Page 30 of Underworld

“Memorizing what?” I ask, sitting up in bed as I watch him turn around to look at me again.

“You.” He holds a hand out to me. “Would you like to take a shower with me?”

I slide out of bed, placing my hand in his. “Me? And yeah, I could go for a shower.”

He nods as he pulls me into his bathroom. But he didn’t answer my question, so I ask again, “Why were you memorizing me?”

He looks over his shoulder at me, and the look in his eyes makes me stumble. His voice is barely more than a whisper when he says, “If I have to settle for a memory again . . . I want to make sure I memorize everything I can about you.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jane

I really need to get out of the shower, but what Jace said has me pausing. Did he say that because he thinks I will leave or that something will eventually happen to me? I understand that this line of work is dangerous. That’s why Howe has been giving me lessons on different martial arts moves.

Letting out a sigh, I shut off the water. It’s time to get out and get ready for the day. I should be excited for today; it is the day I finally get my Persephone tattoos. Well, a few of them. The guys don’t want me to get my face tattooed yet. I told them I could handle the pain, but they said it would take a while to heal, so I settled for getting other tattoos instead.

I also explained to them that I had gotten several tattoos and piercings over the years to help with my cover. I could handle pain. But to avoid an argument, I wasn’t getting my facial tattoo today. Although, Jace had told me that their tattoo artist uses a new numbing gel. The artist can do larger tattoos and longer sessions since the client can’t feel anything. Considering I am getting one on my back and both my hands, I figure that will work in my favor.

Looking in the mirror, I debate what jewelry to wear today. The guys had bought so much. My nasallang piercing has two simple diamond studs with a silver chain across my nose. Jace had ordered me jewelry with a skull for my belly button piercing, which I haven’t changed since I got it pierced. It is fucking cute. I settle on a dark pink flower for my eyebrow piercing since it feels like a Persephone thing to wear. Lastly, I settle on a pair of dangling teardrop earrings. I know shit could hit the fan today, but that doesn’t mean I can't look cute.

I slip into a low-back dress and slide my feet into a pair of sandals considering everything going on right now. I know we are still having issues with the gang from another territory. Huffing out a sigh, I also put on the bulletproof vest. I’m not sure if I will be able to put it back on once I get the tattoos, though. Guess one of the guys will have to protect me should the need arise. We are planning on returning to the house, though, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully.

Leaving my room, I walk down the hallway and the stairs. I am greeted by the guys waiting in the living room. Jace is in a white button-down with a vest and black slacks. Zane is wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a black hoodie. Well fuck. Do guys not realize what wearing sweatpants does to a girl? Catching myself before I start drooling, I turn my attention to Alec. He’s in a pair of dark-wash jeans and a loose-fitting white t-shirt. I look at Howe last. If I thought sweatpants were sexy . . . holy shit. Howe fills out the pair of black joggers he’s wearing perfectly. He has on a tight tank and a hoodie wrapped around his waist.

I point to the hoodie and ask, “Why do you have a hoodie tied around your waist instead of wearing it?”

He smirks at me. “I get hot if I wear a hoodie. It’s chilly outside, so I’ll need it, but I'll take it off once we get to the tattoo shop.”

I shrug; I suppose that makes sense. I tap my bulletproof vest and say, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to put this back on after I get my back tattoo.”

Zane hands me my jacket. “We shouldn’t have any issues. The shop is deep within our territory. The other gang would be stupid if they tried to infiltrate that area. We have too many paid personnel around there.”

I slip into my jacket and follow the guys out the front door. Alpha and Beta are there waiting for us, and I can’t stop smirking as I tease, “So you’re on babysitting duty today?”

Jax rolls his eyes as he opens the back door of the large SUV for me. “I wouldn’t call it babysitting if it’s our job to protect the main Underworld crew.”

I wait until he slips into the passenger seat, and Silas slides into the driver's seat before asking, “So what would you consider babysitting?”

Smirking at me over his shoulder, he replies, “When we have to look after you.”

I roll my eyes as Silas snorts from the driver's seat. I switch my gaze to him. “Do you have anything to add, Si?”

“Si?” He briefly looks at me in the rearview mirror before focusing on the road again.

I shrug. “Yeah. It’s my nickname for you now. I told you I would come up with one, didn’t I?”

He grunts and grumbles, “I didn’t think you were serious.”

Jax laughs. “That was your first mistake, brother.” He shifts to look at me better and asks, “Did you come up with a nickname for me?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. I can’t call you J because that’s what I call Jace.”

He shrugs and turns around in his chair to face the road again. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

I notice they are both in their uniforms, so I’m assuming I can’t call them by their real names in public.

About twenty minutes later, we arrive at the tattoo shop. Alpha and Beta get out first to ensure the area is clear before Beta opens the door for us and says, “All clear, boss.”

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