Page 45 of High Velocity

“My pleasure.Did you tell the kiddos or Bradley what you’re doing today?”

“No, I didn’t, just in case I chickened out.Which I still might.”

“Konstance, really, you’re going to do great, and then you’ll be begging for more.”

“Ha!Guess we’ll see.”

Charli grinned at the woman, knowing she was correct.Charli, that is.She had a feeling Konstance wouldn’t stop with just one.After researching studios, Charli had booked appointments for the two of them.Today was their lady’s day which consisted of massages earlier, followed by a facial then lunch, and now, tattoos.After, they were getting their hair done, picking out new outfits, then meeting Roark and Bradley at Canyon Rim Brewery for dinner.

A full but amazing day.

“Does Roark know what we’re doing?”

“No,” Charli said with a grin.“I’m surprising him.”

Once the designs were placed and they were happy, the sessions began.Charli kept Konstance engaged in conversation the entire time to keep her mind occupied.Konstance told her more details about her day with the kids and Bradley in Sun Valley.They’d had a marvelous time, and when they’d returned home, Konstance and Bradley had a night to themselves which meant taking their relationship into the intimacy realm.

Charli was so happy for those two.

As for her and Roark, he spent every night at the RV, moving clothing and a few other items into the space.Together, they’d been finalizing plans for a home to be built on the property.It was actually going to be a shoptopia, or a barndominium, depending on who you asked.Meaning, it was going to be what looked like one large rectangular shop, but it’d have a living space with two bedrooms, two baths, a living room, a utility room, and a kitchen.The rest of the building would be their shop which would store the RV and their vehicles.There’d be a large porch up front and a patio in the back.

At some point, they’d have a separate shop where Charli and Roark could work on vehicles.Until then, she had Harvey’s shop at her disposal.

Following the excitement at the compound that involved Todd, he and others had been questioned and arraigned on a slew of charges.Turned out, they’d been among several employees of Tinsley Corporation that had been tasked with damaging or sabotaging operations or crops at farms that weren’t bending to the company’s strong-arm tactics of selling their land.

The damage to the Sons of Sin equipment had been a secondary bonus, per Todd, who’d always hated the Club, because, yes, it went back to his embarrassment by Owen that summer at the track.And burning down the coffee stand—which he was also responsible for—and kidnapping Charli?More grudges.

Apparently, Todd’s father had caught wind of what had happened those twenty years ago and beat the shit out of his kid.Sadly, it hadn’t been the first time nor the last.Todd’s mother had left them a few years before they’d come to the area, and his dad made it known how women were trash.They weren’t worth a damn and couldn’t be trusted with anything.

Growing up in that environment had a horrible effect on Todd.He’d quickly started having problems in school and racked up misdemeanors before spending time in juvie.He’d left the area for a while but then returned when his dad passed to take care of his affairs.He’d also been working for Tinsley already, so the task of ruination was gladly accepted.

Sad situation, really, but Roark wouldn’t let Charli feel an ounce of sorrow for the piece of shit—the milder of many offensive names Roark had for Todd.

And she didn’t feel anything but disgust for the man.Even with his crappy upbringing, he had the opportunity for better influences but chose not to take advantage of them.And his rash decisions would cost him even more.So, yeah, he deserved to rot in jail or prison or wherever he ended up.And the Tinsley Corporation was under heavy investigation as well.

With any luck, the landowners would see compensation for the company’s destruction.

“Think you’ll get back into tattooing?”Konstance asked Charli.

“Doubtful.I mean, I loved it, but with my plans for the shop, owning it one day, I’ll have plenty on my plate.”

A few hours later, the tattoos were complete.Konstance was shocked at how well she did and humbly apologized in a playful manner to Charli for doubting her.After having them washed, the ladies admired them in the mirror, and Konstance had tears in her eyes at how lovely it was.Plus the fact she’d actually sat through a tattoo session.

“See, you did it,” Charli said, looking at Konstance.Her design was an open book with swirls, hearts, and birds along with the letters KBB in script for K’s Book Boutique, placed on her right inner forearm.

“Yours is amazing,” Konstance said, staring at Charli’s ribs.She had a dagger worked into her vine design near the SoS emblem with an intricate pommel design and the letter “R” on it, for Roark.She thought eventually she’d like to get a crow sitting on the pommel, but she’d decide on that another time.The name Roark meant champion and mighty but could also mean crow or rook.The crow was an intelligent, cunning, and often misunderstood creature.And Charli thought that, along with champion and mighty, described Roark perfectly.

“I can’t wait to show Roark.”

“I think Bradley and the kids will approve,” Konstance said, still admiring her design.

“Of course they will.”

The tattoos were wiped one more time before a layer of protective material was placed over them.And although Charli knew how to care for them, they were given their post-care instructions.

“Come back when you want more,” said Konstance’s artist.

“You know, I’m certain I will.”