Chapter One
“Are you serious? I think this is extreme man.” Asa says as he helps me haul boxes into my new house. I bought the shack five days ago after I was released from custody and I got the keys today. The wood clap house sits back deep in the woods on six acres of all mine, including my own dock leading to the water.
Off the beaten path and far from traffic and it is everything I need to rebuild on.
I have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, decent kitchen, living area and a huge garage in the back, twice the size of my shack.
“I don’t want to be in the city anymore.” I say and sort the boxes towards the rooms they go to. “I am serious about you keeping it.”
“It’s your house though, and worth enough to buy this place outright and your part of the PIT back.” He argues and I appreciate his truth, I do but there is no way I am ever tattooing again.
“I’m not ready to get back to tattooing and for now I want to stay hidden.” I pause and look at him, wiping sweat off my forehead. “When I need the money, I will sell it. I won’t move back to it. I need to start small again, Ace.”
He seems to understand my state of mind. I’m glad someone does, because I barely do. Leaving prison, even the minimum security one I was in… it’s a shock to the system. Shit food, noise, so much fucking noise. That’s just the tip of the iceberg too. The place reeks to high hell, minimum security is still a guard on your ass. They toss cells at least once a week and if they destroy your shit, too fucking bad.
“Well when you are ready, I’ll be happy to buy your spot.” This shocks me and I look at him with interest.
“Really?” I laugh and shake my head no. “I don’t need charity from you Ace. I can sell it anytime.”
Asa flips me off. “Charity? Give me more credit. I just like the place and when you want to, I will buy it.”
I think the offer over for not even three seconds. “Cool, make an offer. It’s yours.” I say knowing I wont return to that house.
“For real?”
I nod and reach for the box that says ‘WELDING’. “Wanna see the shop?” I ask him, taking the box with me to the garage.
I walk in the massive garage and look around. There are four work benches in the back that I will be working at. The place is heated and in better condition than the shack. “So, what’s with the new passion?” Asa points to the box I set down.
“I started in the vineyards but moved to welding. Decided I might as well get a technical degree since I was wasting away picking grapes. Turns out, I make a damn good welder. I want to do a makeover, full gut on this place. I figure I can custom some lighting, rails, doors. Start there, if I still like it, I might extend that business degree and open a fabrication shop.”
He nods, taking in the giant space. “I dig it. You can make some bad ass art.”
“That’s the plan.” I head back into the house and go for a beer. It has been over two years since I had a drink. I was going to be a lightweight now days, so I only bought a six pack. The first sip is like nectar from the Gods, the second just as good.
“That your first one?” Asa asks, pointing at my beer.
“Yeah. Fuck I missed beer.”
He laughs, “I bet.” He catches the one I tossed him, and we do a cheer.
“Only bought a sixer knowing I’ll be a lightweight at first.”
“NoPatronfor a while.” He chuckles, but I feel that hole inside of me awaken at the thought ofPatronand the only person thattequilacould conjure.
I smile, say nothing about the memories it brought up. I have learned to hide in plain sight and though I can trust my boys with anything, I still don’t bring her up. I am terrified of the truth saying her name would bring to the surface.
The biggest fight will be staying away from her. Hell, its been five days and each one gets harder. The way I feel about Mya… it is so strong that fate be damned if I am ever given that chance to make it right. I would give up everything for the rest of my life if I knew I could keep her.
“So, this is the new place?” Noah says as he enters my kitchen with Bright and Raleigh in tow. I hug him, grateful for his friendship over the years, but most over the last two.
“How are you?” I ask as I kiss Bright on the cheek, Raleigh too.
“Doing good, same old. We just got back from the Eastern world tour Monday so it’s nice to be on hiatus.”
“How was that?”
He smiles and I know he loves being on stage. “Awesome of course. What about you? How has it been getting back to normal?”
