Page 19 of Broken

Katja starts telling her about aftercare, discussing how they will heal and to ensure they’re protected and cared for, while I set about clearing up and re-doing all the inks and water on the table.

“So, are they super sensitive?” the girl called Sin asks with a laugh. “That flush tells me you’re feeling allkindsof feelings right now.”

“Sensitive,” she deadpans. “You’re joking right? Right now, it feels like I’ve had red-hot pokers shoved through my-”

Her eyes catch mine. Her mouth snaps shut and her cheeks flush. Okay, I guess she remembers me too. Part of my brain triggers, if she recognizes me, she remembers me from being in that hallway.

I curse all over again for having someone see me while I was on a job. The rest of me focuses on that flush rising up her neck, her cheeks are bright red, and her eyes are wide.

What is she thinking? Clearly seeing me has thrown her. Why though? Is it the same reason I’m feeling?

“Nips!” Lucky shouts, drawing her eyes from mine.

My head snaps in her direction. Phoenix pokes her shoulder, his eyes going from me back to Lucky.

“What?” she asks him. He tilts his head at me, Lucky turns, sees my expression then covers her mouth with the back of her hand. It’s not about getting caught, she’s fucking laughing.

“Have you been drinking?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“Of course I haven’t. You know Phoenix wouldn’t do this if I was drunk.”

Everyone has quietened down. I feel like a fucking asshole for being the one to change the mood in here, but my irrational brain has kicked in. Whether this girl is bothered or not, I am taking real offense to everyone staring at her tits. Even her friends.

“Well, can we all get back to being professional and having respect for our clients?”

Shane ducks his head and goes back to his tattoo. Sumner is the only one who hasn’t stopped what he was doing. Phoenix whispers something to Lucky that has her pouting but resting her elbows on the back of the tattoo chair.

“It’s okay,” the woman says, drawing my eyes back to her. “It was a group decision for me to get this, I’m not offended.”

My eyes dip to the outline against her T-shirt again before going quickly back to her face. I don’t answer her which is probably a dick move because she looks nervous, then frowns, exchanging a look with the girl, Sin.

I’m not sure what possesses me to say it, but the words fall from my mouth before my brain engages. “You’re distracting everyone from their work. You mess up when you’re tattooing, it isn’t something you can brush over.”

“I didn’t… I mean.”

“G,” Phoenix says, giving me a disapproving, ‘what the hell’ look.

What the hell in-fucking-deed. I decide to keep my mouth shut but my scowl is evident to everyone. The room goes quiet, the buzz of needles filling the silence.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the woman take a seat beside Shane and Sin and she has a hushed conversation with her friend.

I go back to my inks and tap Gez’s shoulder, letting him know I’m about to start. He nods and without looking at anyone, especially her, I get back to work.

Chapter Six

Calli

What a prick.

What an actual giant fucking prick this guy is! I can’t believe how he spoke to me, and everyone else. The buzz died as soon as he opened his mouth. Now everyone is acting like they’ve been chastised by the strictest teacher in the school.

How dare he say I’m distracting. If I’d known he is the guy I am giving my money to, I would never have set foot in this damn shop.

Sin’s warm hand wraps around my wrist because she can see how worked up I am. I’m seconds from ripping this guy a new one for embarrassing me like that.

At first, I was stunned to see the delivery guy from my apartment. It’s so odd he’s a tattoo artist as well. He is next level hot.

Until he opens his mouth. The sexy little wink and smirk he gave me last week are nowhere in sight. Now he’s pissed and blaming me for it. I half rise and Sin pulls me down.

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