[MC #1] Biker's Treasure [Ghost Series Part 2]

Chapter 36 - Tank

The ride to Chicago is the longest I've ever experienced. It's not the road that's long, but the thoughts that plague my mind that make it unbearable.

What if Lia doesn't forgive me? What if I hurt her too much?

I love her like a sister and it would pain me to lose her. She's my family, she's the club's family. She may not be associated with us, but she's invaluable to each and every member of the club.

I go through the busy streets of Chicago, heading straight to Tyson's house. I got his address from Key, after getting yelled at for being an 'idiot'. I didn't bother denying it, cause it's true. I am the biggest idiot on earth to hurt her.

The closer I get to my destination, the more nervous I get. I was a SEAL, I'm a President of a biker club, yet I'm nervous about talking to an 18-year-old girl. My father would call me pathetic, if not worse.

For few minutes I only stand on the front porch of Tyson's house, mentally encouraging myself to finally knock on the door.

The silence following my knock is unbelievably nerve-wracking, but not long, since barely a minute later I'm met by angry Tyson, glaring at me with pure hatred etched on his face.

"Why the fuck are you here?!" He snarls, before glancing behind him and walking outside, closing the door. Lia's inside and he doesn't want her to see me.

"I need to speak to Lia. Can I see her?" My voice comes out stronger than I feel inside. There's nothing scarier than a protective father.

"Listen, if it was up to me, I wouldn't let you see her, much less talk to her. For treating her like that, you deserve a fucking beating. But...- he sighs deeply - I won't take the choice from my girl and if she wishes to speak to you, I'll respect it. Wait here." With that he goes back inside, leaving me on the porch.

After a short while, he opens the door and beckons at me to come in. I thank him and follow him to the living room, where I find Lia curled up on a couch, watching some cartoon. She only glances at me before turning back to the TV.

"Hi, Lia." I greet, taking a seat on the couch on her right.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, little mouse." Tyson quietly says, kissing Lia's head, then walks out, but not before giving me a warning glare.

"What do you want, Tank?" Lia asks after a while.

"I want to apologize. I shouldn't have treated you like that." I tell her honestly, but I get no reaction.

"Apology accepted. You know where the door is." She tells me emotionlessly, not taking her eyes of the TV.

I sigh. "Lia, please."

"Please what, Tank? – she turns fully to me, and it's when I see the exhaustion on her face – I only talked to those guys, but you treated me like a fucking traitor! Like I betrayed the club!" She cries out.

"And I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, I know. You only tried to help, but I didn't appreciate it the way I should have. I was worried about Michelle, just a day earlier she almost got her throat slit open and I was afraid she would get hurt!"

"I didn't force her to come with me! She was in no danger whatsoever! You know I wouldn't let anyone hurt her! I've been protecting her all this fucking time!" She exclaims angrily.

"I know! I know that!"

Lia sighs tiredly, roughly running her hand over her face. "Tank, I get it. I really do. But... I felt betrayed. You snapped at me like I betrayed the club. You accused me of going behind your back, even though the first thing I did after coming back from the shed was to try to tell you what those guys revealed. But you didn't even want to listen to me, you only saw the fact that Michelle was there with me and nothing else mattered to you!" My heart breaks at the tears streaming down her face. I really hurt her badly.

"I- I'm so fucking sorry, Lia. I... don't know what else I can say. I was never trying to hurt you. After I thought about everything, I realized that I overreacted, I crossed the line. I know I can't take back what I said, but-"

"You're right. You can't take it back." Lia harshly cuts me off. "I trusted you, John. I knew I could trust you, with me, with Blake, with Michelle. You betrayed that trust by treating me like some stupid irresponsible kid instead of your equal. I thought – her voice breaks – I thought you- you saw me as more than that, especially after what we all went through." She finally sheds the mask and lets me see the hurt in her eyes, the betrayal she feels and the pain I put her through.

"I'm sorry." It's all I can say.

"I know. I can tell. But it still hurts. You saw me as a traitor and Michelle didn't even say anything, she just watched you yell at me! It's really hard for me to open up to people, to trust them, so when someone betrays that trust, it's not easy to get it back. I've been burnt before, too many times to count, and I won't let that happen again." She turns away from me, curling up on the couch again and burying her face in her knees, crying quietly.

"Can you forgive me? I know I fucked up, but you really mean a lot to me." I plead, not caring how pitiful I sound.

Lia stares at me from beneath her lashes for the longest while, before slowly nodding. "But it will take time. Now I just need some time for myself, to figure out what I'm going to do, what I should do... And you can tell Squirrel I'll call her soon. I know she must be worried. She's sensitive like that." Lia finishes with a forced chuckle.

"Thank you, Lia. I understand that it must be hard for you, but just know that I'll always see you as my sister, the club will always see you as our sister, and I'll never doubt you or treat you like that again." I swear seriously.

"Who knew a big bad biker could be so soft. – a ghost of smile appears on her face as she teases me – I... I love you like a brother, John, that's why it hurt me so bad, but that's also why I won't hold it against you. I really just want to get away from all that... stuff. A lot happened during the last months, you know that the best, and I need time to... heal from it." Lia says quietly, pausing a few times when her voice breaks.

"You really forgive me?" I ask. I need to be sure.

"Yeah. So don't worry..."

"Thank you! You have no idea how relieved I am hearing this." I sigh in pure relief, the tension finally leaving my body.

"Big bad biker scared of an 18-year-old girl. It could be a nice story." Tyson teases from the doorway to the room.

"He's neither big nor bad, dad. Get your facts straight." Lia chuckles.

"I'm offended. – I huff mockingly, placing a hand on my heart – You're way too tiny to comment on my size."

"I'm happy to see you two made up, but treat my girl like shit one more time, and I'll beat you up. I'm not fucking joking, Tank. I won't let this slide again. Lia may have a big heart and has already forgiven you, but I will remember this – Tyson warns lowly – for a long time."