Page 35 of The Art of Deception

Tomi’s face lights up like the fourth of fucking July. “Yeah, you did.”

Levi’s mouth turns up in the corner, appearing unsure. “He was very loud.”

Tomi chuckles and slides onto the seat beside Levi, so I move in on the other side of him, making sure he’s in the middle. Levi glances at me and grins like he’s happy again.

“Yeah, he was. You all right, muscles?” I ask.

He bellows as he flexes his barely-there biceps, making Tomi and I laugh.

Levi nods as Tomi digs around in his backpack, pulls out some sunglasses, and places them on his face.

I give him two thumbs up. “Cool, dude.”

He nods his head a little too enthusiastically, but it makes us all chuckle.

“Time to head home,” Tomi suggests, and Levi nods in agreement as we stand. Tomi and I are on either side of Levi as we link arms to walk out of the zoo and head home.

Now we’ve gotten over this hurdle, we somehow have to get Tomi over the next one—letting go of Hope & Faith Ink.

This is not going to be easy.

Chapter Eleven

TOMI

Time to Say Goodbye

I’ve dreaded this day for so fucking long. I fought as hard as I could but with my landlord, Jacob, selling the shop out from under me, and Alex Scott coming in with his goons to demolish this place, my hands are tied. Other than chaining myself to the front door naked in protest, there’s no way out of this now.

Hope & Faith Ink is closing its doors for the final time today, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it. The idea cripples me every time I let it sink in, but right at this moment, I’m Saran wrapping a long-term customer’s forearm. She just happens to be my very last client too. Her tattoo is ironically inscribed withc’est la vie.

“There you go, Izzy. Remember your aftercare. If you have any questions, message me on Instagram. I want to thank you for being an amazing customer and using Hope & Faith Ink. Your loyalty here has been our honor.”

Izzy, with her long, black hair and bright red lipstick, not to mention countless piercings in her ears and face, holds me with her blue, misty eyes. “Tomi, I’m gonna miss you guys so damn much. I have no idea where the hell I’m gonna get tattoos of this quality now…” Her mind is far away. “Maybe this will be my last one.”

I glance at her skin, almost completely covered in ink.Where could she possibly find any room to have any more?With a woman like Izzy, ink is an addiction. This won’t be her last. But I’m miserable I won’t be her tattooist any longer. “Never say never, Izzy. Thanks again… for everything.”

She leans over giving me a brief hug, then she picks up herblack leather handbag encrusted with studs and walks over to Gigi at the cashier’s desk. I glance at Jana and Hogtie, who appear to be as miserable as I am. The muted sound of the door closing and our final customer leaving sends a somber mood throughout the entire place. Jana wraps her arm around my shoulders as I glance around my shop.

My home away from home.

The place where my second family works with me every single day.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat. If I’m not careful, at any second, I’m going to break out into a fit of some sort of hysteria as I take in all the memories of my parents helping me build this place into the amazing marvel it’s become.

Suddenly, a loud pop echoes through the room. We all swing our heads to the rear of the shop to Skins, who’s walking in with a bottle of champagne. Bubbles flow over the top from the burst cork. “Time to celebrate, fuckers!” Skins calls while grabbing a few plastic cups from under the bench on his way.

I can’t help but snort, but it’s not filled with humor, it’s more about what he’s said. I need to celebrate the times we’ve shared together. This family is a strong unit. We work so well together, but I’ve let them down.

We’re all going our separate ways. Skins is finishing his apprenticeship at another shop. Hogtie’s going to work out of his garage. Jana’s moving to another tattoo studio, and Gigi’s going into tattooing makeup while also working on nipple reconstruction for breast cancer survivors.

We’re a diverse bunch—that’s what made this studio such a great place. Anything you wanted done, we could cater to. This is just a crappy situation. I’m so damn angry at Alex Scott for tearing this area to shreds, and in the process, taking out a perfectly functioning business and hardworking people with it.

If I ever meet him in person, I swear to God, I’m gonna punchhim right in his stupid-ass face.

Skins walks over and hands me a cup of champagne, and I take it with a half-smile. “I just want to thank you all….for everythingyou’ve ever done for me and this place. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew and support. You guys are simply fucking amazing. If I could do anything to keep this place open and have you here with me, you know I would.” I grit my teeth. “I’m sorry, but I’ve failed you guys.”

Everyone’s faces scrunch up.

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