She works for him. This is his bar. She’s one of them. I can’t tell her what happened back there, he’s the president of this motorcycle club, no one is going to take my side. I’m too freaked out to stay or explain. I promise them I’m fine, just tired and Dana agrees. Raven says they have a contract with a cab company and arranges for one to take us home.
Dana is worried but I do one of the worst things ever, I use my father as an excuse. She hugs me in the back of the cab and says she is proud of me for trying and even offers to spend the night, but I tell her I’m good.
I lock up the house as she leaves in the cab and walk through to the kitchen, taking out a bottle of vodka and pouring a shot. More alcohol is not what I need but my nerves are shot to hell.
My brain runs through everything he said to me and each interaction I’ve had with him today. I don’t think the way he does, I can’t come to the same conclusion he has that the few times we met today is anything other than coincidence.
He was so paranoid that I was at his house this morning and accusing me of following him tonight. Who does that? Then I remember his vest, the patch, who he really is. It makes me wonder if Jesse is a part of that lifestyle. It’s really going to suck when I have to see him again, and that makes me sad.
Setting the alarm I head up to bed, stripping out of my clothes and washing off my make-up, I throw on some fluffy pajamas and get into bed. Sleep is a really long time coming and not because of all the alcohol I consumed.
There must be something wrong with me because I’ve gone beyond thinking about the bad stuff and am caught up on how he stared at my mouth. How he called me Cherry. And that sort of, kind of promise that he is going to taste my lips.
Chapter Eight
Nero
I park my bike in the alley at the back of the Blackhawk Ink Tattoo shop. I understand he doesn’t want me coming in the shop, but it still pisses me off. Unlike the bar, Ghost or Garrett as he asked me to call him when I arranged this meeting, does own this place now, it hasn’t been under our ownership for almost seven years.
He kept the name because of the reputation it’s built. That is down to Garrett and Phoenix, they’re both phenomenal tattooists. Garrett has done a lot of my ink and usually does the club patch on any new members, he even has it on his own forearm.
Being kept waiting is not going to do him any favors. I’m leaning against the wall opposite the door when it opens. Garrett steps out and pulls it over. He lifts his chin in greeting.
“How’s Phoenix?” I ask.
“He’s coming around,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets.
We never were the kind to have heart to hearts. We knew what each of us wants from the other and the relationship never went much further than that.
“He’s talked about calling.”
That’s good to hear. I hate fighting with him. I’ve looked out for him my whole life. I’m not here to make any more small talk.
“Dutton’s dealt with.”
Garrett’s head comes up, his jaw tight, and he nods. He wanted to be the one to do it, to take his revenge but the man who was my Ghost isn’t a violent person. He knows he owes me.
“I’ve got one more job.”
It’s on the tip of his tongue to protest but again he nods. “After that I’m out?”
I make him wait for a few moments. “Yeah. You were never really in to begin with.”
“But when I say out, I mean out, completely, no favors, no contact, no tattoos.”
“Shit, that’s a bit excessive. You and my brother are the best artists in the state.”
Garrett stares at me. I know he means patch tattoos. To be fair, I don’t have plans for any new tattoos, anyway. And Phoenix won’t be as hard as Garrett if I want one. I don’t even need to come to the shop if it makes everyone more comfortable.
See, I can be a reasonable sonofabitch sometimes. I take an envelope out of my jacket pocket and hold it out to him. “I don’t need surveillance. I want a full background check.”
“Blaze can do that.”
“I don’t want Blaze to do it,” I say, giving him a hard look.
My suspicions are my own and I don’t want to put her on anyone’s radar if I’m wrong. Which I’m starting to think I might be, but I’ve not got this far by taking chances.
“I want to know everything about her.”
