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He snorted in disgust. “Well, you got your ink and got serviced by your stud horse. Two-for-one service,” he rasped, full of harsh anger as he sprayed down his work surface with alcohol.
“Nico,” I pleaded, hating that he was feeling that way but knowing deep in my heart there was some truth to it.
“Just don’t. I think I’m beginning to get the picture. I’m okay to use to get your rocks off, but not good enough to be public with—right? I get to be your dirty little secret, and you get fucked the way you like it. Therapy via sex, I guess.”
“That’s not true, and you know it!” I whisper-yelled.
“From where I’m standing, that’s exactly what this is. You refuse to go to counseling. Instead, you’re using sex like a drug to numb the pain. Am I pretty accurate? That’s what this is for you.”
“It’s not!”
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Tell Angel!”
“Tell me what?” I froze at my brother’s voice from the doorway. If I thought my heart went into overdrive when Ghost barged in, it was nothing on what that voice did. I couldn’t get my lungs to pull in enough air.
God, how much did he hear?
“That she had me put ink on her,” Nico immediately rattled off.
Angel glanced suspiciously between us before he cocked his head at me. “You had him ink you?” he questioned slowly. I knew he was surprised because I hadn’t said a word to him about getting a tattoo.
Turning my back to my brother, I tugged the neck of my shirt over to show him my new tattoo.
A relieved sigh left his lips at the obviously new ink. At least that part wasn’t a lie.
“Looks good, sis.” My brother’s voice softened, and I knew he was looking at the tiger lily I’d had Nico put on my skin. It had been our mother’s favorite flower. The design incorporated her name written below in her handwriting.
Nico cleared his throat, breaking the sad silence.
“You joining me and Ghost for lunch?” he asked my brother.
“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”
“Cool. Let me wipe everything down and I’ll be ready.” He wouldn’t look at me, and his face remained cold.
“How much do I owe you?” I asked, unable to simply walk out.
“You’re good. Just keep it clean. Follow the instructions I gave you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. You don’t owe me a thing for my services. That’s what I’m here for.” Flashing a startled look at my brother to see what he made of Nico’s reply, I winced at the double meaning.
“Well, um, thanks,” I mumbled before I grabbed my purse off the counter and rushed out of the room. I didn’t bother with a goodbye to my brother, because I didn’t trust myself not to show my hand.
Not until I reached the safety of my car did my tears fall. I was fucking up. If I didn’t get my head straight, I was going to ruin what Nico and I had. My heart knew that it was more than sex. My mind knew I needed to come clean with my brother. My soul was merely basking in the perfect connection with its other half.
Nico was risking a lot by keeping us a secret, but he was doing it for me—because I begged him for more time.
When I pulled out of the parking lot of the club’s tattoo shop, I caught a bike in my rearview mirror. When I took the first right, it did too. At first I chalked it up to coincidence, but when I pulled into a gas station to fill up my car, he followed and parked around the corner of the building. All I could see was that he was messing with his phone.
I didn’t really need gas, but I topped off my tank as I cast a furtive glance the biker’s way. When I got back in my car and on the road, he started his bike and pulled out as well. A frown furrowed my brow as I stopped at a red light.
Squinting into the mirror, I tried to see if I recognized him. It sucked because he had on a plain black helmet with a tinted visor, and a plain black cut with a single patch on his chest. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like it was the colors of the Royal Bastards. Which was what worried me—the fact that I couldn’t be sure.
