Page 87 of Ruin

No. It would take me too long to keep taking them off and putting them back on.

Declan nods his head, and parks the car, and I look out the window to see where he’s brought me. A tattoo studio, why am I here? He was joking about matching tattoos? Wasn’t he?

Declan gets out of the car, then comes over to my side, and opens the door for me. “Told you, you’re designing my tattoo. Don’t trust them enough.”

When are you getting it done?

“Well you have to design it first, then we can go from there.” He pulls me to the studio, and opens the door for me to walk in first. “Hey, Claire.” Declan walks over to the woman on the other side of the counter.

“Declan, finally back for some more ink.” She gets up from her seat and gives him a hug.

“I am, but I want my girl to draw it for you.” Declan points to me, and Claire smiles. “How does she need to get it to you. On paper? Draw it on her iPad and then send it over to you? Whatever she sends, though, it needs to be one hundred percent the same.” Declan stops when Claire starts laughing.

“I don’t think I’ve messed up any of your tattoos have I?” She asks him to walk over to what I can only think is her workstation.

“No, but this is the first one she’s designing for me, and it’s covering most of my chest. So-”

“Don’t worry, I’ll look after you,” she tells him, and I smile with how confident she is. “If you can draw it up, color it in if there is color and email it over to me. If I have any questions I will call Declan.” She puts out her card for me, and I take it from her, and turn to Declan.

Will she cover the one on my neck?

“She will as soon as you say I can cover it with my hand.” He winks at me and tells Claire he will get a design sent over, then we leave the studio and get into the car. Straight away his phone starts ringing and I see Cain’s name appear on the dashboard of the car. “You’re on speaker, I’m not alone.”

“Hello Trixie. You need to go to The Pit tonight,” Cain tells him, and Declan takes a moment before pulling out of the spot we’re parked in, and replies to Cain.

“Why?”

“Big man wants a word, and will only talk to you. He’s your man, you trust him?” Cain asks him.

“With my life. I’m dropping Trixie off, then I’ll go down. Does Hayden know?” Declan asks, leaning back in his seat, placing his hand on my thigh while continuing his conversation with Cain.

“I’m calling him now. Mason has a fight so I’ll tell them all. Call me when you're out, you’re on your own, you want Lincoln there?” Cain asks, and Declan doesn't say anything to him, and a minute goes back before Cain speaks. “Declan?”

“I’m good. If anything happens Big Man will have my back. You think something will happen?” Declan asks, and he doesn’t sound panicked or anything, but the way his hand is placed hard on my thigh means his body is telling a different story.

“I’m not going to be with you. The last time you went down there by yourself you killed someone, this time you are just walking around. They will think you're weak. Watch your back, and fight. Show them who the boss is and never show them fear. I’ll be on the cameras.” Cain tells him and with his words my whole body tenses up, he’s going down there alone. What if something happens, and Cain can’t get there in time?

“I’ll call once I’m out.” Declan ends the call, and turns to face me. “Don’t worry so much. I’ve been through a lot worse than what they will do to me tonight.” Declan chuckles to himself, and I place my hand on his, before signing.

Will you call me too when you’re back out?

“I might climb through your window after,” he winks, then turns into my road. “I’ll call you, but I don’t know what time it’ll be.” I look up at my house and my whole body tenses up knowing nothing good will happen when I walk through the door. “If, for some reason, I’m not here to pick you up in the morning, Lileah will pick you up.” He gets out of the car, and moves to my side, opens the door, then goes to the trunk to get all my things out.

Taking my hand in his he walks me to the door, and kisses me. He kisses me hard, before pulling away from me.

“Try not to miss me too much,” he winks.

You miss me, and be safe.

“I'm always safe, and miss you already.” He leans in for a quick kiss then walks away to his car, and waits there until I get in the house, and the smile which is on my lips is gone when Robert stands in front of me.

“You’ve got some fucking explaining to do,” he snaps at me.

TWENTY-THREE

TRIXIE

I jumpat the knock on my door. No one knocks on my door. Ever. Dad never comes to my room. Robert doesn’t care, he just walks in, and his mother is a bitch. Declan would have called me to let me know he is here, so who the hell is knocking on my door?

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