Page 20 of The Inkslinger

I walk down the street with a ridiculous smile on my face, on my way to finally get Laine to ink me up. I am in such a good mood that I don’t even see the green car pull up beside me.

“Get in, Hailey,” Derick commands through the open window.

I stand there frozen, taking him in. It looks like he has lost some weight but what scares me is the darkness in his eyes. I shake my head vehemently. I can’t produce any words at the moment, and that’s a new one for me. Anyone who knows will tell you I never shut up.

“You’ve had your fun fucking that hillbilly all week, but now it is time to go home.”

I’m trembling, stuck to the spot. It’s almost dark and the street is quiet. I don’t know what he will do but I am scared shitless. I feel an arm slip around my shoulder and pull me into the heat of a muscular body.

“Why don’t you fuck off?” an unknown male voice asks, directed at Derick.

“This isn’t any of your business, sir,” Derick says, using his stern cop voice. But the man simply laughs.

“You scaring the shit out of a woman is any decent man’s business. My business partner’s woman especially.”

It hits me then. The business partner I haven’t met yet. Luke. I knew he was coming back to town today, but I’m only supposed to meet him after my appointment with Laine.

“Now why don’t you keep driving?” Luke asks. “All the way back to the city.”

“Do you know who I am?” Derick roars as his temper finally snaps.

My entire body shifts away from his rage and Luke holds me tighter to him.

“I know you’re a prick that uses fear to get what he wants. I know you’ve been suspended from the Force pending an investigation. And even if you weren’t, you’re out of your jurisdiction,” Luke’s voice is calm and even. “Leave. I’ve already called the sheriff.”

At Luke’s last words, Derick hits the steering wheel repeatedly before taking off at a reckless speed. We stand, watching his taillights fade into the distance before Luke releases me.

“Are you okay, Hailey?” he asks, taking me in from the crown of my head to the set of black flats I am wearing.

I nod, not sure I can trust my voice.

“No, you’re not. You’re fucking shaking,” he curses. “Come on. Let’s get you to Laine.”

Again, his arm wraps around my shoulder as he slowly leads me down the street. The moment we enter the tattoo shop, Skye sees me and shouts to the back.

“Laine, get out here now!”

I hear items clatter before he walks out of his station with a frown. The moment his gaze lands on me, he doesn’t hesitate to get to me. He picks me up, cradling me against his chest. I can hear them speaking low around me, but I filter out their conversation. I was there, I don’t need the play-by-play.

Instead, I listen to the steady beating of Laine’s heart and revel in the heat I can feel through the forest-green t-shirt he is wearing.

I feel safe.

I don’t know how long they speak, but Laine moves us toward his station and places me on his tattoo chair. He is frowning when I finally lift my head to look at him.

“Are you hurt?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Did he touch you?”

I watch his hands flex at his sides and I know he is holding on by a thread.

“No,” I say softly. “He didn’t even get out of his car.”

“Doll.”

It’s all Laine says before he kisses me. He pours all his emotions into that single—anger, fear, but most of all love. He kisses me until I feel a little lightheaded. Pulling back, he rests his forehead against mine.

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