Page 15 of The Tattoo Artist

I make my way to my bedroom, closing my door as I slide of my jacket and chuck my things onto my bed. I force my feet out of my shoes and hear pebbles hitting my balcony doors. I slide the curtains to the side and unlock the door, Cathy was already out smoking onto her cigarette.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers, “for what I said in the car…I just don’t want you getting hurt.” She chucks me the pack of cigarettes and I slide one out. “I love you.”

I release a sigh, “I love you too Catherine.”

“So, who dropped you home?”

“He did actually, his grandad is Joey.” I chuckle out, still shocked from that connection. She throws me the lighter and I take a puff, “There’s something about him Catherine.” I admit to her.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s…familiar, I feel like I’ve seen him before…” I watch her take a long drag before throwing it over the balcony.

As we stood on the balcony, Catherine’s words took me by surprise. “I mean, he is a good-looking man, but I’ve heard some weird stories about him, Alex.”

I furrowed my brow, concerned. “What do you mean? What stories?”

Her voice hushed as she leans in, sharing the chilling tale. “Apparently, there was an accident. A girl lost her life. They were both drunk, and he crashed the car, but he survived. The worst part is the girl was only nineteen. He never went to the funeral, and instead he moved on with another girl.”

He doesn’t seem like the type to do that. But yet again, I don’t know him. “But is it really true?”

Catherine nodded solemnly. “That’s what people say. I don’t know all the details, but it’s enough to give me chills. Just be careful, Alex. I don’t want you getting caught up in anything dangerous.”

Her warning lingers in the air, and a sense of caution settled over me. As much as I felt drawn to the mystery surrounding Ares, this new information cast a shadow of doubt and fear.

I knew I needed to approach the situation with more caution and discernment, but part of me couldn’t shake the intrigue that had already taken root in my heart.

She heads back into her room, and I too as I close my balcony doors. I glance down at the bracelet around my wrist.

I need to distance myself from him.

CHAPTER FIVE

ALEXANDRA JONES

IALWAYS HATED CLOSING THE LIBRARY BECAUSE I HAD to do everything-clean the shelves, sort the chairs and close the tills. However, once you get the hang of it, it seems pretty easy, and it doesn’t take as long as it does the first time you do it. I tried to look up the accident online but found nothing, if it was such a tragic accident then why isn’t it online?

Unless maybe he had something to do with it?

Or maybe Catherine is lying to me? But why would she?

As I reach to flip the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed,’ I notice Ares walking towards the door. Panic surges through me, but I manage to lock the door just in time as he stood outside, looking at me with a perplexed expression. His hands were tucked in his hoodie pocket, and his piercing gaze met mine.

“We’re closed,” I said firmly, trying to hide the unease in my voice.

“I’m not here for the books, butterfly,” he replies, his tone measured.

“What do you want?” I shot back, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Open the door, Alexandra,” he orders, but I shook my head, my grip on the doorknob tightening.

“Go away, Ares,” I insist, hoping he would leave without any further trouble.

A shift in his demeanour was evident, and he asks, “is there anything you would like to ask me before you start acting like I’m your stalker?” He leans his shoulder against the door, a challenging glint in his eyes.

His words caught me off guard.

How did he know I had questions about him?

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