Page 64 of Tattooed Love

“I don’t care.” I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed, with my back to Jax. “Please, just leave me alone.”

Cole tossed the plastic bag on my bed and crossed his arms. “I know this is our fault Amber, I know we failed you.”

“You think I care about that?” I choked, rubbing the tears away from my eyes. “No, I don’t care that clearly someone has taken their revenge out on me. What I care about is…” I broke off and shook my head, not being able to say it.

“What?” Jax’s voice piped in from behind me. “Tell us.”He said that like he was dying to know the inner workings of my mind right now. He was basically pleading with me.

Cole looked at me with a serious expression and I shook my head.

“Just leave,” I muttered.

“Don’t make me call the others...” Cole threatened.

“How can you even look at me?” I pulled my head up and stared him in the eye “I wear your enemy’s mark! I’m… I’m ruined.”

Cole’s expression went blank and he just stood there frozen, not knowing what to say. Perhaps it was because I had just stated the obvious. I couldn’t take his silence as a good sign, and it didn’t help that Jax was also in the room, also silent.

“Get out,” I muttered dryly. “GET THE HELL OUT NOW!” I put my head in my hands; the pain was getting worse as I yelled.

“Amber, it’s our fault you carry that mark. Our opinion of you can never change.” Cole’s voice was firm as he knelt down in front of me. “This is our fault.”

It was comforting to hear that he thought that but, at the same time, the others wouldn’t be as thoughtful. I was very aware of my own attitude towards people who wore this scar or tattoo becausenormally, if it was a tattoo, only a lifetime member would have it cut into their skin.

“Your opinion may not change, but others’ will. Just leave me alone.”

Cole stayed put in front of me. “Someone has to change your bandage. You can’t be left alone.”

“I will call someone. Just leave,” I muttered.

“And who will you be calling? We are your family.” His voice trembled in anger as he spoke.Cole could never control his temper when it came to it, so I knew right now he was doing his best to stay calm.

“No offense Cole, but you guys are the last people I want looking at and treating this mark. Not when I know you guys kill people for simply showing it.”

“You didn’t get this by choice.”

“No, but I still have it.” I shook my head “Please, I cannot take any more humiliation.”

“Fine.” He stood up “Who do you want me to call?”

I thought about it for a few moments, and that was when I realized something. There was only one person who wouldn’t judge me for this mark; there was only person I trusted to care for me, knowing that I had it.

“I will call him. Just go.”

“Him?” Jax piped up. “Who is it?” His own anger now laced his words as he spoke.

“I don’t have to answer you, either of you. Now go.”

Grunting and shaking his head, Cole placed my phone on the bed and walked away. I heard him and Jax leave and I didn’t know why, but I just felt complete and utter disgust at myself.

I wanted to throw up. I wanted to cut the wound out of my body completely. It was like having an awful word tattooed into my skin.

Unlocking my phone, I dialed the one number that I had promised to never dial again, and it didn’t help that I knew that number by heart.

***

“Is this all you want?” Blake asked, as he carried the bag he had helped me pack.

Nodding my head, I thanked him. “I feel so stupid for making you do this for me.”

---