Page 28 of Ink

I swear he gossips more than the girls.

“She doesn’t have me by the balls,” I grumble. “She’s not my type.”

“Who has Ink by the balls and who did he piss off?” Cyrus asks, jumping over the back of the couch, landing right between Hash and I.

“No one,” I answer at the same time Hash says, “His new front desk bitch.”

“She’s not a bitch.” I glare at Hash. “She’s just… not my type.”

“Oh, I saw her. The blonde, right?” Cyrus asks.

“When did you see her?”

The thought of Cyrus lurking around Sutton has me gripping the neck of my beer bottle in a death grip. It’s either that or knocking him the fuck out.

“Stopped by the shop when you and Hash were on your run. She’s a cute little thing.” My glare whips in Cyrus’ direction to find him smirking at me. “Chill out, brother. I’m not going to pee on your territory. I’ll be respectful and only stick it in.”

“How about you keep your dick away from my fuckin’ shop.”

“All I hear is go for it. That makes her dog park territory.” Cyrus lets out a bark, making Hades, who is laying at Evan’s feet, bark along with him.

“God, you guys are disgusting.” Evan rolls her eyes. “I just wanted to know if she was working out better than the last girl, not how many of you want to sleep with her. Hopefully she’s smart enough to walk the other way if she sees you coming. How did you piss her off?”

Casting one last hard look at Cyrus, I answer Evan, “She’s workin’ out just fine. So far better than the last girl.”

“So she hasn’t asked you to front a new pair of tits yet?” Hash smirks.

“No,” I grumble. “Her tits are just fine. And I didn’t mean to piss her off.”

“Noticed them, did ya?”

“Fuck off,” I say with no meaning as I push to my feet because let’s be honest, I have noticed them. “I’m goin’ to bed. Have fun circle jerkin’ each other.”

“Wait,” Evan calls out as she gets up and follows me upstairs. “Is Sutton okay? You weren’t an asshole to her, were you? You’ve been more… testy than usual lately.”

My shoulders sink as a long sigh escapes me. She isn’t going to let this go. “I found out somethin’ that she didn’t want me to know. I gave her an advance on her first check in cash, and she took it as an insult.”

“Did she ask for an advance?”

“No.”

But it’s pretty fucking clear to anyone with two eyes that she needed it. I wouldn’t even want a club girl staying at that place.

“I’m going to say this as nicely as possible because I know it’s hard for you guys to understand that you can do something wrong, but that, Ink, was a dick fucking move. How did you even get into a position to assume she needed money?”

I’ve reached my bedroom now, which is just a few down from Cain’s room where Evan is headed. Leaning against my closed door, I cross my arms over my chest and face her. “Gage told me she walks home every night after we close. I offered her a ride home because no woman should be walking alone at night, my type or not. It’s not fuckin’ safe.”

I keep telling myself that’s the reason I demanded I take her home, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“Or you just couldn’t help your nosey ass and wanted to see why she was walking home.” Evan snickers.

Well, yeah, but I’m never going to admit that to her, of all people.

“She lives in the fuckin’ motel Wren was at, Evan.”

Her face sobers immediately. “Why is she living there? That place is so disgusting.” A shudder runs through her body, thinking about it. “Is she okay?”

“Don’t know, but I’m goin’ to find out. Night, darlin’.”