“Yeah, that’s Moose.” Dane nodded.
“Come on.” Inari pushed her door open and stepped out.
Moose’s dark eyes lingered over her pretty face first before drifting along her full frame. He licked his lips and tossed the bone to his rib in his container. Dane got out next, head down when he planted his feet on the sidewalk. Moose chucked his chin at her before picking up another rib.
“What’s up, mama? You trying to get some ink?”
“So, is that how it is atInk Realm?” Inari questioned. “You just walk right in and get tatted up, damn consent?”
Moose frowned, slightly confused as his gaze bounced over to Dane leaning against the side of Inari’s ride.
“You remember him?” She aimed a finger at Dane, who could barely look Moose in the eye.
Narrowing his eyes, he slung his rib back into the to-go box and slammed it shut.
“Yeah. He was in here last night with his homies.” Moose lowered the box in front of him.
“Well, did you check IDs, or you just took a bunch of baby-faced ass little boys’ word for it that they were of age?” Inari sneered.
“They all had consent waivers. I didn’t think shit. Honestly, a nigga was faded and happy that business was booming opening night,” he expressed with a shrug.
“Of course.” Inari bobbed her head before scoffing. “Not very responsible of a new business owner.”
“Look, I ain’t 5-0. I don’t appreciate you coming over here barking on me because you can’t control your fucking kid either!” His thick brows bunched together, and he stepped closer to Inari.
“Fuck you! You don’t know shit about me!”
“Whoa, Ma, chill!” Dane finally stepped in, using himself as a fence between the two of them.
“Dane, stay out of this!” Inari pushed him aside. “It sounds like you might want to run a tighter ship! I can’t be the only parent concerned about something like this.”
In all honesty, he was surprised somebody who looked as good as her had a son that old. The way her voice was low and sultry was sexy as hell when she threatened him, making his dick hard. Nobody talked to Moose like that. Most people were too scared to dare even raise their voice at him, let alone show up at his place of business on this type of time.
“You the only one here right now on this bullshit!” Moose rebutted, throwing his hand at her.
She was close to getting knocked the fuck out. When it came to conflict, he’d just let one off in a nigga. Going back and forth took too much energy. He also didn’t like being taken out of the charming element he had developed for himself.
“You’re smarter than you look.” Inari skimmed his thick, chiseled frame and spotted the print in his loose fit jean shorts. “If you want to stay in business, I’d get my shit together and make sure your paperwork is in order.”
“Lil homie came in and said he was trying to solidify his bond with his team. I felt that. I asked him what he wanted, and he looked me dead in my eye and said he wanted the name of the only person in the world who ever loved him unconditionally. His mama.” Moose’s tone lowered.
It was no longer threatening but still very stern with every word.
“You don’t hear a lot of that no more, and I knew it was something he wouldn’t regret. I’m a tattoo artist. That’s what I’m here for. Tatts can be removed now, but for me, ink is permanent. So, you have to be intentional with everything youput on your flesh.” An intense blaze of passion burned through his eyes, and Inari found herself hanging onto every word.
She searched his smoldering eyes, trying to find some kind of flaw. It was what she did, always looking for the bad in some shit because it was what she was used to. Moose didn’t mince words. She could tell that right off the bat.
“Dane, let’s go.” Although she was speaking to her son, her eyes never left Moose’s when she eased away from him.
“Sorry about all this, Moose,” her son mumbled.
“What you apologizing for?” Inari’s face balled up in contempt.
“’Cause you being extra right now, Ma. Acting like I’m just some little kid or something. I do everything you tell me. One time, I step out of the box, and you act like a nigga ’bout to head up the river for five to ten. I’m not him!” Dane yelled, startling her.
“What are you talking about?” Inari whispered.
“My pops. Tell me that ain’t the first thing you thought about when you seen this?” He pointed to the tattoo on his neck. “That I’m just like Danilo, right?”
