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His words knock the breath out of me.
“It can be tricky,” he continues. “Everyone’s skin is different. Most of this is white and feathery. Here,” he traces his finger over a deeper scar, “Where it’s a little thicker, the ink might not hold as well or heal as perfectly. We won’t know until we try. What did you have in mind?”
“Flowers.”
“Good. Yeah, a mandala or something with straight lines would be more difficult if you want a true cover-up. Flowers, animals, something with color and curvy lines might work better. Any special flower in mind?”
Warmth chases away my embarrassment and uneasiness. “Roses. Red roses. Maybe a sunflower? I thought lilies might be too cliché, you know?”
He chuckles. “Maybe.”
“Bold, bright colors.”
“Definitely.”
I glance down at my arms. “Maybe flowers on one and a sea scene with a mermaid on the other?”
“She’s got the bug now, Z.” He grins at me. “Have a feeling you’ll be in my chair a lot.” A little more seriously, he adds, “I’d be honored if you trusted me with that much of your skin, Lilly.”
Now I’m excited about the possibilities.
“Stop by my shop any time if you want to look through some of my work. I have enough business that I haven’t bothered putting anything online, fucking Instagram, or any of that nonsense.” Bronze glances over his shoulder. “Even though Trinity’s been on me to set up an account and stuff.”
Z laughs. “Girl’s persistent. She’s talked Wrath into a bunch of new promotional stuff for Furious.”
“Thank you, Bronze,” I say.
“No problem. I’ll start working on a few drawings and send ‘em to Z for you to look at.”
“That sounds good.”
“Bronze!” Teller calls out as he strides into the house. He’s dragging a reluctant-looking Carter behind him. “This is my brother-in-law I’ve been wanting to introduce you to.”
Z sort of growls at Teller and I touch his arm. “I’m all set.” I reach out and shake Bronze’s hand. “Thank you so much. I feel really good about this.”
“If you’re not comfortable with me, I can always rec—”
“No, you’re who I want.” I pull my bracelets out of my pocket and slip them on as Teller introduces Carter to Bronze.
“Teller has it in his head that I’d be good at this,” Carter says with a hearty eye-roll. He seems like an awkward mixture of pleased and embarrassed by the attention.
“Hope told me how good your drawings are,” I add to be helpful.
Bronze glances between Teller and Carter. “I’ve been solo forever, but I’m thinking of putting down more permanent roots and might be interested in an apprentice.”
“Rock keeps me pretty busy with custom paint work,” Carter says. “But I’m curious.”
“You must be good if Rock trusts you near his custom work.” Bronze laughs. “You got a portfolio?”
“We’ll catch you later, brother. Thanks.” Z shakes Bronze’s hand and leads me back to the party.
“Poor Carter doesn’t seem too excited,” I whisper when we’re far enough away.
Z shrugs. “Teller loves ragging on the kid, but I think it’s his way of trying to build up his self-confidence, you know? Besides Charlotte, Carter’s family treated him pretty shitty. He’s mouthy, but a good kid.”
“Oh, he’s been wonderful with the little guys. I don’t know what we would’ve done over the last few months without him. I’m going to miss him when he moves back up here permanently.”
Z’s mouth twists. I’ve noticed how stressed he is whenever Murphy and Teller talk about returning upstate. “We’ll figure out something, Z. Hopefully things will settle down soon.”
Z
As much fun as it’s been at Teller’s, more brothers are arriving up at the clubhouse so we decide to move the party up there. The kids are staying here with Carter who promises to call us if he needs anything.
Every single brother from downstate made it to the party. I hadn’t made this event mandatory, but they treated it seriously. There’s no competitive bullshit or harassing the old ladies like when Sway used to visit. Just the guys fucking around and having fun.
As the sun goes down and the party continues, Jigsaw takes me aside.
“I didn’t want to talk about this in front of everyone, but I’m going to head home tonight.”
“Why?” I smirk at him. “Strike out with Mercy?”
