Tank (Blue-Collar Billionaires #1) by M. Malone Read Free Book Online Page B

home and then leave as soon as she thinks you’re gone.”
    A door opens in the hallway. Sasha lets go of my arm just as Emma turns the corner into the kitchen.  
    “Wow, I really did look like a raccoon. Thanks for warning me, Sasha. I would have hated to go home looking like that. I’d never hear the end of it.”
    “Why don’t you stay here? You can crash on the couch and then I can drive you to work in the morning.”
    Emma smiles tightly. “No, I need to get home. Ivy will worry otherwise.” She glances at me. “Ivy is my older sister.”
    “Oh, well, okay then. I guess you guys should get going then.” Sasha gives me a look as soon as Emma turns around. I nod, so she knows that I got the message.  
    I’m not sure if Emma would try to trick me but if she does, she won’t get far.  

C HAPTER F IVE

    E MMA

    As soon as Sasha closes the door behind us, I stop walking. Tank stops too and stares at me. I cross my arms and try to drum up some bravado.  
    “You’re not going to tell Mr. Stevens, are you?”
    “What? No, why would I do that?”
    Relief sweeps through me. It’s not that I thought he would tell, it’s just that I can’t take any chances. Mr. Stevens is a conservative guy and he’s already gone out on a limb by hiring me in the first place. The last thing I want to do is give him any reason to question that decision.
    “I don’t know. I just had to be sure. I need that job. Especially now that I just lost my second income.”
    Tank’s face doesn’t change but somehow I sense that I’ve offended him with the question. “I wouldn’t do that, Emma. It’s your secret to keep. Although you haven’t done anything wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of. Now where am I taking you?”
    I give him the address and then climb on the back of his motorcycle. He waits for me to adjust the helmet before he pulls out. I can tell he’s holding back for my sake. As strange as it seems, I wish he’d go faster. Really let loose. I want to know what it feels like to do something a little crazy. But true to form, I don’t ask him to. I just squeeze my arms tighter around his middle and lean against his back.  
    He pulls up outside of the house. My heart sinks when I see the blue muscle car sitting next to Ivy’s silver sedan. Jon is here.  
    I climb off the bike, awkwardly and hand Tank the helmet. “Thanks for the ride. And for what you did tonight. I know Sasha really appreciates it.”
    He flips up the front visor on his helmet. “I wish things had gone differently. My goal was to scare him, not get both of you banned.”
    I kick a loose pebble near my foot. I wish I could pretend that losing the job didn’t matter. But the loss of that income is even more important now. Mr. Marshall’s offer looms in my mind. One conversation with Tank and all my troubles could be over.  
    “I had to deliver a package to your father today.”
    His face immediately closes up. “Did you?”
    “He’s a nice old man. He always asks me about school and how things are going.”
    “Yeah, he’s a model citizen all right. I’ll wait until you get in the house before I take off.”  
    Something must show on my face because his eyes narrow. I can tell he’s about to say something else so I wave and walk toward the house. All I have to do is go inside and wait until he drives off. Then I can walk back to the law office. As soon as I close the front door behind me, I hear the sound of the motorcycle as he races off.  
    I take a quick shower and then stuff some fresh clothes in my bag. There’s a soft thud against the wall that separates my room from the hallway. The door to my room is slightly ajar. I tiptoe to the door and peer through the crack out into the hallway.  
    Ivy stands in the living room, staring at her phone. Jon comes up behind her and she suddenly puts it in her pocket. I can’t hear what they’re saying but when Jon grabs her wrist and yanks her toward him roughly, I gasp. I cover my mouth