“But, mommy.”
I avoid everyone’s eyes except my daughters and go to her to grab her hand. I don’t say a word as I drag Autumn out of the tattoo shop and up to the apartment. I’m pretty sure I caught Becca’s shocked wide eyes from my peripheral, but I’m going to have to apologize to her later for not saying goodbye.
When I get the door to the apartment unlocked, I drop Autumn’s hand and race to the bathroom to throw up.
My stomach is in knots and my heart is racing a million miles a minute.
I never thought I would ever have to see that face again.
Senator Mary-Catherine Elias’s son, Bradley Elias.
The man who fathered my child.
~ ~ ~
Declan
My whole crew, including me, watches Penny drag Autumn out of the tattoo shop like her ass is on fire. Every instinct in mewants to follow her, but I’m in the middle of tattooing a client and can’t leave right now.
She looked like she saw a ghost, and as soon as I finish up with this asshole, I’m leaving to go check on her.
“Oh, shit. I know her. Fuck. She’s hotter now than she was in college.” My gaze flicks back to the man named Brad, who’s been sitting in my chair, spewing his mouth for the last two hours.
He’s one of the biggest pricks I’ve ever had the pleasure of tattooing. I don’t know how men like him make it in life. When he called and said who he was, he introduced himself as the senator's son like a grade-A asshole. He won’t shut his mouth about how many women he’s fucked. If he thinks that’s going to impress me, it’s not. And the fact that he said he used to poke holes in condoms makes him that much worse.
That’s got to be illegal, right?
To top it all off, he’s getting his mom’s face tattooed on his shoulder.
“Who are you talking about?” I ask him cautiously.
“The piece of ass who just walked out of here,” he says loudly.
All I can do is stare at him. I see Preston and Becca turn to look at us, and my skin crawls at what he just said.
“Piece of ass?” I grind out.
“Yeah, man. Her name is Penny, if I remember correctly.” He lets out a laugh that says he thinks this whole situation is funny. “I followed her around for months just to getin her pants. My frat bros made a bet with me, saying they didn’t think she would ever fuck me because she wouldn’t let anyone touch her. But I won that bet,” he brags with a laugh. “She was the first one I poked holes in the condom with. She came back around saying she was pregnant, but I had my lawyer… wait… how old was that kid who was with her?” he pauses mid-rant to ask the question. He seems genuinely perplexed, and I can see the gears turning in his head.
If the motherfucker so much as paid attention to anyone but himself, he would notice that the shop is deadly silent. I stand from my seat and toss my gloves into the trash next to my station. Jude stopped tattooing his client at some point and stands as well. All three of my friends have moved in on me, and I know it’s because they’re worried I’m about to do something that’s going to send my ass to jail.
There’s no way they didn’t hear what this guy just said. His mouth is loud as fuck. And everyone who knows Penny knows that she doesn’t talk about Autumn’s sperm donor… ever. She’s a steel vault, and I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who knows the story.
I’m about to throw fists, but Becca sidles up next to me and says in my ear, “She needs you right now. Go. I’ll take care of this.”
Brad doesn’t even notice what’s happening around him, and I decide Becca is right. Penny needs me more than I need to deck this guy. When I head toward the front without saying a word, I can hear him say, “That fucking cunt.”
I turn because I can’t let that slide, but Becca is already on it. Her fist is pulled back, and she swings it hard, punching him square in the jaw. His face snaps to the side, and Jude and Preston immediately grab her, holding her back from doing more damage.
“Get the fuck out of here, you fucking pig,” she spits at him and goes to try to kick him.
The guys pull her away, and Brad holds his face in shock. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer, you fucking whore!” he screams when he goes to stand.
“Bring it, bitch boy,” Becca spews back.
“And where the fuck do you think you’re going? You’re not done with my tattoo,” he yells at me, just now noticing I’ve left his side.
I don’t dare take a step toward him, even though I want to. “Get the fuck out of my shop, asshole. If I ever see you around this town again, I’ll make sure you leave with two broken legs and a nose job.”
