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For the next thirty minutes, I sit watching Cruz shade in the skull. It’s a dark and twisted piece of art, but the way his hand moves slow and steady with complete precision fascinates me. When he’s done, he wipes away the remnant ink and blood, wraps the tattoo, and snaps off his gloves.
“You know the deal,” he says to Ace, who nods.
“Thanks, man.” Ace stands and walks over to a mirror to check out his new addition.
“What do you think, Princess?”
“I love it.”
“Yeah.” His eyes darken in the mirror, fixed right on my face. “Me too.”
Just then, his cell phone starts vibrating. Ace digs it out his pocket and cusses. “I need to take this.” He stalks out of the room, leaving me with Cruz.
“So you’re from the Bay?” he asks.
“Yeah. Born and raised.”
“We don’t get a lot of your kind around here.” There’s no malice in his words, just mild curiosity. “You sure don’t look like most of those stuck-up rich bitches.”
“Nice.” My lips flatten, and he chuckles.
“Hey, no offence intended.” Cruz holds up his hands.
“None taken. I’m a bit of a black sheep at Sterling Prep.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this, but he seems to get it, understanding washing over him.
“That explains a lot then.”
“What does?”
“Why Ace sought you out. He likes to play with broken things.”
I’m about to ask what the hell he means when Ace bursts through the curtain, his expression cold. “We’re leaving.”
“Something up?” Cruz asks, his expression falling.
“Yeah, one of Donny’s guys is outside…”
“Shit, man. What will you do?”
“Don’t really have a choice, do I?” Ace glances to me and then back to Cruz, the two of them locked in silent conversation.
“Ace, what is it?” I ask.
“We need to go,” he says coolly.
“Back to the Bay?” I reply, unsure whether I’m relieved or disappointed.
He barely looks at me as the words fall from his lips. “Yeah, but I need to make a stop first.”
Chapter Eleven
Ace
Killian is waiting for us outside the studio. “Boss man wants to see you,” he says.
“I’m kind of indisposed right now.” I flick my head to Remi, who stands quietly at my side.
“Not my problem, Jagger. You know the deal. Boss man calls, you come running.”
