Page 116 of The Tattoo Artist

“Talk Anthony, tell your big brother what you want.” Anthony cries like a bitch, sniffling. “Your brothers a bitch Luca.”

“Ares.”

“Where is my wife Luca?”

“She’s right next to me, you want to say hi?” He chuckles out, I hear the sounds of shuffling noises and background sounds. “Say hi to Ares, baby.”

Baby.

I’m going to rip his voice box out of his fucking throat.

“Ares…” I hear her voice for the first time in one week.

I close my eyes for a mere moment, unable to respond back to her, she sounds so tired. “Alex, Alex are you okay?”

“Ares please help me.” She chokes out.

“How much is she worth to you Ares?”

“How much is your brother worth to you?”

“You can kill him, that fucker has been spending my money.” I look down at his brother, holding his hands in surrender.

“Now, how much is Alexandra Jones worth to you?”

CHAPTER FORTY

ARES NICOLAIDES

TWO YEARS AGO

ILOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.

The way she smiles.

The way her eyes light up.

The way she laughs.

The way she bites her perfect lips.

The way she loves fresh pomegranates.

I have become fully obsessed with her and no one in the world could ever stop me from being so in love with her. We have been dating for four months, we had our ups and downs-I’ll admit it, but we always found a way to get out of it. Her lips were made for me, the way she kisses me, they made butterflies fly in my stomach. She towers over me; the fresh crisp air of the park surrounds us as I lean down against the mat she set out. We finally separate, catching our breath.

“I feel like it’s been five years.” She speaks, pushing my hair away from my forehead.

“I was gone for three days butterfly.”

“Three days too long.” She whispers, kissing me once more. “Let’s do it.” I raise a confused brow, she sits up, straddling my lap. “Let’s have sex.”

“Alright Alexandra, jokes over.”

“No…I’m being serious.” She reassures me.

No, I won’t make her do something she doesn’t want to do. She loves her religion, yes, she may find it restricted but she respects it. I am not going to be the one that makes her fall down the ladder towards hell. Even though she won’t be alone, she’ll be with me. I look at her, examining every inch of her face.

“Alexandra…we can’t, and you know it.”

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