Page 14 of Ashes to Ink

“Never say that, dude,” Mace put in, going to his stationafter he’d kissed his girl. “That means something is really going on, andAdrienne will find out. Never mess with the Montgomerys.”

“I think my mom cross-stitched that on a pillow once,” Shep said with a laugh.

“You know, that doesn’t really surprise me,” Ryan said,setting up his station as well. They each had an appointment within the nextthirty minutes, so as they got to work, the subject was thankfully changed—butonly for a few moments. Too soon, Adrienne was right back, asking the samequestion.

“What’s wrong, Ryan?”

“My brother’s back in town.”

They didn’t know about his brother, and from the looks on their faces, theydidn’t know why his brother being in town was an issue. But it wasn’t like hecould really keep the secret because he couldn’t hide anything from them.

They were really good at their jobs.

And he wasn’t talking about being tattoo artists.

“And? What’s wrong with that?” Adrienne asked. She pausedand looked at him directly. “I mean, there has to be something wrong with it,or you wouldn’t be as worried as you are. But can you explain? Or is this somethingthat is best done over beers when we’re not at work and waiting for someone towalk in at any moment. I’m not going to pry.” She glared at her man and herbrother as they snickered. “I don’t pry when it’s really important. Or I guess,I don’t pry if it’ll hurt, even if it’s still important. You know that.”

“I do,” Ryan whispered. Both Shepand Mace agreed, nodding and verbalizing their assent. At least, that wassomething.

“My brother’s a drug addict.”

Adrienne reached out for Ryan, and he didn’t pull back whenshe patted his hand. She immediately dropped her arm, though, and he wasgrateful. He didn’t mind being touched, but it was hard enough to talk aboutthis subject without having to worry about hurting his friend’s feelings.

“And is he using right now?” Mace asked.

Ryan nodded, thankful for the question. Just because someonewas an addict didn’t mean they were using all the time. You could be completelysober, going on a decade of not using, and still be an addict. You would alwayshave that craving. Ryan wasn’t an addict, but his twin was. And that meant hehad seen the signs, had attended the classes, had gone to the support groups.He had tried to help his brother his entire life. But he hadn’t been enough.

That was why he needed to stay away from Abby.

But he knew he wouldn’t.

Because maybe he was an asshole.

“He’s using again. He showed up on my doorstep last nightafter I got back from Abby’s. I was making sure she got home okay. He wantedmoney, wanted a place to stay. But I had to push him away. I have my damn housebecause of the money my parents left to me out of guilt.” He paused. “I had to pushhim away.”

“Guilt?” Adrienne asked.

Ryan shook his head as the bell on top of the door rang.Mace’s client had arrived. “I’ll talk about it later. Promise. But I’m notgoing to hurt Abby. I can’t. Because if I do, I’m going to hate myself morethan I already do.”

Adrienne gave him a look, and he knew this conversationwasn’t over. But it wasn’t like he could talk right then. He had so many thoughtsgoing through his mind, and was too busy thinking about Abby and Michael andJulia. He knew he should stay away, but he wasn’t going to.

Thankfully, his client came in next, so he didn’t have tothink about anything personal anymore.

He only had to think about the ink. Just had to concentrateon the art that he was about to create, the piece that would conform exactly towhat it needed to be and would be a representation of what his client needed,what they wanted.

This was something he could do.

This was something he was damn good at.

And maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t fuck up everything else.

“You think Carter’s okay?” Landon asked from across Ryan’sbedroom.

“Well, he went home with Roxie, so I guess he’s as okay ashe’s going to be right now.” Ryan looked in his closet and then glanced over athis friend.

Landon and Ryan were still new friends, but they were close.They’d met through Mace and then Shep and hadn’tlooked back. They had beers with the guys sometimes and, considering theyhadn’t married into the Montgomerys like the rest ofthem, they had formed a bond.

They were not dating, contrary to popular belief. It amazedRyan how many people thought that the suave and suited broker would wantanything to do with Ryan in his jeans and usually ratty shirt, with all hispiercings and tattoos.