Page 3 of Broken

“You coming, G?” Phoenix asks me.

I don’t answer until I’ve finished an outline and pause to wipe the excess ink out of the way. “No.”

“Ah, man, come on, it’s been ages since you came out for a drink with us.”

“I’m busy.”

“You’re always busy,” Lucky says, rounding her counter.

There are no more appointments today. She’ll deal with walk-ins if any come in. She sits down on the sofa by the window and puts her Doc Martin’s up on the coffee table.

I grunt in response to her comment.

“It’s been forever since we all went out together,” Lucky pouts.

“He’s turning into a bore,” Shane agrees. “When was the last time you didn’t shut up the shop and go home alone?”

“I have better things to do than watch your dumb ass get shit faced. Sorry,” I say to Nina.

“No need to apologize,” she smiles.

I nod at her, then get back to work.

“You better make sure Lucky leaves her bat behind,” Shane jokes as he goes to Sumner’s station and begins cleaning. Sumner has already done his tidy up, but Shane is doing a deep clean, making sure everything is put away and sterilized. “I can’t believe you nailed him in the nuts, Lucky.”

“My Abuela told me if you need to shut a man down, you do it so he can’t get back in your face.”

“Wise woman,” Nina says, tilting her neck to see Lucky, who raises a fist in female solidarity.

“But the balls?” Shane shakes his head, leaning against the mop. “I don’t think that guy will be able to have kids.”

Shane’s been here a year. A twenty-year-old college drop-out and massive disappointment to his rich family. They don’t care for his new job role, or himthrowing awayhis college education and future career.

They cut him off for going against what they want for their son. I pay him well, for an apprentice. He is crashing at Sumner’s place, because he can’t afford to get his own apartment after being kicked out of the college dorms.

He’s blond haired and blue eyed with a baby face, but he’s steadily been getting inked. I have him doing work on his own legs as practice away from pig skins.

“Wonder if he’s still there?” Sumner asks, checking outside. “Fuck knows how he managed to walk away. That is gonna hurt for days.”

Lucky shrugs and pops a candy in her mouth.

“Not that I think she’s in the wrong,” Nina says. “But won’t it come back to bite you?”

“My boss got me the bat,” Lucky laughs.

Nina looks at me, but I am focused on my work. I’m used to them talking around me. I can usually zone out, but they’re relentless today. I doubt the guy will call the cops.

“Come on, Garrett, come out with us,” Lucky begs.

“Got a meeting with Nero.”

Phoenix pauses and looks over at me. He chews the viper bite piercings on his lower lips.

“What about afterwards?” Lucky asks.

I don’t miss how Phoenix shoots her a warning stare. She frowns back, then pinches her lips to keep from pestering me. The others are aware I have something going on outside of the shop, but I have never elaborated, and they don’t press me. If Nero calls, I drop everything.

“I’ll be gone late,” I say, irritated.

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