Okay, more ink than bare skin at this point. He has gauges in both ears, his nose and eyebrow are pierced, and I know for a fact that he has a Jacob’s ladder on an impressive dick.
Not that I’m interested in that anymore.
“Okay, come stand in front of the mirror and show me what you’re thinking.”
I tug my T-shirt over my head and hold it against my chest as I unfasten my bra and let it fall down my arms. I never let the shirt go, not wanting to give Bobby and Lucky a show of my tits.
Pretty sure Mateo would kill them for that.
I pull my hair over my shoulder and turn so my back is facing the mirror and give Archie instructions.
“So, I want it woven into the flowers, as if it’s always been there. On the left side, close to where my heart would be. Yep, right there.”
Archie places the stencil and then backs away so I can examine it.
“Yeah, perfect. Then, I want the chain to loop through, over my spine, to the opposite hip.”
“Jesus, this is sexy.”
I give him a knowing grin. “I know.”
Archie instructs me to lie face down on the table, and I make sure there’s no boob showing before I cradle my head in my arms. As soon as his machine starts to hum, my body relaxes.
A lot of people can’t stand the pain of the needles, but it puts me in a zone that feels like bliss. It’s a happy in-between place, where I can let go, my mind empties, and I can justbe. I’m not freaked out about my sister being gone, and I’m not worried about my job or bills or anything. I simply am.
“Take a breath,” Archie says, and I do, inhaling deeply, and then he begins.
Thirty
MATEO
I’m really fucking pissed that I have to go to LA tonight, but Julian asked for an assist, and he rarely does that. Before I head to the airport to board Julian’s plane, though, I want to see Violet.
I haven’t seen her in twelve hours, and I’m twitchy.
Her scent, her skin, her gorgeous eyes, all of her is a goddamn drug.
Bobby sent me their location, so before we head to LA, I instruct Diego to drive me over to the place where she’s having new ink added so I can kiss her goodbye.
Diego parks next to my other SUV, and I step out of the vehicle.
“Wait here,” I tell him. “I won’t be long.”
He nods, and I close the door, then step inside the studio. It’s small, and I can see where Violet is lying on her stomach on a table, her head turned away from me. Some asshole almost as big as I am crouches over her, his machine buzzing away as he works on her back, and this isnot fucking acceptable.
Her back is bare, her bra gone, and I can see the side of her perfect breast where she lies with it smashed on the table. I’m about to tell this fucker to get his hands off my girl when hesays, “Remember that time we snuck back in the break room and fucked against the door?”
My eyes narrow.
My blood turns to ice.
And I don’t say a fucking word.
“Mm-hmm” is all that comes out of Violet.
“Good fucking times,” he says. He still hasn’t noticed that I’m here, because his back is to me.
He’s stupid as fuck to not have more situational awareness. It’s going to get him killed.
