked onto the men who had just entered the diner. It was obvious she recognized them, even though I didn’t, and I made it my mission in life to know all the big players in town. These men with their expensive suits, three hundred dollar haircuts, and arrogance weren’t small fish. They also didn’t look all that young.

  “Emelda, it’s time to do your duty,” one of them said.

  “How did you find me?” she asked, her voice soft and shaky.

  “That doesn’t matter. Your fiancé is here, and he’s willing to forgive this transgression,” the man said, waving a hand at the guy standing next to him.

  Fiancé? I hadn’t noticed a ring on her finger in all the days I’d been here. And yeah, I’d looked. I might be an asshole at times, but I never poached. If I’d have thought she belonged to someone else, I’d have backed off. Not that I’d really made a move yet anyway.

  “I’m not going with either of you,” she said, tipping her jaw up.

  The men advanced on her, and I knew I had a decision to make. Stand back and let things play out, or step in and extract the little angel from a situation she clearly wanted to avoid. I didn’t know who these men were, but it didn’t matter right then. They scared her, and that put them at the top of my list of assholes who needed to disappear.

  I pushed my chair back and made my way over to her, but she didn’t even look at me. Her hands were clenched at her sides, but I could see the fear in her eyes, and I was willing to bet these men could too. They came closer, pausing a moment as I stepped up behind Emmie. I wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her back against my body.

  “Everything all right, baby?” I asked. “These men bothering you?”

  “Stay out of this,” the supposed fiancé said. “Emelda is mine, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll just walk away. This is family business.”

  “Family business?” I asked. “Then I guess I’ll just have to stick around, seeing as how Emmie is my woman.”

  I could feel the shock coming off Emmie as her body slightly stiffened at my declaration, but she didn’t pull away. If anything, she pressed closer to me and placed her hands over the arm banded around her waist. There was a tremor in her fingers as they pressed against my skin. Whoever these men were, they scared the shit out of her, and that was unacceptable.

  “What is this nonsense?” the other man asked. If the first was her fiancé, I wasn’t quite sure who this man was. He seemed a decade older than the other man. Older brother maybe?

  “I told you, Father. I’m not going with you,” she said.

  Well, shit. I hadn’t expected that, but I wasn’t backing down. If she needed help, I was going to give it to her. If anyone knew calling a man “father” didn’t mean anything, it was me. My dad had been a real jackass, and once I’d put him in my rearview, I’d never looked back. I had a feeling Emmie had tried to do the same thing, but he’d found her.

  “You expect me to believe you’d be living in that shit motel if you were seeing someone?” the fiancé asked. “Or maybe he can’t afford a place and lives in the gutter. You prefer this caveman over me?”

  “Pretty sure she’d prefer dog shit over you,” I said. “And not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been trying to get her to move in with me. You know how stubborn Emmie can be.”

  Her father sneered at me. “Emmie. Her name is Emelda, or did you not know that?”

  The fiancé’s face darkened and he took a step closer. “Did you sleep with him? Let him fuck you?”

  I felt a tremor rake her small frame, and I decided I’d have enough of this shit. I turned and put Emmie behind me, then stepped up to the two assholes who were ruining my night. Without so much as a warning, I planted my fist in the fiancé’s face and knocked him out cold before leveling a glare at her father.

  “You want to be next? Or would you like to walk out of here?” I asked.

  “You’re nothing. Less than nothing.” Her father sneered at me, then spat at my feet. “You think someone like you will stand in my way? You stay with my daughter, and I’ll bury you.”

  I snorted as I let my gaze travel over him, not the least bit impressed. Yeah, he was used to having power and throwing his weight around, but this was Dixie Reapers’ territory. I wasn’t going to let him come into my town and pull this shit, especially not with the sweet woman I’d been fantasizing about for weeks.

  “This isn’t over,” her father said.

  “Oh, trust me. It is. Be sure to take this piece of trash with you on your way out.”

  Her father tried to intimidate her, but I made sure to block his view.

  “Emelda, we’ll discuss this another time when this brute isn’t around. You have a duty to this family, and you will marry Ernesto.”

  I folded my arms over my chest. “You’re wasting valuable time. If you’re still here in another thirty seconds, I’ll take it as an invitation to kick the shit out of you.”

  His jaw clenched, but he wisely didn’t say anything. I tried not to laugh as he attempted to drag Ernesto out of the diner. The man didn’t have much in the way of muscle. He might have power, but it wasn’t the kind that came from using his fists, and I sure as fuck wasn’t afraid of him.

  I waited until they were both clear of the door and it had swung shut before I turned to face Emmie.

  “You all right, sweetheart?”

  She nodded and wiped at the tears streaking her cheeks. “I don’t understand.”

  “What don’t you understand?” I asked.

