I don’t like getting emotional. Especially not with a man who I barely knew not six weeks ago. Especially not with a man who’s made me do horrible things in payment for helping me with someone I killed.
But to hear that this ruthless man thinksI’m good? It’s enough to make the emotion choke me up a little.
Clearing my throat, I nod a few times.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“If you need anything else, I’ll always answer my phone for you.” He nods to me, taking my hand to shake mine before covering our joined hands with his other. “Don’t help your mother anymore. It’s time she stood on her own. And don’t let that girl of yours out of your sight.”
“I won’t,” I say, my words sealing in like a vow.
“I made sure the doctor she saw was legit. You have a mean right hook, Ty. Be careful.”
“Thank you again, Uncle. For taking care of her.”
He lets go of my hands and waves me off. “It was nothing. Now, get out of here and back to your tattoo shop. I know a few of the guys were already talking about getting some work done.”
I smirk, knowing exactly the amount of work I have planned for me when I get back toAshes.“I’m happy to do it.” I turn my back after giving Marcos a goodbye nod, when I get to the open door, I turn back around to face him. “I’ll answer my phone for you too, Uncle. I’d prefer for happier work, or just to talk though.”
Marcos’s eyes light up and he controls an emotional grin, almost like he didn’t think that I would see him as family after this. “That’s nice to hear, Ty.”
And with that, I walk out of his office, finally feeling like I’ve been seen.
CHAPTER 35
A WEEK LATER
I graciously tookthe extra week off from tattooing that Asher offered to try and get my head on straight. The whole time I was working with Marcos, I was so focused on trying to do what he asked and keep Roxie safe that I didn’t have time to think about everything.
I almost think maybe I should’ve jumped right into working because let me tell you, my mind isfucked. If I thought I was a psychopath before, now I’m…scary.
I go to sleep each night feeling the wet drops of blood spray across my face, and in my nightmares each night I’m knocking Roxie out again and again. Only in sleep, I hit her as hard as I can. Over and over and over again. I can’t stop, even when she’s screaming. Even when she stops. In my nightmares, I just keep hurting her.
Then I hear Mickey.
The work I did for Marcos… It didn't help. He used my muscle and brawn as intimidation. I was the one he sent in when he needed to scare them. I broke some knee caps, broke some noses, dislocated some fingers one by one, choked some people until they couldn’t see straight. Those are the...calmest things I’d like to forget. After the first week, he promoted me to killing and disposing of the bodies.
I won’t be able to forgive myself. Ever.
After spending the week buried under blankets and drinking my weight in liquor to try and ctrl-alt-delete the memories of the past two months.
Everything needed to go.
Everything but the memories ofher.
I’ll keep the one of her crumpled on the ground even though it makes me wince every time I think of it. I’ll keep it, if it means that I get to keep all the others too.
Roxie laying in my arms with the early morning sun brushing her cheek.
Roxie turning to look at me, her hair flying out around her gently as she smiles brightly.
Roxie running out of the shop and pulling my bike helmet off for a kiss.
Roxie staring at my lips as I have her pinned against the wall in the breakroom.
Roxie telling me she loves me.
I can’t lose those. Not when they’re the only thing I have left.