He has the nerve to roll his eyes at me. “She’s not exactly my type, bro.”
“Oookay, sure.”
“I’m serious, Prez.” He slaps my chest. “Myra called me. She’s worried about meeting with the district attorney tomorrow.”
“Shit, that’s tomorrow?”
“Yup.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“No, bad idea. We don’t need anyone seeing you at her place.”
He’s right. I still don’t like it. “I don’t want you riding alone tonight.”
“I won’t. Rooster and Steer are riding back with me. Rooster will probably go to Myra’s with me.”
“All right.” Christ, I hope this doesn’t end up an epic clusterfuck.
It’s maybe another half hour of saying goodbye to everyone before he and Rooster take off. Rock calls me over with a head jerk.
Sparky follows me over and slings an arm around my shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here, brother. The energy in the house has been totally off balance with your bright vitality missing.”
I snake my arm around his neck and give him a squeeze. “Miss you too, Sparky. No one else spouts off the crazy shit you do.”
“Thank you.” He lets go of me and bounces closer to Rock. “Boss, boss, I got that new crop I’m thinking of letting Z borrow.”
“Me?” My gaze zips between Rock and Sparky. “For what?”
“Downstate.” Rock shrugs. “Maybe sling some at Chaser’s crew.”
“You think so?”
Sparky throws his arms wide open. “We’ve been wanting to branch out.”
“If it’s Downstate’s action, not much Loco can complain about,” Rock explains.
“I like it.” I slap Sparky’s shoulder. “What’cha got cooking?”
Sparky raises his hands above his head like he’s spelling it out in neon lights. “Zebra. Sneakers.”
I tilt my head. “Do you come up with this stuff to make me feel like an asshole? How am I supposed to talk that up to Chaser?”
“Welcome to my world, brother,” Rock mutters.
Sparky beams at us. “They got the hook-up with the college campuses out that way. Those pretentious little hipsters will eat it up.”
“I’m sure they will.” Rock clasps Sparky’s shoulder. “What do you have for Loco?” He casts a this-should-be-good look my way.
“Zebra wings.”
Rock raises an eyebrow.
“They’re related strains,” Sparky explains. “One gets you higher faster.”
I cast a look at the sky before smiling at Sparky. “It’s good you got out today, brother.”
“I had the best time.” He gives both of us a sweaty, full-body hug before running off into the woods in the direction of the rowdier partygoers.
When Rock and I finish laughing, I slap his shoulder. “Gee, Prez, surprised you and Hope stayed for the whole party. Figured you’d be back in your house by now.”
He glances over at the girls, talking and laughing around a small fire pit Wrath set out for them earlier. “She’s having fun.”
“Been a rough couple of months?”
“No kidding.” His face morphs into something more serious. “Where’d Jigsaw and Rooster take off to?”
I give him a run-down of Jigsaw’s plan and he nods with approval. “Good. Let’s hope that’s the end of this bullshit.”
“You worried about me, Rock?”
“Don’t be an asshole,” he growls. “You know I hate this fo
r you.”
“Whoa, here I thought being a father would mellow you out some.”
He scratches his head and gives me a half-smile. “Have you always been this annoying?”
“It’s part of my charm.” I glance around and motion Rock closer to the clubhouse. “This was a good day and night.”
“Everyone seemed comfortable,” he agrees. “One big, happy family.”
“Twice now we’ve gotten everyone together without issue. So, it’s Sway and Shadow that must’ve been the problem,” I joke in a low voice not meant to carry on the wind.
Rock snorts and clomps up the front steps. “Must be. Bull too. Remember, he was always starting trouble when downstate visited.”
“None of that bullshit now.” I can’t help the note of pride that creeps into my voice. Sure, earlier, Murphy and Jigsaw had challenged each other to a fight and popped off a few shots, but it was all in good fun and everyone was laughing by the end. Nothing like the time Murphy knocked Bull unconscious and left him behind our dumpster.
