Page 42 of Wynter

“Isn’t that a little drastic?” Riley asks.

“Maybe. But it means I’ll never have to see Ghost, or Xavi, or Leith.” And I honestly can’t imagine facing any of them. Not without beating the shit out of them. Or bursting into tears. “Maybe I should take that job.”

“What job?” Riley asks.

“What about the life expectancy thing?” Mini adds. “Although I wouldn’t mind keeping the apartment. And Snowball.”

“Hands off my pet,” I snap. And ignore Riley’s question entirely.

“But I can keep the apartment?” Mini asks hopefully.

I groan. But it’s not like she plans on leaving anytime soon, and living with Mini? Not on my to-do list. Plus, it’s not like I have anything left in Silver Springs. Once Xavi sends in that article, no one will hire the Cleanly Den, so I can kiss my job goodbye, too. And my friendship with Amber will follow soon as she realizes I can’t pay for the damage I caused to the cafe. I guess Storm is sort of a friend, but she’s intense and angry. And Ember’s too busy skating to notice if I leave. So the only thing left in Silver Springs are my three mates, all of whom I’d do anything to avoid.

And just like that, going back to the agency starts to look more and more appealing.

Chapter Thirteen

Ghost

I spend half the day tied to a fucking chair. A maid finds me sometime after noon and runs back out to get Leon from the desk. Must be because my cock is hanging out for all the world to see.

Leon unties my hands from behind my back, smirking the entire time. So once I’m free, I want to pummel him. With my magic and my fists.

I could take on the wolf, but none of this is his fault. Or Wyn’s. It’s mine. Because after what I’ve done, it’s the least I deserve.

I change into clean clothes, make two calls, and storm out of the hotel. Because there’s only one place that can help right now. Lady Blue Tattoo.

The tattoo shop is located near the Silver Springs cemetery, past O’Malley’s, which has the best pot roast in town. Inside, a slim woman with gray hair piled on her head is reading a magazine on a blue velvet couch. She drops it on the glass coffee table when she sees me and gets to her feet.

“I’m Gray, you must be Ghost.”

I nod. Her name’s unusual, but it definitely suits her. Must be the hair.

“Come on in,” she adds. She leads the way to the second tattoo booth and motions for me to hang my coat on the hook behind the door. “You said on the phone that you wanted something unique. What are we doing today?”

She gestures towards the black chair and I settle in and roll up my sleeve.

“A snowflake over the flame. Right here.” I tap a spot on my wrist.

“You sure you don’t want it somewhere else?” Gray raises one eyebrow in question.

I shake my head. I already know I’m in for a shit-ton of pain. Wouldn’t be here otherwise.

Gray shrugs. “Okay then. Sit back and think of your happy place, or whatever gets you through the day.”

Some people deal with emotions by running. Usually in circles, or through a park. Sometimes, they do it by running away. Others work out at the gym. Get wasted. Do drugs. Me? I get inked. Expensive, sure—but nowhere near as bad as doing cocaine. Kind of puts things in perspective.

I got my first tattoo the day Wyn and I broke up. One tiny snowflake, right above my heart. So I’d always carry a part of her with me, even when I left her behind.

It hurt, but not as much as leaving her did. The sting from the needle wrapped itself around my emotions like invisible magic. Made me hurt a little less. And somehow, watching that snowflake take shape made my decision a little easier.

By the time I was done, I knew I could go on for another day. And next time I missed Wyn so much it hurt, I tattooed another snowflake, a slightly larger one, next to the first. Until my chest was littered with snowflakes. Until I was living in cold-as-fuck Canada, chasing skips across the Great White North. And not in a snowmobile, like Wyn seems to think. People have cars up there, same as everywhere else.

I regretted leaving Wyn more with every tattoo. Almost broke down and went after her more than once. Thought I’d made a mistake until the day a dragon shifter came after me for arresting his mate. But she’d burned down a town filled with humans, so what choice did I have?

It was me or him. And when my wind only fueled his fire, I had to use my gun. Shoot him straight through the heart.

That day, I got flames tattooed on my trigger finger. Had them weave up the back of my hand, around my arm, and over the snowflakes I got for Wyn. So I’d never forget. Because she would never be safe with a guy like me.