“I get that,” he conceded. “How’d you get into it?”
“Classic case of heading to college having no idea what I wanted to do, then I found myself on the wrong side of town because my GPS glitched out and ran into a group of kids who were ‘working’ a corner. Once I got past being both disgusted and scared shitless, I took a minute to talk to them.”
“Jesus,” he hissed out. “Do you have any fuckin’ idea what coulda happened to you?”
“I’m very aware, hence the scared shitless part of my experience. But I had nothing for them to steal—”
“You coulda been killed... or worse.”
“The oldest kid was fifteen, the youngest twelve. Sisters, who’d picked up a couple of boys about fourteen or so. It was broad daylight, and we were close to a little diner, so I took them out for food, and they helped me get back on the right road. The rest is history. After that experience, I changed my major to social work and discovered Walker House. I got those kids into the dorms. Unfortunately, the boys didn’t stay in the program, but the sisters did, finishing school, and we are still close. Emery even volunteers at our outreach events, sometimes dragging her sister, Toby, with her. They’re awesome kids. No, not kids. They’re adults now, but you know what I mean.”
Jekyll sat back and studied me.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothin’,” he said. “Just don’t like you put yourself in danger. That’s all.”
“Why would you care?” I asked, genuinely surprised by Hyde’s concern. “Besides,” I continued, “I wasn’t in real danger. I mean if it had been dark, I would get it, but it was all good.”
His response was a quiet grunt, then he sipped the coffee and dropped the subject.
“What about you? How’d you get into tattoos?” I asked.
“I’ve always drawn. It was a natural progression.”
I cocked my head. “That’s it?”
“There’s not much to tell. The club helped me start the shop, I’ve been doin’ it for about ten years now. It’s good. So, yeah, that’s it.”
“Okay, cool.” I sighed. I wanted more. I wanted him to bare his soul to me. Partly because I wanted to put my mind at ease by knowing Leo’s new mentor wasn’t a psychopath. I also wanted him to drop his guard and open himself up to me specifically. I don’t know why I wanted it so much, but I did.
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts and I let out a quiet, “Shit.” Pushing back from the table, I stood. “Sorry, I have to go. I’m late for a meeting. Shit. Sorry. Really. Bellamy’s gonna kill me.”
I didn’t wait for a response, rushing out the door to my car.
* * *
Jekyll
Iwatched Indigo’sheart shaped ass run out to her car, admiring the view. I waited a few minutes, and when she didn’t come back, I grinned. She’d left her wallet on the chair beside me, which meant I had a reason to return it.
I had an hour before my first client, so I finished my coffee, and headed to my bike. It took me less than fifteen minutes to get to Walker House, and I parked out front in a ‘fifteen minutes or less’ spot.
Sliding my keys into my pocket as I walked through the front doors, I had to press a button for entry into the lobby, which was, in my fucking opinion, a little too easy to get through.
A young woman, barely a girl, really, sat behind a counter and her eyes widened as I walked toward her. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m here to see Indigo,” I said as I glanced at the nameplate on the desk. It read ‘HARLOW - RECEPTIONIST.’
“She’s in a meeting.” Harlow asked. “Is she expecting you?”
“No. It won’t take long. Just tell her Jekyll’s here.”
She bit her lip, before picking up her phone and dialing. “Hey, Bellamy. Um... there’s a guy here for Indigo. He says his name’s Jekyll.” She glanced up at me, then at her desk. “Sure. Okay.” She hung up and smiled at me. “You can go on back. Bellamy will meet you.”
She buzzed me through the door behind her and I walked into another room of sorts. Windowless, small, but big enough for a sofa and coffee table. I didn’t see a way out which suddenly made me feel incredibly claustrophobic until a portion of the wall appeared to split in front of me and a kid about sixteen or so walked through it.
I didn’t think he was who I was expecting, but with the liberties folks were takin’ in namin’ their kids these days, anything was possible. “Bellamy?”
