Tank
I’m sitting at clubhouse listening to my brothers around me. We’re not going over anything important except for the runs and shipments going on this week. The Pres is droning on about what needs to be done, and I’m only half listening. For the last five minutes, my sister’s been blowing up my phone. The first time, I silenced her call, but the fact that she keeps calling me tells me there’s something up. Finally I stand up. Ruin and everyone else looks at me with surprise, and I can’t say I blame them. No one interrupts Ruin. He’s the President of the MC, and he demands respect. Hell, he’s earned it.
I hold my phone up. “It’s Cassie. I have to answer.”
Ruin recognizes my sister’s name and nods his head before continuing. I walk out of the big room and call her back. As soon as she answers the phone, I ask her, “You okay?”
She lets out a sigh of relief. “It’s about time, Tank. What the hell!”
I roll my eyes. Cassie’s clearly frustrated with me, but she’s my little sister and spent the majority of our lives frustrated with me, so at least I know she’s okay. “I’m sorry. I was busy. You okay or are you calling to shoot the shit? I’m sort of in the middle of something.”
“Clearly, I’ve called you a gazillion times so yeah, I need something.”
I grip the phone tighter in my hands. Cassie is one of the most independent women I know, and I don’t think she’s ever asked me for anything, let alone needed me. “Anything... name it.”
She laughs, and the sound of it has me relaxing a little bit. “You say that now, big brother. One of my students needs help.”
When she doesn’t continue, I tell her, “Go on.”
Cassie’s voice drops a little. “Look, I can’t get into it a lot on the phone. She has nowhere else to go, and she’s in danger. I’ve been trying for weeks to get her to come to Texas.” When I don’t say anything, she repeats herself. “She has nowhere else to go, Tank.”
I rub my hand through my beard. I already know I’m going to say yes, even if the information is a little sketchy. But I still have to ask. “You think a MC is the best place for her?”
Cassie doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes, because I know you’ll protect her. I know the Diamond Kings will protect her.”
She’s right about that. We may not be above the law, but the Diamond Kings definitely protect women. Cassie is a professor at a college in Nashville, and even though she’s far away, we still make sure to keep in touch, and we see each other every few months. And she’s still the same Cassie; she still tries to save everything and everyone she meets.
“Okay,” I tell her.
Her voice gets louder. “Okay? You’ll do it?”
I laugh. “Really, don’t act surprised. You know I can never tell you no. So when is she coming?”
She pauses, and I press the phone closer to my ear. “She’ll be on the train tonight.”
I take my hat off and rub my forehead with my arm before putting the hat back on. “The train? It’s a 25-hour ride from there. She had to have left yesterday. You don’t think you could have called before now?”
“Tank, I’ve been trying to get her out of town for a month. She completed her final exam yesterday and just called me an hour ago to let me know she had left. Her phone is dead, and she called me from someone else’s, so I can’t reach her now.”
Fuck! There’s no preparing for this. Hell, I barely have time to discuss it with Ruin first. I start thinking of everything that needs to be done. I know Cassie can take care of herself. Hell, I’ve taught her everything I know, and she can shoot better than half the men in the MC, but she’s still my little sister. “What about you? If you’re helping her, will there be any kind of fallout?”
It’s like I can hear her rolling her eyes at my question. “No, I’m just a teacher. No one knows I’m involved. Plus, I can handle myself.”
I laugh because I know she’s right, but I still have to offer. “I can come there.”
“No, you can’t. I’m fine. You need to stay there and help Ava.”
I knew she’d say no. “Fine. Call me if you need anything, sis. Love you.”
“Love you too, big brother.”
I disconnect and put my phone in my pocket before walking back into the office where church is happening. Before I can sit down, Ruin asks me, “Everything okay?”
I nod. Damn, I might as well get it all out while everyone’s here. “My sister has asked for our help.”
“Done,” Ruin says. That’s one thing about the Diamond Kings: They always have your back, even for extended family.
“Well, she has a student that needs help. I don’t know all the details, but she’s going to be on the train tonight. She’s the one that needs protection.”
I know that because of what we do, we can’t just invite anyone to the ranch, but I also know that Ruin is not going to say no. He’s never turned away a woman in need, and I can’t see him starting now.
Ruin nods his head. “She can stay in one of the back rooms.”
I nod in agreement. These men are my brothers, and they will protect her.
“And,” Ruin continues, “I need details. Bring her to me when she gets here.”
I knew it was coming. Of course, he’s going to need all the details before he lets just anyone stay at the ranch. I know I can trust Cassie... I just hope we’re going to be able to trust this woman.