Chapter 234: Tank and Ink
*I’m sorry. I just needed somewhere to go for a few minutes and calm down. – Rye*
Ink opened the front door to find Rye standing there in tears. He called for Evie over his shoulder as he opened the door further for her. The petite brunette came down the hall carrying an infant.
“Ink, take Camden.” She handed off the fussy baby.
“Come on, little man.” The large, tattooed man took his son and headed towards the basement. “Let’s go do some manly things. Maybe a beer will get rid of that colic.”
“I promise, he’s not going to give his son a beer.” Evie said leading Rye over to the living room couch. “What can I get you to drink?”
Over coffee and crumble cake, the two women talked about various things until Rye relaxed and told Evie about the incident at the grocery store. At some point, Tank and Ink both joined them, each with an infant. They also heard about the man grabbing Rye.
“I know that he probably didn’t mean anything.” Rye admitted. “But after so many years of hiding from men that my mother and sister had, I’m scared of men.”
“You told me that you had bad experiences with men.” Ink said gently with David asleep on his chest. “Did they ever hurt you?”
Rye shook her head. “They would try. I was attacked several times,” unconsciously she touched the small scar by her eye, “but I always got away. My sister would get them off me. or I would taze them.”
“What about your mom?” Evie asked quietly.
“I see you got him to calm down.” Rye smiled at Tank who had Camden asleep on his lap.
Gently rubbing the baby’s back, he exchanged a quick look with his wife and partner before smiling at the younger woman. “Johnny Cash does it for this one every time.”
“I’m going to go cook dinner.” Evie said standing up. “Would you like to stay?”
“I don’t want to impose.” Rye said as the garage door opened, and Athos entered.
“You won’t be imposing.” Ink smiled at her as the younger man kissed his wife on the cheek before approaching Rye. Her eyes widened and she moved away causing him to stop.
Changing directions, he sat in the arm of the couch next to his brother. “Some woman tazed Chance at the grocery store.” Athos said.
“I’ve got to go.” Rye muttered quietly.
She did not see the angry faces on two of the men. Or the confused look on the other. And certainly not the look of understanding on the other woman’s face.
“Stay.” Evie pleaded. “My men have an errand to run, and I would like the company.”
“We do?” Athos asked confused.
“We do.” The two dads replied as they placed the babies in the playpen.
“Been waiting on you.” Tank said casually as he went and kissed his wife. “We’ll be back shortly.”
Ink kissed her also as the two brothers made their way to the mudroom. “Set the alarm.”
“Always.” She replied as he also went to the mudroom where he stepped into his boots and zipped them up before pulling on his leather jacket and cut. As he stepped into the garage, he heard Tank on the phone.
“Hey, Chance. Where you at, brother? No, no, stay there. Something I want to talk to you about.”
“So, anybody want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Rye came over after some guy grabbed her at the grocery store and brought up bad memories from her childhood.” Ink said straddling his bike.
“Nearly being raped memories.” Tank added mimicking the same action. “She tazed him to get away.”
“Well, fuck.” Athos said as all three bikes roared to life.
Twenty minutes later, the trio pulled into the lot of Pop’s Place. Nodding to fellow Saints as they slowly rolled by, they parked and headed inside. Chance stood leaning his back against the bar, a bunny stood with her back to his chest. He held a dark long neck beer bottle in one hand. The other was inside her shirt playing with her breast.
Tank grunted his disapproval as Chance laughed at something one of the brothers said. Ink made a subtle motion for the bunny to leave.
“Hey where are you-?” Chance started to ask as she walked away. He was cut off when Tank lifted him off the ground by his neck.
“Brother.” Athos warned propping himself against the bar. With a growl, Tank turned and slammed Chance to his back on center of the pool table.
“What the fuck, Tank?” Repo demanded as he and Crow stepped away from their game.
“Stay the fuck away from her.” Tank demanded before he released the other man’s neck.
Coughing, Chance sat up and looked at the three angry men. “I haven’t been around Evie.”
“Not Evie.” Ink corrected. “Her friend, Rye.”
“That crazy bitch? She fucking tazed me!”
“Athos!” Trigg called from the office doorway as Tank growled. “Get your brother outside. Chance, Ink, my office.”
Athos and Micro escorted Tank outside as Ink followed Chance to the office. Trigg pointed to the chairs when they reached the door. Chance sat down still rubbing his throat. Ink stood and stared down at him.
“Get it settled.” Trigg ordered as he stepped out and closed the door.
“I just wanted to talk to her.” Chance said.
“You grabbing her, brought up a lot of bad memories. You ever see a woman relive being raped?” Ink countered.
“No.” Chance said quietly.
“Trust me, it’s not pretty.” Ink sat on the edge of the desk. “Your actions did that. I know that you’re not used to women telling you no, but when she says don’t touch her, she means it.”
“I never thought about that.” Chance admitted looking at the floor in shame.
“Maybe it’s time for you to quit looking at women as your personal skin trade and see them as people.”
With his parting words, Ink left Chance to consider them. On his way into work the next morning, he stopped at the same grocery store and bought a gift card. He left two bags of groceries on Rye’s desk with a card that had a sad dog on the front. Along with the hundred-dollar gift card, he left her a small note.
*I’m sorry for acting like an ass. My sister-in-law, the woman you saw, laughed her ass off telling my brother about you tazing me. Please forgive me. Chance.*
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