Page 99 of Broken

My eyes shut as he cups my jaw. He takes it for the invitation I try not to let it be and kisses me. It’s not soft, reminding me of everything I told myself about him. He takes what he wants from my mouth. A stirring in my pussy makes me draw back, dipping my chin.

Silence rings out again and Garrett steps back. He goes to get his phone and turn off the camera. I wait, staring at the floor. As he finishes cleaning up, I slip on my sneakers and walk to the mirror, needing to see it again. The tattoo is beautiful, it’s difficult to see through the clear wrap. I have no regrets about getting it done.

My eyes meet Garrett’s in the reflection and I drop my shirt.

“How much do I owe you?” I turn around, sucking up the strange emotions.

“Nothing.”

“Garrett, I need to pay you.”

“I won’t take your money.”

“And I won’t take anything for free.”

“I talked you into it,” he says.

“You didn’t talk me into anything. If I didn’t want this, I would not have come here.”

We both go quiet, both reading into those words. It’s about more than the tattoo.

Garrett gets his wits about him before I do. He steps right up to me, making me tilt my head up. “You’re not paying. End of discussion.”

Huffing, I stop arguing.

“It’s late, I’ll take you home.”

Hiding my disappointment, I nod and go to move around him.

“I have to check on Phoenix.”

Oh. Right, those guys. “Will he be okay?”

Garrett looks at me in silence. When I think he will not tell me anything he speaks. “He isn’t in any danger. It’s…” he frowns. “Family.”

His meaning is clear. Phoenix has an issue with his brother. I swallow around a lump in my throat. Garrett cares a lot about his friends. Even when he’s being a prick, he is never mean to them. I decide to be brave.

“The name of the shop, it was the same as the name on the back of his jacket.”

“Yeah,” he lets out a long exhale and runs a hand through his hair. That’s when I notice the tattoo on his forearm. He doesn’t hide it when realization dawns.

Is he a member of a motorcycle club? I’ve never got that impression from either Garrett or Phoenix. The tension in the room when those guys were here was palpable.

One more secret.

Am I being stupid, getting in deeper with this man? He’s so closed off, even when he’s being open. He listened to me last night, took care of me and stopped me losing control over Jared and mom. The things I want to know, the questions that fill my brain, have to remain locked up.

Neither one of us says a word.

If he doesn’t want to tell me, I can’t force him. All I can do is back off. It scares the shit out of me that he’s burrowing inside of me, causing feelings I never wanted. Allowing my heart to get involved makes me the idiot.

“I work for the club but I’m not an active member.”

I’m so stunned that I stop breathing.

“It’s long and complicated and it’s too late to get into right now. I got drawn in when I was younger and started working here. The owner was a member. You should know that.”

Does that mean he wants to tell me more?

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