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Fuck, my brothers don’t know the meaning of the word.
My intention to have space for myself is a fairy tale. It’s as if Mother’s death was at the hands of some maniac and not an accident that may or may not have stemmed from my own actions. Abel has been an unwelcome shadow. And if not Abel, then one of the others. Even Shaw has been hanging around, and that’s just unacceptable.
The pressure and overwatch I’ve felt has dialled up a thousand percent, and I hate that it’s either because they don’t trust me now, or even less than they did, or it’s because they think I’m weak.
It’s been three days. I’ve made my statement to the police and there’s no further investigation or questions about Mother’s death. Apart from that trip downtown, I’ve been holed up at the house. Only a few of the staff have returned, so it feels deserted in comparison to before, but any time I try to leave, up one of them pops like they're keeping tabs on me at the order of Abel.
For a family of dangerous and questionable men, they sure know how to hover.
With so little to occupy me, my mind keeps running over everything that’s happened over the last few weeks. The family fights, Antony, and Mother. The only good thing I can think of is Apartment B, which is all on track, and Kai. He shouldn’t be anything to me, but as drunken hook-ups go, I’ve thought about him a lot. Because, if I’m honest, I haven’t connected with someone that easily in forever. Sure, it was under unusual circumstances, but it doesn’t take that spark away. Right now, I really want that spark. For lots of reasons. Distraction mainly. Something to take me away from this life. Even for a few moments.
The only good thing about my brother’s lingering? I got to ask Dante about his tattoos, or rather where he got them. Turns out Viper is Dante’s tattoo artist. Isn’t that convenient? If he knew why I was really asking, he’d have never spilled. What’s the point of causing trouble before it’s needed?
Because if the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that my love life and my family don’t mix.
CHAPTER TEN
KAI
Slapping Blade on the back, I watch him leave the shop as Jude walks in. Seems like I’ve risen up the ranks in his estimation because I’ve spent the morning putting new ink over some work someone did way back when. He asked me yesterday, whilst grunting his thanks for me dealing with the Richie situation the other day at the same time. Not that he’s got anything going on with her, it’s just that – as she said at the time – this place looks after its own. I guess beating on an asshole caused me to become one of them pretty damn quick, and whilst I’m happy enough about that, I can’t help feeling pissed that I didn’t try the same on Abel for what he did to Mariana.
I shake my head from the thought and start heading for the back rooms. Whatever that was is done and over, and no matter the memory of her on me, I’m staying the hell away. Last thing me, Donaldson, or this place needs is Cortez all over it.
“So, pretty boy,” Jude says, as she gets in behind the desk. “Fancy a drink sometime?”
I look over her cropped, blonde, bob, admiring the cut and the cute face sitting under it. “No.”
“Richie’s warned you off already, huh? ‘Cause I sure as hell know you want inside my panties.” I laugh. Can’t help it. She’s a tiger in the making. No doubt about that.
We met yesterday when she came in for her paycheck, and she was instantly all over me. I get it, and maybe I would have, but not now. I’ve got a family of kinds growing around me, and no way am I screwing that up.
“How about we just stay friendly and you learn to control those panties of yours?”
“Well, now you sound just like Viper all of a sudden. Boring.” She files her razor nails down and throws a sweet smile at me. “I’m not boring.”
“No, I can see that. Still, we’re not going there so go play with someone else.”
“Ugh. RICHIE!”
Richie comes out from the back and leans over her to the computer. “What?”
“Kai won’t fuck me.”
She smirks and changes some dates around. “Good.”
“You told him not to, didn’t you?”
“Yep.”
“What happened togirls stick together, huh?”
She stands up and chuckles. “It’s for your own good, Jude. Kai’s an asshole.” Even if I was offended by that, she’s probably not wrong where women are concerned, so I keep moving and leave them to it.
The next while is spent cleaning up my room before the next guy arrives, and then it’s just average work on him. Seems like a decent enough dude. Suit in place rather than the usual kind we get in here. Banker. Always does make me laugh when I think of that kinda scenario. Dude’s probably got a thousand dollars on his back, yet he’s in here having his skin inked up with images of hatred and anarchy.
We chat a bit about life and where he’s from. Nothing special, but boy did good by the sounds of him. Smarts in the head, regardless of a difficult upbringing. Makes me think while I’m finishing off the last of his arm work. There’s a life out there beyond the crap we grew from. A chance, you know? Just gotta make it happen and stay in your own lane. Stay outta trouble. Steer your own direction in life, like he said.
By the time he’s gone, it’s almost time for me to clock out. I wipe down the white and stainless surfaces and get all the kit disinfected and stowed where it should be.
