Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(51)

“I don’t know that he’s worried, but it’s a definite concern. I mean, he’s been out since Thanksgiving. When he gets reinstated he’ll probably start the week of St. Patrick’s Day, so that’s a long time. I’d be nervous too, if I were him,” I shrug as we get out. “I’m gonna go throw this stuff away,” I indicate the breakfast trash from where I brought us breakfast wraps. “And then I’ll be in there.”

“I’m gonna hit the head, so you’re good,” Logan waves as he runs off.

It’s nice to stretch my legs every once in a while. It’s a beautiful March day in Alabama, already hot as hell. If I remember correctly it’s going to be in the eighties today, but the sun is shining and it looks like Trevor and I are hopefully overcoming a huge hurdle in our relationship. When he gets back to work, then we can begin to repair and build our lives. I’m excited for it, more excited than I’ve been for anything else in recent memory. The wind is blowing, so when I put my trash in the can, some of it blows out. Running to grab it, I round the building to where some picnic tables are set up for nice days. Pushing my hair out of my face, I see a young woman sitting at one by herself, blood pouring from her nose as she’s trying to staunch the flow.

“Are you okay?” I call out as I approach.

When she lifts her head up, I see it’s Leighton Strather. “I’m good,” she tries to pull into herself, stuffing the tissue up her nose.

“That’s not gonna work, why don’t you come back to the ambulance and let me take a look at it?” I reach my hand out. She’s not much younger than me in age, but she looks scared to death right now. There’s a protective side of me that hasn’t come out since I had my sister around, and it makes me want to help this girl. I’ve seen her around a few times, and everyone in this town, hell in the county, knows her family is the main target of the Moonshine Task Force guys.

“I don’t have any money,” she shrinks away from me again.

Everyone also knows that’s a lie. The Strathers have a shit ton socked back from where they’ve been running moonshine for so long. “This one’s on me,” I smile at her softly.

She gets up, shouldering a huge bag and picking up another at her feet. Something about this doesn’t sit well with me. Why does she have all of these bags with her? “You going somewhere?”

Wild eyes look at me, like I’ve accused her of a crime, and her semi-relaxed pose is again rigid. “If you don’t wanna talk about it, you don’t have to, but if you’re in trouble, I can get someone to help you.”

Leighton shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to get anyone else wrapped up in the shit show that’s become my life. I got myself into this situation, I’ll get myself out of it.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what the situation is, but I don’t want to scare her off. I can see a couple more cuts on her arms, and there’s some bruises forming. If this girl’s been abused, I at least want to make sure she’s okay and doesn’t need to be in a hospital. “Okay, then let’s just walk to the bus and get you checked out.”

We’re quiet as we walk around to the ambulance, and I worry she’s going to bolt. I’m surprised when she gets in after I open the back door. I indicate that she can enter before me and watch as she tries to step up, but can’t. A sharp intake of breath tells me she’s either bruised or broken a rib. “Let me get in before you, and hold you steady as you step up.”

She nods, tears at the edges of her eyes. We carefully get her up into the ambulance and situated as comfortably as we can. “I’m going to text my partner, who’s inside, my order and I’m going to let him know I have someone out here, that way he doesn’t freak out. Is that okay?”

She leans her head back against the wall, nodding. Those tears are now streaming down her face. I feel awful for this girl, she’s not in an enviable situation. I fire off a text to Logan and ask him to get one of the Moonshine Task Force guys out here, just to talk to her. I’m scared something bad has happened.

“Wanna tell me what happened?” I ask as I glove up and go to work on her face, cleaning up the dried blood and fixing up a couple other cuts I hadn’t seen before.

“No,” she slightly shakes her head. “I’d rather just forget who I am.”

“You and I both know it doesn’t work like that, honey. Anyone who knows me, knows that even underneath the red hair and tattoos I’m a Coleman, right?”

I realize we have a little bit of a common ground there, and I try to play it up. “But just because my parents are snobby doesn’t mean I am, ya know? I live my life the way I want to, and if they don’t approve of it, then it’s their problem not mine. My life and reputation isn’t defined by my last name.”

Leighton opens eyes that had been closed before. Her brown gaze collides with mine. “Do you truly believe that, have people forgotten you’re a Coleman?” She whispers the question, and I can tell she thinks I’m lying.

“It’s true, most people don’t even know my real name anymore. Everybody calls me Blaze. Sure, my mom, classmates, and people like that call me Daphne, but I’ve managed to find my own identity. I’m not saying it’s easy, Leighton,” she hisses as I clean one of the cuts above her eyebrow. “But it’s worth it. It’s worth it not to have to live under that shadow all the time.”