“I know who Knox is.” She didn’t elaborate any further.
“Okay, not sure if you knew, but when he died, he donated his organs. At the same time, I was waiting for a heart transplant.”
Ava’s eyes widened, and her gaze immediately dropped to Addison’s chest. “You got his heart?”
“Yes. I got the tattoo to commemorate him.”
Ava shook her head. “But you can’t do that. No one wears their insignia except patched members. It’s a rule and one they take very seriously.”
What rule?
“I didn’t know that, I thought...” She paused, refusing to give more. Knox’s list was something she hadn’t told anyone. Her shoulders sagged. “It was something I could do to honor him. But what’s done is done. I mean, it’s permanent.”
Ava shook her head. “That’s not the way it works.”
“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.” Addison wasn’t trying to be combative, but as she said, it was permanent. There was always laser removal, but that seemed a bit excessive for this. She loved her tattoo.
“But there is.” Her tone was chilling. It was a disturbing warning. “I knew some guy in an MC. Not nearly as violent as Killcreek. But when a non-brother got their patch tattooed on his leg” —Ava paused— “They removed it.”
“How?”
“They cut it out.”
Addison gasped. She couldn’t mean… “They cut out the tattoo with a knife?”
“Yeah. And considering Killcreek’s affection for fire, they could burn it off of you.”
Panic had officially set in. Her head got heavy, and her body swayed. Ava gripped her arms to steady her.
“Calm down and take deep breaths.”
Addison tried to follow her instructions, but fear was devouring her thoughts. Would they really do that?No.Cross wouldn’t allow that.Right?Another reality was settling in. While she had gotten close to Cross, his ties to the club were undeniable. Why would he protect her, who up until a week ago he hated, from the club when she broke a rule?
“You really think they’d burn it off me?”
Ava’s gaze softened and her hands caressed over Addison’s arm. It was meant to be soothing but her panic was too wide spread. “I don’t know.” Ava sighed. “Does anyone else know you have it?”
She was in a complete fog but managed to shake her head. “Aside from the artist and my sister, no. I was going to show Cleo, but I hadn’t gotten the chance, so…”
“That’s good. Don’t show anyone. As of right now, we’re the only ones who know, and we’re going to keep it that way.”
“Okay.” Addison swallowed the knot in her throat. “But how do I get rid of it?”
“Have it blacked out. It’s not too big. Maybe they can even cover it in the shape of a heart. That way you keep the symbolism without incurring the wrath of Killcreek.”
A plan was quickly emerging in her head. It could be a quick fix.
“I’ll go tomorrow. There’s a city not too far from here by the airport. There’ll definitely be shops there, right?”
Her brows hiked. “You mean Lawry?”
As Addison nodded, Ava was vehemently shaking her head.
“No. You walk into any shop in Lawry, they’ll know the Killcreek patch. You need to go back to the artist who did it.” She bit her lip. “And I wouldn’t wait, Addison.”
Oh hell!
*
