Page 23 of Bonds of Obsession

I hang up before either of us can say anything else.

8

QUINN

I shovemy phone back into my pocket, my hands shaking with barely contained rage. It feels like there’s a swarm of angry bees buzzing under my skin, stinging and crawling and making it impossible to stay still. I want to scream, to punch something, to tear this whole damn parking lot apart with my bare hands.

Nico’s voice cuts through the chaos in my head, low and steady. “Breathe, mia cara. Remember, this is all part of our plan. We’re one step closer to getting Atlas back.”

I clench my fists, trying to focus on his words instead of the echoes of Atlas’s scream still ringing in my ears. Nico is right. I know he is. But it doesn’t make this any easier.

“Ambrose guaranteed he’ll stay alive for now,” Nico continues, his hand still on my arm. “That means something. We’ve bought him some time.”

I nod and take a deep breath, then another, forcing the air in and out of my lungs until the buzzing under my skin starts to die down. It doesn’t go away completely, but it dulls enough that I can think straight again.

I straighten my back, pushing down the pain and letting a cold determination take its place. There’s no time for weaknessnow. Atlas needs me to be strong, to be the leader I’ve always been.

“I need to deal with things at the tattoo parlor,” I say, feeling steadier with each word. “My crew is probably wondering where the hell I’ve been.”

A hint of something I can’t quite place flashes across Nico’s face. “About that… I stopped by there yesterday. Did some damage control.”

I blink, surprised. “You what?”

“It was like you said—your crew was getting restless,” he explains, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “I figured you had enough on your plate without worrying about a few trigger-happy guys taking matters into their own hands.”

For a moment, I’m speechless. Nico went out of his way—knowing how he would probably be received at the shop—to reassure my gang and help keep them in line? It’s… unexpected, to say the least. And kinda touching, if I’m being completely honest.

“Thank you,” I manage, finally finding my words again. “You didn’t have to do that.”

He looks away, suddenly fascinated by a crack in the asphalt. “Don’t mention it. Seriously, don’t. I have a reputation to maintain.”

I snort as the hint of a smile tugs at my lips. “Wouldn’t want everyone thinking you’ve gone soft over a woman, huh?”

“Exactly.” He meets my eyes again, and his expression turns serious. “But Quinn, your people are loyal. There’s no doubt about that. They were worried about you when I checked in.”

I know he’s only reporting what he saw firsthand, and I can only imagine the thoughts that have been running through my crew’s minds since I’ve been gone. It’ll be good for all of us if I can get the gang back to business as usual.

“Thanks again, Nico. Really. But I still need to go to the shop. They deserve to hear from me directly.”

“Of course. Want some company?”

I glance over at Killian, who only has to nod once.

“Yeah, actually. That’d be good.”

We get back on our bikes and pull out of the parking lot. As we get near the shop, my stomach starts to knot with anticipation, but there’s nothing that can prepare me for what I see when we turn onto the familiar street where I’ve made my home away from home for so long.

The sight of my beloved tattoo parlor knocks the air out of my lungs. Boarded-up windows stare back at me like accusing eyes that have been beaten shut. The glass has been cleaned up, but bullet holes still pepper the walls like open wounds.

My legs feel like lead as I approach the battered front entrance. It’s clear that the worst of the damage has been patched up, but there’s no denying the fact that it looks like a bomb went off—especially now that I’m up close and standing in the middle of it all.

I push open the door, wincing at the creak of damaged hinges. Half a dozen pairs of eyes snap to me as I walk in—half a dozen hard-ass expressions change from guarded and wary to relieved and smiling in an instant.

Damian steps forward first. “Thank fuck you’re back. We were starting to wonder?—”

I cut him off with a raised hand. “I know. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. Things have been… complicated.”

Jasper materializes at my side, his voice low. “Understatement of the year. We’ve been keeping our heads down, but shit’s been rough. Tensions have been high. None of us have seen Emmett since the attack.”

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