Page 26 of Shattered

As time goes on, my tolerance for the pain weans. Neela has me eat a granola bar from her purse, and Asher offers to break a few times, but I refuse. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.

But truthfully, I’m getting tired.

“That’s all,” Asher finally says, turning his machine off for what I hope is the last time.

“It’s done?”

He shakes his head. “You’ll need another session once it’s healed. We’ll add some more depth and detail to it.”

“What, you’re too tired to finish it today?” I ask, taunting him, and he raises a brow.

“Shut your mouth if you know what’s good for you.”

He takes a few minutes to put a clear bandage over it. Then, to my surprise, he offers me a hand and helps me to my feet. I cross the room to the mirror, and what I see nearly stops my heart.

It’s amazing! It’s so fierce, and I love how it’s oriented on my torso and under my breasts, with the tail between.

“It’s incredible,” is all I can say.

“Keep that on for a few days, and don’t get it wet. After a few days, wash it gently with antibacterial soap and put some unscented lotion on it. Do that twice a day. And eat and drink lots when you get home.”

“Easy enough. What do I owe you?”

He considers it, and suddenly, his expression shifts. The asshole is back. “I can think of some ideas.”

“How about a number?” Neela asks defensively, fighting on my behalf.

“Watch yourself,” Asher says, as though she’s overstepping boundaries.

Prick.

“Whatever. I’m out of here. Text me a number, and I’ll pay you.”

But something tells me it won’t be a number that he’ll text me.

Chapter 9

Asher

Ihate to admit it, but I’m impressed. I fully expected Sunshine to be a total pussy when it comes to pain. Ribcage tattoos are brutal, but I barely got a wince out of her for three hours. Could I have finished the tattoo? Sure. She ate and drank a little, but three hours of a very painful tattoo with hardly any breaks left her depleted. Something tells me she’d sooner pass out than admit she had enough, and I didn’t want to have to pick her up off the floor.

I’m relieved to find Bane’s out when I head home around six, so my lecture can wait until tomorrow. The chairs we stole from Lila are gone from my deck, and I spot them on hers, near a weirdly out of place punching bag. I briefly consider stealing them back just to fuck with her, but I’m tired and sore, and my leg doesn’t have it in me right now.

I’ll text Bane to do it when he gets home.

Sunshine’s SUV is in her driveway, but I don’t see any sign of her. The absolute abomination of her house is just as obnoxious as it was the first time I saw it this afternoon.

I actually laughed.

Once I get inside, I tear off my shirt as I head into the den, toss it on the sofa, and flop down beside it. I want to get to bed but can’t do the stairs until I rest.

Fuck this leg.

I pull out my phone and fire off that text to Bane before another one comes in from little miss Sunshine herself.

Sunshine: I’m still waiting for that number. And you’re not gonna leak my video, right?

Asher: I can think of better ways you can repay me that don’t involve money. Not like you can run, I know where you live.

---