Chapter 85: Confrontation
*She killed my son. She led him into a life of sin and killed him. – Joy*
Evie took Tank and Ink around Austin on Saturday. They had their picture taken in front of street art, the state capital, governor’s mansion and various statues. Had street tacos, local draft beers, Bar-B-Q and fruiteria. She took turns riding with both of them. They held hands and exchanged light kisses.
Abiding by Roscoe’s request, they wore the Renegades cuts. They both felt more comfortable as Saints, but with the wide berth and respect they received, they understood why it was requested.
They met her sister and her family at a park. Tank surprised her family with his tenderness and willingness to play with the kids. And not just the twin toddlers, but the infant triplets also. Ink was patient as he explained every visible tattoo. Sometimes multiple times.
Their parents joined them and were also impressed. After an hour or so, Ink kissed Evie’s cheek and said he’d be right back. About five minutes later, he returned and stripped off his cut and shirt. He gave the kids a package of washable markers and laid down on his stomach.
The day could not have been any better. Even the Texas weather cooperated and was a nice 72 with a light overcast.
Ink was laying in the grass on his back as the kids, Tammie’s twins and two older kids belonging to the MC, colored his chest and abdomen. Tank sat on a bench with Evie on his lap. Isaac and Israel lay on a blanket with Tammie and Thomas making a square for the infants to lay inside. Isiah and Dixie sat at another table nearby.
“You should take them to see the bats.” Thomas suggested.
“Bats?” Tank asked.
“Yeah, there’s a swarm of some Latin bats that live under the Congress Street Bridge.” Tammie said hiding her grin.
“Colony. They live in a colony. It is the largest colony of Mexican free-tail bats in North America.” Thomas corrected.
“Are you correcting me?”
“No, ma’am. Just providing the information that may have slipped your mind.” Thomas said looking down.
“Do the kids need to come stay with us while you discipline him?” Israel asked knowing full well why his daughter gave the wrong information.
“No, we have a babysitter and a cell reserved for tonight.” Tammie said and Thomas shivered.
Tank smiled against Evie’s neck before kissing her there.
“If you want to live, you should probably get away from her. She’ll kill you, just she killed my Daniel.”
Evie tensed and Tank instinctively tightened his arms around her. Isiah stood up and sat Dixie aside who rushed over and grabbed the twins.
“Come with me.” Dixie said gently to the two elementary aged kids.
As Ink was standing up, he noticed that the infants were being strapped into their stroller. He joined Isiah between the woman and Tank.
“You can’t be near her.” Isiah warned the woman as Dixie and Tammie walked off towards the playground area with the kids and Thomas.
“Or what? You’ll arrest me?” she spat at him.
“I should.” He said as his brothers stood on either side of him and Ink.
Tank could feel Evie trembling. “It’s okay, luv, we’ve got you.” He murmured against her ear as the first tears hit his arms.
He was focused on the woman in his arms and refused to look up at the angry woman. If he had, he would have recognized the coldness in her dead green eyes. He would have seen the unkempt blonde hair and slight body odor that clung to her.
If he had looked up, he would have seen the disheveled clothing and untied tennis shoes. More than the outward appearance and aggressive stance, he himself would have seen the one thing that the others did not.
Unhinged depression.
It was the same look he saw in the eyes of the woman who shot him. The same woman that tried to kill her kids. The same dead eyes that looked at him as she killed herself.
“She did not kill Daniel.” Isaac hissed.
“You’re not the only one that lost him.” Ink said. “Evie lost -"
“That whore took him from me!” Joy yelled and Evie began sobbing.
Lance and David from the Renegades joined the group as the women and kids stayed off to the side.
“Ink, take care of your lady.” David advised as he rested a hand on the other man’s shoulder.
“I am.” Ink ground out.
“Of course, the slut has two men again.”
“Joy, our kids loved each other. We lost two sons that day.” Israel tried to sooth. “We need to hold their memories-"
“You know nothing of what I lost!”
“Is there a problem here?” a police officer asked stepping into the middle. Ink looked over and saw two more patrol cars pulling up.
“She killed my son!” Joy yelled pointing at Evie who was sobbing in Tank’s arms.
The cop let out a deep sigh as he pulled out his handcuffs. “Joy Reagan, you are under arrest for violation of a protective order. Please place your hands behind your head.”
“Why will none of you listen to me?” Joy yelled as she struggled with the cops.
“Raymond.” Tank said softly and Ink turned. Evie was sobbing and gasping for air. Ink cursed softly as he knelt in front of her. Of all the things that they had planned for, a panic attack was not one.
“Look at me, pet.” He gently cupped her face and turned it up toward him. “That’s it. Focus on me. Take a deep breath in, two, three. Let it out, two, three. Let’s do it again.”
He talked her through taking and releasing deep breaths until her breathing returned to normal. Slowly, she relaxed into Tank’s body and he squeezed her.
“We’ve got you, luv. We’ll always have you.” Tank kissed her hair as Ink ran a knuckle down her cheek.
“I wanna go home.” She whispered.
“Anything you want, pet.”
“Let’s get you back to the clubhouse.” Isaac said and she gently shook her head.
“Our home, with the grove and fire pit-"
“And the demanding cat that only likes you.” Ink added softly with a grin.
“I don’t blame Scruffles.” Tank murmured. “We can be assholes.”
Evie smiled at them.
“I don’t think that you’re in any condition to ride very far tonight. But we’ll leave in the morning.” Ink assured her. “Ride with Tank.”
She nodded and accepted his kiss before he stood up and pulled Isaac off to the side.
“Can you give her something?”
“Yeah. I’ll give her a sedative when we get back to the house.” Isaac said. “Does she have those very often?”
“No. She’s never had one that bad before. At least not with us.”
Isaac understood the unasked question. “We’ll talk once she’s asleep. Are you sure she’ll be okay on the bike?”
“Yeah.” He nodded his head towards the parking lot where Tank was behind her with his arms caging her in. “He takes her when she’s tired. He’ll protect her with his life. We both would.”
“Follow us to the house. You can stay in her old room tonight.”
