Oh.
Right.
He cheated on Frankie once, while she was a prisoner at Hoss, and he’s never forgiven himself.His hand clenches into a fist, jaw flexing like I just took a swing at him.
Well, shit.
“Kidding, obviously.I was going for inappropriate, not whatever the hell just happened to your face.”I push out a laugh, too quick, too forced.“I mean, you wouldn’t last five minutes in a car with me.Too much personality.You’d kill me before we hit the first motel.”
“I would never hurt you, Wolf.”His eyes laser into mine.“Never.”
“I know.Jesus tits.Lighten up.”I cross the room and drop into the armchair facing him.
He’s trying.I’ll give him that.Since I met him, he’s been making an effort.Trying to be my father.But there’s too much distance between us, filled with twenty-four years of trauma and regret.
“So…” He rests his elbows on spread knees.“How’s the tattoo shop?”
“Declan talks a lot.He’s a great mentor, but there’s no off switch.I could strap him to a wind turbine and power half of Alaska.”
“Talking with people can be exhausting.”
“I don’t mind the talking.It’s the listening.I have selective hearing.It selectsfuck this conversationevery time.”
He nods, waiting, probably wondering if this is one of those conversations.
I drag my nails along the arm of the chair, letting the tension stretch before I break it.“He said the other owner of the shop is in town.For good.”
I’ve never met the elusive Jag Rath, but his name carries some serious street cred.People talk about him like he’s the godfather of Sitka.
It’s just cheap fear porn.
Everyone knows Monty Novak is the richest man in Alaska.He owns the whole damn state.
But the mention of Jag sparks something in Monty’s eyes.Interest.Concern.
“Jag is the sole owner of your tattoo shop,” he says.“He bought it anonymously many years ago and let everyone believe Declan was the owner.”
“You know Jag?”
“I know of him.”
Monty knows everything about everyone who comes and goes in this town, but he doesn’t offer more.
“Come on.Tell me.”I nudge his leg with my boot.“Is he actually scary, or is he compensating for a small dick?”
“Wolf.”He sighs.
“Just trying to get a solid dick-to-danger ratio.”
“You are…” He sighs again.
“I’m your flesh and blood.Like herpes, but worse.”
“You’remine.”
A surge of emotion singes my throat.
I shrug it off.“Cool.”
