Page 167 of His Boys to Protect

“I will,” Skylar lied.

He turned away and made himself walk slowly towards the front door.

As soon as he was in the hallway, Skylar ran for the elevator. He jabbed at the button, waiting impatiently for the car to arrive. The ride down felt both too fast and too slow. Once the car came to a stop, the doors barely opened before Skylar started to bolt out, only to realize that people might see him. People who knew Uncle Zeke. He forced himself to slow down.

Out on the sidewalk, Skylar oriented himself, shading his eyes from the afternoon sun. His bank had a branch not too far away. He could go there first, withdraw his money, then get a taxi.

And hope he had enough for all of it.

Before he could forget again, Skylar turned off his phone and stuffed it into his pocket, muttering a prayer that Charlie wasn't watching the tracking app at that moment. Then he forced himself to a sedate walk as he headed for the bank.

Once he had his money tucked into his wallet and stuffed deep inside his pocket, he went back outside, flagged down a taxi, and gave the address for the tattoo shop.

He eyed the meter the whole way, knowing he'd have to spend at least the same amount to get back to Uncle Zeke's apartment. Skylar paid the driver, mentally calculating how much he'd have left once this day was over. He set aside enough money for the return trip, then counted what was left. He hoped it would be enough.

Skylar let himself into the tattoo parlor. It was quiet inside. Almost empty. Most of the artists had already gone home for theholiday, leaving just the receptionist and the artist with whom he'd been working for the past several years.

“You made it!” she greeted him. “Come on back.”

Skylar followed her and sat down on the chair.

“So,” she began with a beaming smile. “What are we doing today?”

Skylar took off the hoodie and rolled up his sleeve. “I want to finish it.”

“How exciting! What did you have in mind?”

Skylar paused, realizing he wasn't sure. A part of him wanted to haveWardandCharlieput there, but he'd never get away with that. Uncle Zeke would question it. As would any clients he took on in the future.

Somehow, he'd have to put a representation of them instead. Something personal.

“Here.” The artist spun around on her stool, grabbed a design book, and held it out. “Maybe these will give you some ideas.”

Skylar quickly flicked through the pages, trying to find anything that would spark inspiration. He saw ornate crosses and flowers and skulls. There were mandalas and geometric designs and all sorts of fancy lettering.

Nothing was close to what he wanted.

Then he turned a page and saw animals. Butterflies. Birds. A phoenix rising from flames. Snakes and lions. Deer and cats.

And a wolf.

Skylar gasped. That was it! A wolf for Ward, and a mouse for Charlie. Nobody would know what they meant except for him, but they would be as good as having the men's names tattooed on his skin.

He scanned the images again. “A wolf,” he muttered to himself, trying to find one that was just right. “Not angry orthreatening, but protective. And a mouse. A happy mouse. I want both inside the heart.”

The woman gave him a scrutinizing look, then turned away again and grabbed a sketch pad. Her pencil flew across the page, the softhissmaking Skylar's heart beat faster.

When she turned the sketchpad around, Skylar gasped.

It was perfect. Within the heart, there was a wolf's head, the eyes staring straight forward, almost like it could see into one's soul. Beside it was the head of a mouse. It was cute and sweet and almost appeared to be smiling.

“Yes,” Skylar choked out, feeling tears begin to sting his eyes. “It's perfect.” He paused, swallowing hard. “How much?”

The artist eyed the design, then rattled off an amount.

Skylar felt dizzy. He had enough.

A grin took over his face. “Let's do it.”

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