Page 1 of Inked Soul

Prologue

New Neighbors

Luke

I make my way upstairs to find a man dressed in an expensive suit glaring at a crib. What the hell is he doing? The thing is taking up most of the hallway.

“There you are,” he says, sneering at me. “You need to move the rest of this shit into the apartment.”

A chuckle escapes me. He clearly thinks I’m one of the movers.

“I don’t work for you, pal,” I reply, trying to make my way around him and into my own apartment.

“Listen here, punk,” he huffs. He stands up straighter, trying to meet my size. “I don’t care if I paid for your services or if she did, do your fucking job.”

I assess the man in front of me. Light hair, styled perfectly, expensive suit and ugly-ass shoes. I know men like him. They think because they earn a lot of money and flash it for everyone to see they are better than the rest of us. Usually, I would brush it off, but I am having a shitty day and this guy needs to be taken down a peg.

“I. Don’t. Work. For. You.” I annunciate each word, leaning into his personal space. I know I can be an intimidating motherfucker when I want to be, and I see the man balk. “As in, I’m not a fucking mover. Your shit is in my way, and I can’t get to my damn apartment.”

He has the decency to blush before he splutters out a half-assed apology and hightails it to the apartment next door. Fucking perfect. Now I’ve already made enemies with the new neighbors.

Turning, I see Laine coming up the stairs.

“Who is that?” he asks tipping his chin in the direction the man went.

“No one important,” I grumble. “Why are you here?”

“Chasing me away?”

“Scared Hailey wised up and kicked you out. I do not want to live with you again.” I snicker at his reaction of mock outrage.

“Whatever, dickhead.” He punches my shoulder as he passes, making his way to what used to be his bedroom. “I have to grab the last of my boxes and get Hailey a pizza for dinner.”

I chuckle but the sound is off. I haven’t been getting any sleep the past few nights. The new neighbor’s baby cries constantly. And it hasn’t helped with my disposition. I watch as Laine walks through the apartment with three stacked boxes in his arms.

“Tell Hailey if she ever gets tired of you, she can move in with me, but you are never moving back in,” I tell him jokingly.

He laughs freely, knowing I am only joking. We have been best friends since before I can remember, and he is the closest thing I have to a brother except for Alistair.

“Hailey would drive you nuts, Mr. OCD.” I swat at his head, and he ducks. “See you on Sunday.”

Yes, lunch with Laine and his family. I hope I can get some sleep before then.

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