He starts tracing imaginary lines on my body, and I battle with the internal war going on inside me. It’s no longer living from day to day… It’s worrying about the future.
And an eventual escape plan.
As much as I want to stay with Drex, I don’t belong in this world.
Chapter 21
DREX
“Don’t want no trouble,” Drake says, looking up from the tattoo he’s putting on a girl that barely has any more space for tattoos. “Go ahead and leave the way you just came in.”
He does well not to show his surprise, but I can tell he’s ready for a fight.
I’m not here to fight. This time.
“I need some ink put on my girl.” Somehow, I manage to keep from grinding my teeth while forcing out the words.
This time his surprise sneaks out, but he masks it with impassivity almost a second later.
“Then make an appointment. I’m booked up for six months.”
He goes back to his buzzing, and I run a hand over the scruff on my cheek.
“I need it today. Now, actually.”
The sound of the buzzing stopping is abrupt, and Drake’s cold eyes meet mine.
“You lost the right to come in here and demand shit when you threw your fist into my face and put a ban on my place. Make an appointment. Be glad I’m even considering doing a damn thing for you.”
Eve peeks out from my side, and she sucks in a breath when she sees Drake. Yeah… he’s a scary motherfucker to a sheltered girl like Eve. He’s tall, overly tatted, and has such light blue eyes that they almost look white.
It’s freaky as shit.
Those freaky eyes land on her, and his eyebrow cocks as though he’s shocked.
“She can’t be your girl.” The surprise in his voice only pisses me off.
Eve, however, steps closer.
“Please,” she says, poking out her wrist for some weird reason. “I need that damn thing so those big bastards don’t try touching me ever again.”
Her voice wobbles on the end, and I see Drake’s eyes go from cold to furious as his gaze snaps back to me.
“You let them put their hands on your girl? Fucking unbelievable.”
“It’s a long story. Just give her the ink, and I’ll lift the ban. You can start getting Death Dealer business again.”
That sure as hell has his attention.
“You mean the ban I shouldn’t have gotten? Not good enough. You want me to ink her, then admit you’re an arrogant ass.”
“I’m an arrogant ass,” I deadpan.
His lips twitch, but he rolls his eyes. “Fucking hell. Fine.”
Eve pulls her arm back in, and I lean down to kiss her just beside her lips. She reaches up, slipping her arms around my neck, and she leans against me as though she’s finally relaxing.
I love these shirts she keeps wearing—the ones that seem to always hang off one shoulder. And I’m about to take advantage of it.
Drake finishes up what he’s working on, and I look behind me at Axle who is stifling a grin as he sits down. Yeah. This shit isn’t easy. I’m doing good not to choke on the wad of pride I’m having to swallow.
Drake and I clashed two years ago over a girl. I had no idea he was fucking her. She was the one who came onto me. Then the asshole permanently fucked up some ink on my body as retaliation. I had to get the shit inked over so that I didn’t have a motherfucking daisy that said “cocksucker” on my back.
Jackass dick.
I messed his jaw up, banned him from inking Death Dealers, and essentially had him shunned. Not that it hurt his business, considering he’s the best in town, even better than Cecil.
He stands, still dealing with the Ink Queen, and Eve looks up to me.
“I’ve never had a tattoo. How bad will it hurt?” she asks, reminding me how fucking innocent she is.
And I’m still the bastard who can’t let her go. Normally, I’d already be done with a girl. But Eve seems to be my weakness. I’m still deciding if that’s good or bad.
“Not much. But you can squeeze my hand if it gets unbearable,” I joke, earning a small pout from her.
I really love those damn lips of hers.
My thumb rubs over her bottom lip, and she leans into my touch. She might be innocent, but she’s as tough as any Death Dealer in the club. Mentally, at least. Physically? I need to teach her some stuff. She needs to be able to protect herself in the future.
“Alright. Let’s do this,” Drake says, eyeing me curiously as Eve reluctantly turns away from me and goes to the chair he motions her to.
She sits down, and Drake comes over to me, leaving her in the room as he gestures with his head for me to join him. Great. He wants to talk. I knew this was all too easy.