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But there I was. The only difference between us was that I was the only one who was shivering.
“Dis tattoo parlour,” Mia said, her grin growing, “where d’ye say it was?”
I hadn’t. She knew I hadn’t. That wasn’t the point. I was trapped. I hadn’t mentioned the name Dublin Ink to my friends. As stupid as it was, that place was something I wanted to protect, to keep safe. I guess that said all there needed to be said about my “friends”.
Mia had asked where it was, but I knew what she really wanted to know: was it outside of Nick’s territory.
“It’s not worth it,” I said. I saw on Mia’s face it was answer enough. “Really, Mia, it’s not. There’s just some crumpled bills in the register. They’re practically bankrupt. The bank is going to come take all the equipment and anything of real value any day now, I’m sure of it.”
“Not unless we take it first,” Mia said with an arched eyebrow.
“What’s the story?” Lee asked as he came from setting up the bottles which tinkled almost like wind chimes in the spattering of raindrops.
“We got a new target,” Jack answered. “Courtesy of Aurnia here. Eager as she is to prove that she’s still one of us.”
“It’s perfect,” Mia said, speaking to Lee, but staring fixedly at me. “Little Aurnia here even has an in. It’ll be like taking candy from a baby.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said, though the three of them were already circling like buzzards on the idea. To them it was already a done deal. “I really don’t.”
Mia’s head quirked to the side. “You feel loyalty toward dem,” she said with a pitying laugh. “How long have ye known dese people? A few weeks? You’ve known us yer whole life.”
“It’s not that,” I said, fingers tucking a wet strand behind my ear.
“What? Are they ‘nice’ people?” Mia said in a mocking tone as Lee and Jack chuckled. “You t’ink they’ll be dere for you? You t’ink dey care about you?”
“They don’t give a feck about me,” I spat out, remembering that rainy night with Conor. “I’m nothing to them. Just a little brat off the street.”
Mia smiled victoriously.
“We’re de ones who’ll stick around,” she said. “We’re de ones who’ve got yer back, Aurnia.”
I looked across the steady rain at them. They’d left me at the jewellery store. I’d taken the fall for them and they hadn’t even tried to see if I was okay. Mia was lying through her teeth.
But could I trust anyone at Dublin Ink any more than her? Or was the only difference that they lied to me beneath a dry roof instead of out in the rain?
“What’ll it be, Aurnia?” Mia asked, Jack and Lee standing behind her in the mud. “Come on home or what?”
Home. It was all I wanted. All I’d ever wanted.
“Alright,” I said with a sigh as I extended my hand. “Give me your phone. I’ll type in the address.”
How much exactly did tattoo guns go for on the black market?
