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I didn’t know what that said about me, but the heavy handed path of the needle working its way down my spine felt almost therapeutic. Fuck, it would’ve been if it weren’t for what Tattoo Guy was inking into the flesh between my shoulder blades.
“You sure this is all you want?” Tattoo Guy grunted as he completed the tattoo and set down the gun on the counter. “Dies pays well in case his men want additional ink to compliment the tag. Pinkie got his in the eye of a tiger, and you might’ve noticed all The Crow’s tags are woven through with their other ink.”
My face screwed up at that as I pulled my tank top back down to cover the fresh ink.
“Hey, hold up. I need to bandage it.”
Groaning, I lifted my shirt back up as Rook wandered from my bedroom, a towel hanging low on his hips. His body glistening with fresh droplets from the shower, flushed red.
My jaw tightened. If Tattoo Guy could’ve waited just another twenty fucking minutes to show up at my door, I could’ve joined him.
Judging by his cheeky smirk, he knew what I was thinking.
Rook tugged my shirt the rest of the way out of Tattoo Guy’s way as he cleaned the tattoo, wiping it down before applying a thin clear bandage to it, pressing it down tight, making the fresh needle wounds sting.
“That’s it?” Rook asked, echoing Tattoo Guy’s question.
I shrugged his hand from my back. “I didn’t exactly have time to think about it.”
He frowned, and Tattoo Guy finally finished with my bandage, starting to pack up.
“If you want anything added, just give me a call. I’ll make time.” He flipped a card from his wallet, pressing it flat to the countertop. “Rook,” he added, nodding in his direction. “We still on for next month.”
“Pending my demise,” Rook replied with a wink, making my stomach clench.
“Any idea what you’ll have yet or are you going to make me draw it up same day again?”
Rook shrugged, pursing his lips. “You’ll know when I do.”
“So yes then.”
“See you, Rick.”
Tattoo Guy shook his head, slinging his back over his shoulder as he left.
Rook didn’t speak again until the door shut behind him. He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed, his name flexing over his knuckles. “You good?”
“Feels like a betrayal,” I found myself saying, the honesty almost too heavy.
“Because of what happened to your dad?”
I nodded. It wasn’t the only reason, but it was the biggest one. The fact my mom got the drugs that drove her half mad from the Kings didn’t help. They were also the reason she became an addict. And the reason the collector came knocking for money she didn’t have. Why he decided to take what was owed from my flesh instead of her empty purse. Why he gave me no choice but to end him. Awakening my darkness and changing me forever.
Rook nodded solemnly to himself, brooding.
“It’s fine,” I muttered. “It needed to be done. Now Diesel will stop bitching at me. Worth it for that alone.”
My attempt to lighten the mood seemed to work only halfway, but I’d take it.
Rook had spent the last two nights with me at Briar Hall, in my bed, and somehow I’d managed to keep my hands to myself after the slight setback at the rally field.
It wasn’t without herculean effort though, and seeing him now, naked save for the towel and dripping wet…
I want to lick him.
My skin bristled at the traitorous thought and I cleared my throat as I went through the motions of making two shitty lattes, my skill at frothing the milk seeming to only get worse day by day.
I’d made it clear to Grey and Rook after the fiasco in the smashed car that what happened between us didn’t mean I’d forgiven them or that I trusted them. They didn’t say it, but I could see in their eyes that it didn’t mean I’d gained their trust back yet, either.
