My mind is spinning and it’s only making the headache worse.
“His mom’s family? But I thought…”
“You and me both.” Asher dips the needle in the ink again, wiping off the tattoo quickly before starting again. “He wouldn’t even go to them after his dad died, not even when he was killing himself trying to support everyone. So whatever happened…” Asher shakes his head.
“Is his mom’s family well-off or something?” I ask, trying to connect the dots.
“Oh no, no,” Asher chuckles nervously, glancing up at the customer then back at me. “We’ll talk later.”
Ah, so it’s something shady.
“What do you need me to do?”
“How long do I have you for?” He counters my question.
“Three hours. Maybe four if we can turn down the music and I can wear my baseball hat or sunglasses inside.”
Asher nods, holding his elbow out for me to bump so his hands stay sanitary. “Deal.”
I smile, nodding at him before standing up and putting my oversized sunglasses on.
“I may look like a douchebag wearing these inside, but these migraines aren’t going away,” I say with a teasing tilt to my voice. “Besides, I look like a very fuckable douchebag, so who’s really upset here?” The customer in his chair bursts out laughing and Asher pulls back quickly, shaking his head at my potty mouth antics and sighing heavily.
“For the love of god,” Asher mutters. “Go clean the backroom please.”
“Aye, aye, capitano!” I mock salute and turn towards the backroom, intent on getting my work done. I’m fully invested inFrom The Ashes. I know I was excited about cosmetology school and I did give it a good try, but I’m not going back there, I’m staying right here. Here… Here is where I feel the most free.
And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Freedom and a family.
If Asher hasn’t written me off, and Ty’s not here, I think I can do this. And when Ty shows up, which he inevitably will, then I’ll…cross that bridge when I get to it.
My mood immediately sours. I’m not willing to give up the family I’ve found here because of what he did. No,fuck that. Gritting my teeth, I start going through the fridge and throwing away the trash.
If Ty doesn’t want me here, then he’s going to have to fire me. And even then, I won’t accept it. No. That asshole is going to stare at me. Every. Single. Fucking. Day. He’s going to see that not even he broke me.
That I’m unbreakable.
The Roxie that was soft with him is gone. Maybe someday in the future, I’ll feel more comfortable with Ty, but right now, steel reinforces my bones. I won’t let him think he’s torn me down.
I see his line of unopened energy drinks in the fridge and start shaking them all, a good long ten Mississippi-spelled seconds for each can, before lining them all back up.
Let the games begin.
CHAPTER 34
“Alright, Terecino. That’s it,”My mom’s brother, Marcos, calls for me as I walk into his office on the very last day of paying off my soul. “You’ve done well. Are you sure you don’t want to come work for me full time? You sure do have a way of…dispatching people.”
Just the way he says that makes my fucking stomach turn. His yellowed teeth peek out from under his too-long mustache and his dark eyes sparkle like Mama’s when she’s planning something sinister.I don’t like it.
My sweat makes my shirt stick to me in an uncomfortable way that makes me want to scrub my skin off to try and wash the last six weeks from my body.
“Thank you, Uncle. But I just want to get home, get back to my craft.” I can see the way that he starts to take offense.Fix it, Hernandez, fix it now.“I’ll never forget my time with you northe important lessons you’ve taught me. I thank you, deeply, for welcoming me into your home and business for these past few weeks. And again, I’m in your debt for helping me.”
Uncle Marcos thrives on flattery and praise, so he ate that shit up and waved me off like some benevolent god that hadn’t just put me through six weeks of murder, backwoods burials, and more darkness than I’d ever known possible.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same after this. But it was the price I paid, and will gladly pay over and over, to keep Roxie safe.