  “The Dixie Reapers wouldn’t help me before. Or at least the man I spoke to wouldn’t. Why did you stand up for me now?” she asked.

  Everything in me went still. What the fuck was she talking about? The first time I’d ever seen her was here at the diner. If she’d ever come to the compound, I sure as hell would have remembered. And I damn sure wouldn’t have sent her away. “Before?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I went straight to your compound like my sister told me to. The man at the gate took my name and number, said Tank wasn’t available but he’d pass it along. I saw him throw it away as I drove off.”

  “I’m Tank,” I said, tipping her chin up. “Who’s your sister, sweetheart?”

  “Lupita Montoya. She said you’d help me. Keep me safe.”

  My breath froze in my lungs for a moment and my heart gave a hard kick. Lupita Montoya? The sexy as
fuck federal agent who had taken the fall when Wraith had massacred everyone at town hall? I’d tried to get into her pants, but she’d been a feisty one and always shot me down. It had been fun verbally sparring with her, even if she had given me blue balls. It figured the woman I’d been fascinated with the last few weeks was her sister.

  “You’re Emelda Montoya?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I stroked her chin with my thumb. “You tell me what day you came to the gates and I’ll find out who was working that night. Then I’m going to beat the shit out of him for turning you away.”

  She looked out the glass door of the diner and shivered. “They know where I’ve been staying.”

  “You’re not staying at the motel anymore, Emmie. It’s not safe.”

  “I can’t afford anything else.”

  “Hey.” She locked her gaze on mine again. “No one is going to hurt you, because I won’t let them. You’ll come to the compound with me and stay in my guest room.”

  I heard a cough-covered bullshit that sounded like it came from Tempest. I’d deal with that asshole later. Now that I knew who she was, it meant she was off-limits. I had no doubt if Lupita Montoya found out I’d slept with her baby sister, she’d find a way to take my balls, even while she was locked up in prison. That was one she-devil I’d never underestimate. We’d all either witnessed or heard about what she’d done at city hall when everyone had gone after Rin.

  “My shift isn’t over,” Emmie said.

  “Yes, it is.” The diner manager came out, his arms folded. “You’re done here. I told you I didn’t want trouble. When you asked to be paid under the table, I knew something was wrong. I just thought you were some illegal cunt from south of the border.”

  Emmie’s cheeks flushed and I growled at the manager, ready to take his head off for offending her.

  “I’m from Spain, not Mexico,” she said. “And all my documentation is in order. Not that it should matter. Calling any woman a cunt is inexcusable.”

  So not a Latina like I’d assumed, but a pretty Spanish rose.

  “Pack your shit and leave,” the manager said.

  Emmie nodded and I could see the tears in her eyes again. She stepped around the manager and disappeared into the back. I leveled the man with a glare.

  “We give this place a lot of business. Maybe we should rethink our choice of eating establishments,” I said. “Wonder how much you’d lose if none of the Reapers ever came here again? Or our women. Don’t Ridley and Isabella meet here at least twice a week for breakfast?”

  The man audibly swallowed. “I can’t have her here making trouble. She’s always breaking stuff, and now this… It’s not good for business.”

  “Right. And it has nothing to do with the names you called her just now?” I asked. “Are you a racist jackass? Perhaps the owner needs to be made aware of how you treat the women in your employ.”

  The man started sweating. “I’m sure we can work something out.”

  “You give Emmie her last check, and make sure you include a bonus for having to put up with your bullshit. Once I have things sorted out with her family, if she wants to work here again, you’ll hire her back and treat her with some damn respect. Understood?” I asked.

  He nodded and scurried into the back and out of my sight. Emmie passed him, a small bag clutched in her hand, along with a set of keys. She shifted from foot to foot when she stopped in front of me.

  “You follow behind me to the compound,” I said. “My brothers will be right behind you to make sure your dad doesn’t try to fuck with you. You’re safe now, Emmie. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  I waited until she was tucked into her car and the engine running before I went to my bike. I pulled out of the lot with Emmie right behind me, and my brothers trailing her. When we got to the compound and I saw Fenton flinch as his gaze locked on Emmie’s car, I knew exactly who had turned her away, and I’d be getting to the bottom of it really fucking fast. He’d been a good Prospect, so I wasn’t sure what had happened to make him toss Emmie’s number. If those men had found her when I wasn’t around, things could have gone badly for her. It pissed me off that he’d put her in danger.

  I went straight to my house and when I parked my bike, Emmie pulled in next to me. I held her door open as she got out of the car and nervously looked around. I took the keys from her and tossed them to Tempest, who had stuck to us even inside the gates. “Get her shit out of the car, then stop by the motel and clean it out too. I don’t want her going back to that place, even with an escort,” I said.

