Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(50)

Coming to a stop in front of her grave marker is always the worst for me. Seeing her name there is final, and for the longest time I couldn’t look at it. Every time I would go visit her, I’d bring something to cover it up with. I hate how my mom and dad put beloved daughter on the stone. They don’t love anyone but themselves. I drop his hand, reaching in to clean the gathered grass and dirt off the bottom of the stone, before I arrange the flowers in the two vases. “Hey, Anna,” I kiss my fingers before putting them to the picture of her at the top of the marker. “Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve been here, but I brought someone to meet you.”

Trevor and I have a seat on the grass, both quiet for as we take in the serenity of the spot. “His name’s Trevor,” I finally continue, my voice breaking. “I love him and I would love for you to actually be here right now to meet him. I think you’d really like him,” I wipe at the tears streaming down my face. “He makes me laugh, he loves me like no other person ever has, and he doesn’t put up with my shit.”

Trevor laughs at that, putting his arm around my neck and pulling me to him. “I put up with your shit about as much as you put up with mine.”

“She would have loved you,” I whisper. “She loved to laugh and to know you put a smile on my face every day, it would have meant the world to her. It means the world to me. Even when we’re upset with one another, I can still think of something you’ve said or done and smile.”

Trevor speaks then, surprising me with his words. “Annabelle, I’m sorry I never got to meet you and I have a feeling you cared more about Blaze than your parents ever did. Your mom is a total piece of work – I’ve met her.”

“Amen to that,” I laugh through my tears.

“More than anything, I hope you know I love her, and I’d do anything in the world to make her happy. We’ve had some rough patches, but we’re learning from them and moving on. I want you to know I’ll take care of her,” he pulls me closer to him. “Not that she really needs anyone to do that, but sometimes she needs a shoulder to lean on. I’ll always be there for her, Annabelle. I’m in this with her for as long as she wants me.”

I’m crying, feeling so emotional about this whole thing, but at the top of the big pile of emotion is relief. I’ve finally been able to share one of the most important people in my life with one of the other most important people. There’s nothing holding me back now. “I love you, thank you for doing this with me, and thank you for suggesting I keep her memory alive. You’re right about that and it’s something I’m going to look into.”

There, on a warm March afternoon, I realize I’m where I need to be, where I’m supposed to be, and it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. I’ve never felt so safe in my life, and it’s because of the arms wrapped around me, and the man at my side.





CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT




Tank


My heart beats a steady rhythm in my chest as I stretch, feeling the pull of muscles at my legs. It feels good, better than I thought it would. I move my neck form side to side, trying to get the tension to loosen. My stomach is tight with nerves, and I’m scared to death I won’t be able to pass this final test to get back onto the Moonshine Task Force.

“You ready?” Holden asks.

Am I? I’m not sure. I know I’m not ready to fail, but I’m scared to death I will. Once before I did this, I can do it again.

“I’ll be right beside you,” I hear, my gaze shifting to the right. Renegade is there, wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, just like me. “We’re gonna do this together.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I’m overcome with emotion I didn’t know I had.

“I do,” he shakes his head. “No man left behind, ever, and you’re my brother. It’ll be my honor to run this course with you. You’re going to make it.”

I can’t believe how lucky I am to have the people I do in my life. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family and for trusting me with your sister,” he pulls me into a brotherly hug. “Now, let me help you get through this.”

“On my mark,” Holden holds his phone, using it as a stop watch. “Good luck, and go.”

As my feet pound the ground, eating up what will become five miles and an obstacle course, I realize two things. I feel good, and I got this. There’s nothing that will keep me from accomplishing my goals ever again.

Blaze

“Why do you keep checking your phone?” Logan asks as I turn my phone over for the tenth time in the last thirty minutes.

“Trevor does the physical test today to see if he’s going to be allowed back on the Moonshine Task Force. I’m not sure if he should be done by now or not, so I’m watching to see if he made it.”

A part of me had wanted to be there, but he’d assured me he needed to do this on his own and if he failed, he wanted to handle it in his own way. Failure is not an option for him, so I know if he doesn’t pass this test, he will be devastated. Which is why I keep impulsively checking my phone for a text message.

“Is he really worried he won’t make it?” Logan swings us into a gas station. The radio’s been pretty quiet, and we need to get lunch while we can. Sometimes the best you can do is gas station food, although gas stations out here in the country usually carry decent food.