Page 46 of Ink

I don’t know a single person in this world that can ignore a cry like that.

Sutton is lying on the floor of the shower, curled up in a protective ball, crying as the cold water pelts off of her. I can feel the cool water temperature from the air that wafts my way as I approach. Her teeth clatter as the sobs continue to rock through her body.

She looks so small and vulnerable. So helpless. Her dead eyes staring off into the distance. I don’t think she even knows I’m standing right here.

This moment feels intimate.

As if I’m witnessing something that I shouldn’t.

I can’t seem to mind my own fucking business when it comes to Sutton. At least that’s what I’m telling myself as I pull the cheap, clear plastic shower liner back. I had every intention of picking her up off the floor, wrapping her in the towel I could find that had the least number of holes in it and tucking her away in my bed with hopes she will finally talk in the morning.

Something on her back has me pausing my mission. Blinking twice, I focus on her spine that’s on full display because I know I’m not seeing what I’m seeing.

Small, round scars run up and down her spine. Some look more recent than others. The ones that start at the base of her spine look like they happened years ago. The silvery lines look faded, but there’s no missing that they’re there. The farther up my eyes trail, the more fresh they get. I don’t know how I didn’t feel them earlier.

I lean in, eyes fixed on the scars.

Each one is a perfect circle. About the size of a nickel and evenly stacked on top of the next.

Something inside me awakens and stirs. Every trick I’ve taught myself over the years to keep a lid on it since finding Sutton in that shitty ass motel room is a thing of the past because right now all I can see is hunting whoever did this down and inflict the same suffering they gave her.

Except this will be worse.

I’ll make theirs look like a walk in the park. They’ll wish they never fucking met me.

The lid is rocking as the fury bubbles over. A roar leaves my body as I whip around. My fist making contact with the wall behind me over and over again. A loud crack can barely be heard over the noises leaving my body. Drywall falls onto the floor, leaving a hole the size of my fist in the wall.

I can feel the blood pooling between my knuckles and starting to drip down my fingers as I flex my fist.

My subconscious knows Sutton doesn’t need my shit right now. I need to care for her the only way I truly know how, fucking someone’s shit up.

The door to my room opens, crashing against the wall as I prowl out of the bathroom.

“What the fuck happened?” Cain demands, with Hash hot on his heels. Both of their expressions turn lethal as they take me in. My chest is rapidly rising and falling as I try to calm myself down. “Get Evan.”

Hash cast me a concerned glance before running out of the room in search of Evan.

“Talk to me.”

“I don’t fucking know, Prez.” I look around for something else to take my anger out on. I need to throw something.

“Check it,” Cain warns. “She’s still in your fucking bathroom, whether you think she can hear you or not.”

Grabbing the closest thing to me, which happened to be my cologne bottle that was resting on top of my dress, I chuck it at the wall. The bottle shatters, little bits and pieces of glass flying every which way. “They’re all over her fuckin’ back!” I thunder.

Cain moves in behind me, locking my arms behind my body just as I reach for something else to throw. “Get a lock on it or I’ll lock you down,” he threatens in my ear.

I’m still raging when Hash comes back to my room with Evan.

“I’m good.” I try to shrug Cain off, but he isn’t letting up.

“You better stay good, brother. Evan will take care of Sutton. We’ll talk about this shit downstairs. She doesn’t need to see this too.” Cain lets go of the hold he has on me but doesn’t back away.

Evan’s face turns sympathetic as she takes in the war that’s currently going on in my head. I don’t want to leave her when she’s vulnerable and hurting like this. I don’t know how she’ll feel about a woman she’s never met before helping her, but Evan is probably the better choice than me right now. I also know I don’t have a claim on her. I’m not her man. I’m just the guy that employed her.

“I’ll take good care of her, Ink. I promise. Plus, Hades is the best snuggle buddy,” Evan assures.

Christ.