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“It’s your own damn fault.”

Growling, I wrap both arms around her and squeeze until she starts to squeal.

“Oh my God, let me go before you break me!”

Her words hit me straight in the chest and I turn away as I loosen my hold. “So, tattoo time, then?”

“Yes, please,” she says with a smile and I know it doesn’t matter how many times I have to lie to her because I’ll come back for that smile alone every single time.

* * * *

Streak:

It’s from the Merchant of Venice.

Me:

Shakespeare?

The buzz of the needle drowns out the other noise around us and I glance up, meeting Tate’s eyes as she smiles at me.

“Everything okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, sweetheart. Just club stuff.”

She nods and I get up from my seat to check out how her tattoo is coming along. When we first rolled up to From the Ashes Tattoos, the shop that Blaze’s son owns, she was insistent on getting one for her mom but she couldn’t decide what she wanted so she went with the letter “T” with a little two up in the corner for her and Theo. It’s actually pretty damn cute.

My phone buzzes again and I pull it out.

Streak:

Yep.

Me:

What the fuck does it mean?

The buzzing stops and I glance up as her artist, Kenny, grabs some paper towels and squirts it with soap before rubbing it over her ink.

“Hey, is Nix here today?” I ask and Kenny shakes his head.

“Naw, he took the day off to spend with his family.”

I nod and Tate turns to me as he pulls out the plastic wrap and covers her skin with it.

“Who is Nix?”

“Blaze’s son. This is his shop.”

“Follow me and I’ll get y’all checked out,” Kenny says and I help Tate off the table before slipping my arm around her waist and leading her up to the front.

“That will be one hundred.”

Releasing Tate, I grab my wallet but Tate snatches it out of my hand.

“I am perfectly capable of paying for my own tattoo,” she snaps and Kenny smirks as she hands him a wad of twenties.

“Thanks, guys,” Kenny says, laughing and I nod at him as we turn toward the door.