  “On it,” Tempest said. He paused and glanced at me. “Sorry about the shit I said before. I didn’t realize who she was.”

  Yeah, I hadn’t either. I wasn’t the only one who’d heard she was Lupita’s sister. All my brothers had been listening closely to that exchange. I had no doubt they’d rally around her, make sure Emmie was taken care of at all times. Her sister had earned our respect, and we all damn well knew we owed her. At least those of us who had been around back then. The Prospects were newer and might not have heard about Lupita. If she hadn’t taken the fall for the shit that went down right before Christmas two years ago, back when Rin was in trouble, then Wraith would probably be serving multiple life sentences right now, leaving Rin alone to raise their child, if the stress hadn’t made her miscarry.

  I led Emmie into the house and let her look around. It was relatively small. Even though it had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the entire house was maybe twelve hundred square feet, if that. The master bedroom was a decent size, but the other two were tiny. It hadn’t been an issue before, but now I wished I had a better room to offer Emmie. I’d put a full-size bed, nightstand, and five-drawer chest in the guest room. It was modest, but I’d never really had a use for it. Josie had stayed there for a while, and her daughter had used the third bedroom, but they’d moved out a few years ago and I’d changed the rooms. The third room was now empty of furniture and I had a tendency to shove stuff in there and use it for storage. If I wanted to see my sister and her kids, I went to her house. It was easier than asking her to travel with the rugrats.

  I rubbed my beard and looked around my house, realizing I was maybe a bit messier than I’d ever realized. There were some empty beer bottles on the coffee table in the living room, my kitchen sink was full, and the hamper in my tiny-ass laundry room was overflowing. I didn’t even want to think about the state of my bedroom. I never brought women here, so it hadn’t been an issue. Emmie probably thought I was a slob, and was possibly wishing she’d run the other way when I’d said she was coming home with me.

  “It’s not much,” I said, as she peered into the guest room, “but it’s free and safe. You won’t have to worry about some drunk or drugged out asshole breaking into your room, and I promise to keep my hands to myself. You have nothing to fear while you’re here.”

  “Did you and my sister ever…” Her cheeks flushed and she looked away. “Never mind.”

  “Did we sleep together?” I asked.

  She nodded. “You seem like her type, and I’m sure she’s the type of woman you like.”

  I smiled a little. “No, we didn’t sleep together. I did try to get in her pants, but she shut me down. Her fire did draw my attention, but I think while we could have burned up the sheets short-term, in the long run we’d have made each other crazy. Besides, she’s all law-abiding and shit.”

  Emmie sighed and looked away. “Not anymore.”

  Fuck. Way to put your foot in your mouth, asshole.

  “I’m sorry about what happened,” I said. “None of us expected her to do that. I guess I can understand now why she did. She hoped we would protect you, didn’t she?”

  “Yeah. She saw an opportunity and dove in headfirst like she always does.”

  “You’ll be safe, Emmie. I won’t let your dad or that Ernesto dick get their hands on you. And once all this is over, maybe we can find a way to get Lupita out of prison. In a legal way.”
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  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she said softly. “Tomorrow is never guaranteed for any of us.”

  She had a point, but what she didn’t know was I planned to keep both promises. No matter what it took.

  Chapter Two

  Emmie

  Tank had left me to get settled, even though I didn’t really have much to put away. I’d left my clothes and shoes at the motel. I’d purchased a few necessities with my first two days of tips, and it was all I had at the moment. Since I’d left in such a hurry, I hadn’t had a chance to pack anything. I hadn’t even called the college I’d been attending for fear my father would track me there. I’d just disappeared mid-term and left all my belongings. I knew my dorm room was gone now, and my chance at getting a degree was momentarily flushed. Lupita had found a way for me to go for free and she’d paid for my dorm room, but now all that was gone. No way they’d let me return.

  I didn’t know what to make of Tank. He was far bigger than I’d anticipated. Lupita was a good six inches taller than me, and I was certain he’d tower over her too. When he’d wrapped his arm around me back at the diner, I’d been shocked and a bit scared at first, and then… it had felt oddly right. Which just scared me even more. I had no business being attracted to a man like him. Like he’d said, he didn’t exactly walk on the right side of the law. I doubted I wanted to know the extent of his crimes, but if he could keep me away from my father and Ernesto, then I wasn’t sure I cared if he’d murdered fifty people. Wrong? Sure. But I’d quickly learned I had to look out for myself, and not care quite so much what happened to other people. Except Lupita. I’d do anything for my sister.

  I heard the front door open and shut, and then a deep male voice carried down the short hall.

  “Tempest asked me to gather the woman’s stuff when he got called out. She didn’t have much, Tank. Just a few changes of clothes and two pair of shoes that look like they came from the discount store,” the man said.