Page 20 of Breaking the Rules

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My limbs get airy.

There's something about the gun. Something more than that Spider-man quote about great power and great responsibility.

Lightness spreads through my torso and chest as I turn on the gun.

This is an easy design. A simple stencil. Chloe's been apprenticing for a month and she could probably do it.

I can do this.

I've been doing this for nearly a decade.

So what if this is my first time accepting a paying client sober?

I suck a breath through my nose. "You ready?"

"I think so."

"Take a deep breath."

She does.

"Slow exhale."

She does that too.

"Stay like that, Steph. Okay?"

She giggles at the nickname. "Okay."

This is it. I need to let routine take over. Flirt. Tease. Work. "On three."

She nods.

"One, two." I bring the gun to her skin. Turn it on. "Three."

She yelps as the needle hits her skin.

I freeze. Turn it off. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Totally. Keep going."

"Sure." I'm not sure which of us is more scared, but I'm the one who has to deal. My nerves are only going to make hers worse. It's part of my job to walk her through this. The biggest part, even. "Tell me about this tattoo."

"Yeah?"

I turn the gun on.

Her breath gets shallow, but I still bring the needle to her skin.

"This will be fast. I promise." I bring the gun closer.

She nods. "Go."

Again, she yelps as the needle hits her skin. Her fingers dig into the teal vinyl. Her toes tap the shiny tile floor. "It's the lyrics to a song."

"What do you like about it?"

"Huh?"

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