Page 24 of Shattered

Neela’s eyes flicker between us as she considers, looking a little amused. “For me, it was my ribcage.”

“I think a snatch tattoo would hurt more,” Asher says.

“If you think I’m letting you anywhere near my cunt again, you’re having a laugh.”

“Well, you didn’t exactlyletme last night, but here we are.”

Her eyes are on FIRE as they blaze into mine, a clear challenge. Time stops as I wait for her next move. She opens the binder withouttearing her eyes from mine, and though I keep my eyes locked on hers, I can see in my periphery what she’s opened it to—the tiger.

“I’d like this on my ribs, please,” she sneers.

I don’t doubt her stubbornness. But I think I can piss her off even more.

“I’m not booking you an appointment. You’re gonna pussy out, not show up, and you’re gonna waste my time. Now get out of my shop.”

“Then do it right fucking now. Unless you need to rest. I bet you’re tired.”

She doesn’t need to expand on what she’s talking about. It’s another blow at my leg. The bitch knows just what buttons to push.

“I’ll do your tattoo now. But don’t blame me when you can’t handle it and you go home with half a tattoo.”

Chapter 8

Lila

Asher rudely instructs me to lie down at the second station. This one is a chair, and he reclines it back with no warning, so I gasp when I feel like I’m going to fall out. He spins me, so I face the back wall and can’t see Neela or Bane. Asher disappears for a few minutes, preparing the stencils, and when he sits down beside me with three sizes of the tiger on the special paper, my heart takes off. It becomes real.

“Take your shirt off.” When I pull it up to just below my breasts, he growls. “I said OFF.”

“Excuse me? I’m not sure if that’s necessary or professional.”

I seem to know how to push Asher’s buttons because when his eyes meet mine, they’re black.

“Listen, you littlebitch. We aren’t open yet, so don’t expect a professional appointment. You’re in my shop, and you’re gonna do what I tell you if you want this fucking tattoo. Now take your fucking shirt off. It’s nothing I haven’t already seen.”

With fury in my eyes, I lift my shirt partially over my chest but leave it on. “I’m not wearing a bra. Hope my tits don’t distract you.”

“What tits?”

His response is so callous that it actually stings, making my heart sink.

“We’re setting up a room in the back for privacy for more intimate tattoos like this. But for you? Not much point moving all this back there. Bane and I have already seen your lack of tits, and I’m guessing your friend already knows what a whore you are.”

He keeps his voice low, but Neela still manages to hear, and she does not appreciate that. “Hey, watch it!”

“It’s okay, Neela. Asher thinks he’s a big scary guy, but it’s all an act,” I say, managing to keep my voice even though every bit of my body feels like it’s vibrating with nerves.

I watch Asher toss aside the larger stencils, deciding on the smallest one. His eyes meet mine, filled with amusement as he holds it up. “We’d better go with the small one. I can’t see you being able to handle the big one.”

I rip the small one out of his hand, startling him, and toss it on the floor. “I want the big one.”

He raises a brow in amusement as he picks up the largest one. As he approaches with it, he freezes, eyeing my shirt over my chest. “I told you to take thatoff.”

“It’s not in your way,” I say simply.

“Itisin my way, and if you want this fucking tattoo, you’re gonna take your shirt off and do what the fuck I tell you!”

“Bastard.”

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