Page 65 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

Chapter 29

Finn

The morning light filtering through the blinds in the studio seemed gray and dim, devoid of warmth. The destroyed tattoo chairs seemed the perfect representation for the overall feeling in the shop.

James paced, running a hand through his hair with a frustration we all felt. Andrew looked like a wild animal caged, every muscle coiled, ready to strike. His hands clenched and unclenched, and that dark look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know about where his thoughts were.

Kai slumped against the broken reception desk, looking for all the world like he was nursing a hangover from hell. But it wasn’t alcohol that had him so out of it. It was pure, unadulterated fear.

"We need a plan," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. The metallic taste of fear and anger lingered on my tongue. "Klaus has always been a wildcard, but this... this is a new low, even for him."

James stopped pacing. "Our contacts, our allies... it's like everyone's turned a blind eye. No one wants to go against the Crimson Devils."

Andrew's eyes flashed with a dangerous fire. "Then let them come," he growled. "Let me at them. I'll snipe that bastard from a mile away. He won’t see it coming."

Kai straightened up. "As much as I would love to see Klaus dead," he said, his voice low and even, "We can't risk a full-on war with the Devils. Not with Julia in the crossfire."

"We have to get her out first," James stated, a determined glint in his eye. "We find her, and then we deal with Klaus."

Andrew scoffed, his frustration evident. "It's not that simple. They're not amateurs. They've got their bases covered."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our situation. "We can't just go in guns blazing. We need intel, a solid plan, and most importantly, we need to stay calm. Julia's depending on us."

The room went quiet, the gravity of the situation sinking in. The steady hum of the fluorescent lights and the distant murmur of Miami outside were the only sounds.

"We can't go to the cops," James muttered. "At least, not the ones I don’t personally trust. We tell the wrong badge and word will get right back to Klaus. Off the record, I’m sure that he’s got some of my department in his pocket.”

"Yeah, well," Kai began, a hint of bitter laughter in his voice, "We’re going to need numbers. Four of us against a hundred Devils… it doesn’t matter how fucking determined we are, that’s a suicide mission.”

Andrew pushed off the wall, his expression hardened. "Then we need to get creative. We find out where Julia is, get her out, and make sure Klaus regrets the day he was born."

"We're with you," James said, nodding. Kai and I echoed the sentiment.

We were a team. We’d been through hell and back together. And for Julia, we’d willingly march into the inferno again.

The clock on the wall ticked away the precious seconds, each one punctuating the heavy weight of our circumstances. Kai looked defeated. His fingers drummed on the glass counter, his face etched in deep lines of concern.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe we should just let the studio go," Kai spoke. His voice, usually firm, was broken with doubt. "It's bricks and mortar. We can build again. We can’t replace Julia."

“Not a chance,” I said. “We’re not giving up.”

James was glued to his phone, dialing number after number, desperation evident in his eyes.

"Damn it! Why isn’t anyone answering?" he growled under his breath, the frustration clear. "I’ve got contacts at the fuckin’ Bureau; they've got to be good for something."

I took a moment, leaning back in my chair, letting the events sink in. The walls of the studio, once covered in vibrant art, seemed to be closing in on me. But it wasn’t the art or even the physical place itself that mattered most—it was what the studio represented. Family, loyalty, a life earned the hard way. It was our father’s legacy. And above all, it was our sanctuary, our haven against the outside world.

Knowing that Kai was even considering giving it up was a stab in the chest.

Julia's safety, however, eclipsed all of that. The thought of her, scared and alone, made my blood boil. The raw, visceral need to protect her was overwhelming.

"I get it, Kai," I began, keeping my voice steady despite the volcano ready to erupt inside. "But walking away doesn’t guarantee Julia’s safety. What’s stopping Klaus from coming after us again, wherever we are? He's made this personal."

Andrew, who’d been silent, his gaze distant, nodded slowly. "Finn’s right. We can't just pack up and hope he leaves us be. Once he’s got us on the ropes it’s only a matter of time before he moves in for the kill. We need to make our stand here and now.”

A heavy silence settled over us, but it wasn't long before I broke it. "We need to face this head-on, take Klaus out once and for all."

James sighed, rubbing his temples. "If my contacts don’t come through, we're on our own."

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