Page 152 of Tattooed Love

Then wanting to kill me.

You would think a new country would mean a new me.

It was clear - my past was going to influence my future. I knew that as soon as I saw Tae at the airport. Just because dad wanted to give me a fresh start didn’t mean I was going to get one.

Tae had made good points. He knew I wasn’t going to be capable of working a nine to five job. Hell, he knew when it came down to it; my skill with a gun was just that - skill. Something to be trained and focused on. Improved on.

Which is what we had been doing - at the shooting range, at his place, on his land, and with his enemies. With each one I took out, I got better. Each one I killed took something from me though. I thought one day I would wake up regretting the lives I had taken.

And I found out that day came, and went just as quickly. Guilt wouldn’t stop me.

Nothing could stop me. It was like I didn’t have a heart anymore, to care. Jax had taken it, stomped on it and handed it back and I had declined the offer to take what was left of my heart.

The ache I felt for him, waking up every morning still with it – well, that was the only reason I even considered I still had a piece of my heart.

Because when it came to business, I was getting as ruthless as the man grooming me.

“Amber, the address has changed - they are at the shipping yard. Can you calculate for that?”

I unzipped my duffle bag and nodded my head. “I’ll do the math and the readings when I get there.” I looked down at my sniper. It was the first thing Tae had given me. State of the art. Top of the line. And I knew how to use it.

Which was beginning to strike fear in the underbelly of London.

Jax

I lit up another cigarette. Another party, another reason to get drunk. Yet, here I was at the bar, women everywhere, and I could only think of one.

One with perfect curves that I loved to explore. One with those sharp eyes that stared straight through all the bullshit. One that was always in control. Those lips of hers, how sweet they were, and how she was always up for anything I wanted to do.

I exhaled on my cigarette. I still didn’t know if she was a devil or an angel. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Couldn’t turn her off. It was killing me knowing she was in another country, living a new life. One far, far away from me.

Katie put a hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off. I wasn’t in the mood. I hadn’t even so much as glanced at another woman since Amber had left. There was only one woman I wanted in my bed, and she was in fucking England.

“Can we talk?”

I turned to see Troy. What did he want? It was fair to say when he said things were going to be business and business alone, he wasn’t lying. Our years of friendship were gone.

He blamed me for losing his sister.

And it was my fault, so I didn’t hold it against him.

I nodded my head and got up, following him to the boardroom. I closed the door after us, blocking out some of the noise of the party.

“What’s up?” I said, butting my cigarette out in the ashtray.

“You.” His eyes hardened. “What you are doing hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You haven’t touched another woman. You haven’t so much as even argued at one of my points and now, now you are acting like I’m in control.”

“What’s wrong with that? Didn’t you want to be in control?”

“I’m not the king!” He basically yelled. “Your job is to always put the club first! It’s in your blood!”

Yeah, I knew I was letting things slide. Yeah, I knew I wasn’t living up to my responsibilities, but Troy had everything under control. Wasn’t like I had completely turned a blind eye to the club.

“Everything is going fine.” I shrugged. “I don’t see the problem.”

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