Annoyed at the turn of my thoughts, I got busy retrieving the plastic wrap. We wrapped machines, the artists’ chairs, and other work surfaces to avoid cross-contamination. Tattoo parlors had to take the risk of infection seriously.
As the shop opened and I started ringing up clients, booking return visits, and cleaning stations between each job, I lost myself in the distraction of work and the playful banter of the other artists.
“Emory, are you stealingmoreof my clients?” Angela demanded in a faux-outraged voice.
“What? No!”
“I understand Gray. You’ve got him all dickmatized. ButRachel?”
“You weren’t available. You asked me to cover!”
“Yeah, for one sesh. But now you’ve got two more booked.”
“It’s a big piece!”
“Sure it is,” Angela said, narrowing her eyes. “I’m going to be watching you, Mr. Poacher.”
Emory spluttered, and Cyrus chuckled. “Angel, we’ve talked about this. Emory doesn’t always get your sense of humor. He’s too sweet for your brand of evil.”
She cackled. “Sorry, Em. I’m just fucking with ya.”
He visibly slumped with relief. “I’d never poach from anyone. Seriously. You’ve all taught me so much.”
“Aw.” She crossed the room to pinch his cheek. “Youaresweet. Gray better hold on tight or I might steal you.”
Emory blushed. “Thanks, but Gray knows I’m never leaving him. We’re end game.”
Over lunch, I ran next door to Ball Breakers and put in orders for everyone but Emory, who was meeting Gray for a lunch date.
We ate during the lull before the next booking came in. I was just finishing my club sandwich—thinking I really should have packed something from home to save coin—when three guys in leathers walked through the door.
“Hey, yo, can you do a walk-in?” the shortest of them called.
I nearly choked on my food.
I knew that voice. Knew his face when he turned to survey the shop. Even with his hair grown out into a shaggy mess instead of the shorter cut he’d always worn before.
Puck.
My ex-boyfriend.
But even more concerning, my ex-biker-club connection. If he saw me here?—
My heart thudded, and I looked around wildly, but it was too late. His eyes locked on mine. “Knight, what the fuck? I thought you were in prison.”
“Early release,” I said.
“No shit?” He laughed and grabbed me in a big hug, his head barely reaching my chin. “Shit, man. I would have met you at the gate if I’d known.”
“Your old lady might frown on that.”
“That hag?” His two friends laughed. I didn’t recognize them, even though they wore the Serpents patch. New joiners after I left, most likely. “She doesn’t get a say in anything I do. She knows I call the shots.”
He smirked and grabbed his crotch, posturing for the guys, but his gaze lingered on me, sweeping over me the way it did before everything went south.
Before I’d taken the fall for him, and he’d moved on without a second look.
“These friends of yours, Knight?” Cyrus asked. “Unfortunately, I’ve got my next client in ten minutes. I won’t have time for a walk-in today.”
