Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

“I won’t let anything happen to you. If you give them respect, my brothers will return it. You don’t seem like the type to mouth off, but I’ll tell you now that equality shit doesn’t fly here. If you give them shit or lip, they’re going to shut you down.”

Her stomach dropped into her shoes. She felt like she was on a roller coaster, and the sensation made her feel alive. Like a hypothermia victim immersed in warm water it was a painful yet necessary process.

“You trust me?” he asked.

“I don’t know why, but I do,” she stated, closing the door behind her.

§

Snake

She stopped in the doorway. “Before we go in, I have one question.”

“What’s that?” he asked, unsure of what she’d say. The woman was a wreck. A beautiful disaster to be sure, but unpredictable as hell. It kept him on his toes and touched one of his few soft spots. He remembered that out of control period. Mike had been the one to get him on the path. He wanted to pay the favor forward.

“What’s your name?”

“Xavier.”

“That’s a good, strong name,” she whispered.

“Yeah, my parents thought so, too.” Opening the door, he guided her inside. He didn’t expand on the explanation; this visit wasn’t about him. He’d never met a woman who could hold a candle to his wife, Jade, and Estelle was his wife’s polar opposite. Women could warm his bed, and ride his cock, but they didn’t belong in his life or touch the dead organ that remained behind in his sternum. The red muscles continued to pump blood through his veins, but that’s where it ended.

“Holy shit, you ordered some entertainment? What is she, a business lady?” a voice crowed.

Snake met a pair of black eyes filled with filthy intentions.

“No, Dirty, she’s not.”

“What? You going to tell me she’s just a friend?” Dirty sneered.

Snake stared him down and remained silent.

Dirty snickered. “Embarrassed that you brought home your waitress?”

“Bartender actually,” Estelle said, shocking him.

“Is that right?” Dirty asked. The amused expression on Dirty’s face eased the tension. The man liked to stir up shit up. He had a mean streak and a love for easy women. To each their own.

“I’m still in training, which is why I’m dressed like this. Good impression and all that. Trying to get a decent job when I get out of school.”

Dirty did an about face. “Shit. You brought me someone who knows about alcohol. Let’s get her ass behind the bar and see what she’s got,” he said, issuing him a challenge.

Women who weren’t there for a good time made him nervous. So, the Sergeant at Arms always put them through the paces. He could try to protect her, but it would make things worse in the end. She needed to prove she could stand on her own.

“You up for it?” Snake asked. He glanced down at the slight woman who showed signs of having a backbone.

“Yeah. As long as you don’t expect me to do any fancy moves I think I can handle the basics.” The haunted look faded. Her eye grew bright, and she stood a little taller. He decided to let the scenario play out.

“All right then, girly. Get your ass behind the bar,” Dirty said.

Her jaw ticked. He held his breath waiting for her to snap at Dirty. The man had a way of getting under people’s skin. She stalked around the bar, ignoring the curious and lustful stares from his brothers.

Snake moved to the end of the bar, and met their gazes, letting them know without a word she was off limits. He promised her safe passage, and distraction. She’d be getting both in spades. The black pants highlighted how painfully thin she’d become. Her legs looked like twigs and her ass was nonexistent. There were many things he had no control over, but food wasn’t one of them.

“Band-Aid,” he barked at the brawny brunette who worked as a Registered Nurse. The boy was a walking contradiction. Despite his massive size he had a knack for fixing people.

“Yeah, VP,” he replied, hovering at his side.