Page 86 of Skid
Stopping at a red light, she pointed to the opposite corner. “That’s Needles’s tattoo studio. He’s got six artists under him and only does custom work. Mostly it’s for the club, but he has a few private clients that he still does work for.”
Hearing his name didn’t scare me as much as it did when I saw him, and I pushed, needing to know a little more about him so I could figure out where I knew him from. “Did he do any of yours because they are beautiful.”
She rolled her arms to show the tattooed sleeves and smiled as the light turned green. “He’s the only person Kade trusts to do my ink. Monroe, that’s his real name, by the way, helped me cover some scars a few years ago, and from there, I was hooked.”
At the mention of his name, the memory flooded back to me.
“This is your future husband, Grace. His name is Monroe,” Daddy said and handed me a picture.
The blond-haired man with haunting green eyes looked nice, and I smiled up at Daddy. “When do I get to meet him?”
I didn’t want a husband, but it wasn’t my choice. Daddy explained it was time for me to be a wife and mother, and he was going to help another girl named Aubrey. She didn’t have a daddy, and he said he had enough love to share with her. I didn’t want to share him, but I couldn’t say no.
“He’s out of town for a few months, but when he returns, his father will let me know,” Daddy explained as I followed him down the hallway.
“Does he know about me?” I asked as we entered the room, and he closed the door behind us.
“He’s aware of his expectation, just like you are. Don’t worry, my saving Grace. Daddy’s not going to make you marry a bad man.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I replied, feeling sick as he sat on the bed and lowered the zipper on his pants.
“Is that how Daddy taught you to say thank you?”
I snapped my eyes to Sadie, and she looked at me with worry. We were parked in the lot of a grocery store, and I turned my head to look out of the front window. I needed to see Dalton but didn’t want to scare his sister any more than I’m sure I already did.
“Grace, are you okay? You turned white as a sheet, and you zoned out there for a minute,” she inquired with concern in her voice.
Clearing my throat, I tried to explain. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m okay, I promise.”
She didn’t seem convinced as she muttered, “Only if you’re sure.”
Nodding, I offered her a smile, and she pulled back onto the road but kept glancing at me as we drove the last few miles to the Death Hounds clubhouse. The gate opened, and she parked the truck next to Dalton’s.
“I had fun today,” I said as she turned the truck off and swiveled in her seat to look at me.
“I’m not sure what has you bothered, but if you ever need to talk, I’m always here for you.”
We got out of the truck, and I saw Gunner and Dalton walking out of the clubhouse, headed toward us. I looked at Sadie and whispered, “Please don’t tell him. I will, just . . . not right now.”
Remembering the interaction with Kevin, I feared the ramifications of my memories. If Needles . . .Monroe. . . was involved with The Community, why was he here? Why was he a Death Hound? The Community carried themselves like they were above the rest of society. Good clothes, the right house, and hand-picked friends were just a few of the expectations, and he fit nowhere into the mold.
“It looks like you took my advice and spent lots.” Dalton chuckled as he walked up and hugged me to him.
“I tried,” I replied, and he tilted his head to look down at me.
His blue eyes peered at me, and he looked over my shoulder to Gunner and Sadie. “Can you move her bags to my truck? I want to show her something in my cabin before we head home.”
Sadie giggled. “I bet you want to show her something.”
I looked confused as he linked hands with mine and urged me to follow him. Waving to Sadie and Gunner, I said, “Thank you,” as Dalton tugged me away from them.
When we got far enough from the building that no one was around, Dalton asked as we kept walking. “What happened? I can see it in your eyes something upset you. Was it my sister? She means well, but she’s nosy as fuck.”
“Sadie’s great,” I affirmed as we climbed the stairs to his cabin at the compound.
He unlocked the door and placed his hand on my lower back, ushering me inside before he closed the door. Sitting me on the couch, he joined me and took my hands into his. “Then what’s going on?”
Chewing on my lip, I looked at him and knew he needed the truth. Or at least what I was told. I couldn’t trust what anyone from The Community told me, and I was still trying to come to terms with that.
