Page 66 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

I stood, feeling every ounce of my responsibility as a leader, as a protector. "Then let's prepare for that. We have connections too, even if they’re not in law enforcement."

Kai looked up, determination slowly replacing the desolation in his eyes. "What’re you suggesting?"

I met his gaze squarely. "We rally our allies. We have friends, customers, and others who owe us favors. We're not as alone as Klaus wants us to believe."

James pocketed his phone, nodding slowly. "He's right. We don’t give up. We fight—for Julia, for the studio, for us."

Andrew clapped his hands together, an eager glint in his eyes. "So, what's the plan?"

A smile tugged at my lips, even in the face of such adversity. We were more than friends; we were brothers. Bound by ink and blood.

"First, we find Julia. Then we send the Devil back to hell."

* * *

Hours later, we were working with the rest of the crew, cleaning and packing up our gear, preparing to put it into storage for the time being.

But our attention wasn’t on the happenings around the studio, our eyes were on Maddie.

“Say it again,” I growled. “Start from the beginning.”

The room fell silent, tension hanging heavy as Maddie's words echoed.

"Apparently, while Julia and I were at the coffee shop where she told me that she was pregnant, a so-called friend of Adele’s was sitting nearby. Although we were speaking barely above a whisper, this ‘friend’ must’ve overheard us, immediately taking the news back to Adele.” The weight of that revelation pressed down on all of us. Maddie continued. “An old acquaintance of mine runs in the same circles as Adele’s ‘friend,’ or should I say ‘mole,’ that she planted. We’ve kept in touch on and off over the years so she knew how to get a hold of me. When she heard Adele’s minion talking about Julia’s pregnancy, that Adele knew about it, and that Adele had been seen chatting it up with some of Klaus’s crew, she felt it was important to let me know, in case something sinister was being planned.”

Trust, once betrayed, always changes the dynamic. Glances were exchanged, a mixture of disbelief, concern, and an underlying current of fear. The implications were immense.

Maddie looked at me, her face ghostly white, her pupils dilated with fear. "I had no idea that Julia and I were being spied upon. Looking back now I do remember a girl that seemed to be leaning toward our table and eyeing us suspiciously. But I didn’t think anything of it at the time.”

Adele had been conveniently absent since Julia's abduction, her phone going straight to voicemail, and her texts remaining unread. It was unlike her to drop off the grid entirely, especially with how desperate she’d been for our attention over the past couple of weeks. The initial concern had quickly turned to suspicion as the hours ticked by.

And now with Maddie's revelation, the pieces began to align in a haunting jigsaw. Could Adele truly be involved in Julia’s kidnapping and the destruction of the studio? The idea seemed ludicrous initially, but the mounting evidence was hard to dismiss. Our faces all wore the same dawning realization—Adele's potential involvement with Klaus's twisted plot was beginning to look more and more likely.

I could feel my jaw clench, every muscle in my body going taut. Betrayal was a bitter pill, especially when it came from those you'd considered allies.

Kai stepped in and spoke, his voice even but cold. "However it happened doesn’t matter. We can't undo what's been done. What matters now is getting Julia back."

Andrew’s eyes narrowed into a glare that could freeze fire. "Adele’s lucky that's our priority right now."

A bitter taste rose in my mouth. My fingers curled into tight fists, nails biting into the palms.

"I knew Adele was up to something," I growled. "I should've acted on my instincts earlier. Now, we're neck-deep in this mess."

Kai spoke again, his voice tinged with anger. "We can't keep pointing fingers. It won't help Julia. We need to act and act fast."

I nodded, letting the anger momentarily subside. "Kai’s right. We need a plan, and a good one."

Andrew’s eyes fixed on mine. "What do you suggest?"

Taking a deep breath, I leaned against the counter. "We need leverage. Something Klaus wants as much, if not more, than the studio."

Kai leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets, his expression clouded with a mix of worry and determination.

"So, bro," he began, his voice strained, "what's the play here?"

I stared at Kai for a long moment, the pleading in my brothers eyes telling me everything I needed to know. I straightened up, eyes blazing with resolve.

"We end this. All of it," I declared. “If we get Julia back without taking out Klaus, it’s only a matter of time until he’s back. And I don’t know about you guys, but putting our girl and our child in danger is something I’m not going to be able to forgive.”

---