Page 101 of Ink

A burst of laughter booms out of me. “We can do that.”

Damn, I hit the fucking jackpot with her.

SUTTON

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Much like the start of our relationship, Ink and I quickly fell into our own routine. It didn’t take much convincing for me to move into his room at the clubhouse instead of finding my own apartment. As much as I wanted my own place, I can’t imagine not going to sleep with him by my side every night.

Don’t get me wrong, as much as I love all the guys and the clubhouse, I still want privacy. I just want that privacy to be ours. Evan actually suggested the idea that we build a house on her and the club’s property, since it’s all connected now. At first, I immediately shut it down, not wanting to intrude on what she’s built, but the more Ink and I talked about it with her and Cain, it makes the most sense.

We might not all be blood, but we’re family. A little fucked up at times, but still a family nonetheless. And yes, I’m slowly swearing now. It’s still in the back of my mind that I shouldn’t be saying what I’m saying as it comes out, but there’s only so many times I can listen to Hash and Cyrus give me crap for it.

I’m still working as the receptionist for Black Raven Ink and those guys have become my family, too. I don’t know what I would do without Gage and his speed racer and Tommy trying to convince me to get something else pierced on the daily. It pisses Ink off to no end, but I think that’s their goal. Whenever he gets too worked up, I sneak into his room in between clients and break into his pop rock stash. That usually calms the beast.

When I left Zach, I never thought my life would turn out the way it has. I’ll forever be thankful for Gage giving me a chance because without him, I wouldn’t have gotten this job and I wouldn’t have met Ink, the man who saved me. I know he’s my forever, and I’m enjoying taking our time getting there.

Not every devil is out to ruin your life. You just need to find the one who’s willing to kill for you. That’s the one worth living for.

Epilogue Part Two

MADAME SALEM

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Meeting new people is part of my job. Some faces stick with me and some pass as a distant memory.

The sweet girl I met months ago has stuck with me.

In all my years practicing my craft, I’ve never come across a soul as sad and broken as hers. Sometimes, it’s hard to maintain boundaries when I can see what’s coming. I couldn’t help but cry each night I saw her because I knew her future was going to turn around and the universe was going to give her everything she’s ever hoped and dreamed of.

It just had to.

The cards have never let me down before and I refuse to believe they will now.

It’s been months since I’ve seen her.

Each night I set up my booth, a small part of me hopes she will walk by, but another night passes with no sight of the sweet girl.

I assume tonight will be no different, as I’m about to pack up and there’s still no sight of her.

On my walk home, a tingling sensation starts at the base of my neck, telling me to look up.

Across the street, standing in front of the beauty supply store, I see my sweet girl walking hand in hand with a man that looks like a spitting image of the one I saw in my vision the night I read her cards. I chose not to share this with her because she was already on her own path.

I stop walking and stare at them as a tear slips out of the corner of my eye.

My sweet girl found her soulmate.

Just as I’m about to continue my trek home, my sweet girl looks right at me. Her smile is almost blinding as she waves.

My hand covers my heart as I watch her turn to the man and kiss him on the cheek just before a car passes, shielding my view of them. By the time the car passes, my sweet girl is gone.

I smile softly to myself as tears stream down my face. The universe never lies and always has a way of working itself out.