Page 26 of Dex

Today isthe day we get to see our baby girl again. I am picking Addy up and we are driving to the hospital together. Even though she agreed to move back home with me that night, it has been two weeks and Addy being Addy, is stalling. But I will get my way; I always do. Driving to pick up my girl I listen to music, praying like hell that it calms me down. I didn’t sleep much last night, the nerves making it impossible to settle down enough to fall asleep. Me: Dex Castle, nervous about seeing my baby on the screen again. The idea of becoming a father has settled in now and I am excited to meet our daughter.

Red Hot Chili Peppers song ‘Californication’ plays through the radio. The music soaks into my body, calming me. I love these guys, their music is shit hot. I have very similar tastes in music as Addy, but she also likes some random bands. I stop at a red light and take a glance at the shopping bag that is sitting in the passenger seat. I went shopping yesterday and saw the t-shirt and knew that I had to get it for Addy. It is perfect. The light turns to green and I turn into the road that leads to Addy’s place.

I park outside the tattoo studio that Addy has been working in. They look pretty busy from what I can see. I see Addy sitting down on a stool behind the reception desk talking to a pretty redhead. I’m glad that she is staying off her feet as much as possible, she needs to rest. She explained to me what the Doctors told her at the hospital, and I agree with them, she needs to cut down on her working hours. But she told me that Mike and his wife are very strict with her and don’t let her work much anyway, they are like surrogate parents to her. I can see that she cares for them by the way her beautiful face lights up when she talks about them.

The studio is a bit bigger than Castle Ink, but this studio is old school, where as ours is fresh and modern. I climb out of my car and lock it behind me. I walk towards the door and smile when I see Addy throw her head back, laughing at something the girl has said to her. I pull the door open and smile at my girl. Her head lifts and the most beautiful smile crosses her face.

“Morning babe,” I say, rounding the desk and pushing her legs apart so I can stand between her luscious thighs. I lean in and take her mouth, laying a sensual kiss on her. I hear a heavy sigh to the side of us and I break the kiss and tilt my head to face the girl. Addy laughs.

“Dex, this is Sammi. She’s chatting with me while her brother, Daren, is getting a tattoo done by Jonesy out the back. Sammi, this is Dex.” I frown a little. That’s it? Sammi, this is Dex.

Why didn’t she introduce me as her boyfriend? I thought it was pretty obvious by now, where we were headed. I wink at her and then turn my attention to Sammi.

“Nice to meet you, Sammi. I’m Dex, the boyfriend.” I hear the intake of breath, but I ignore it. “Glad my girl could keep you company. I know how shit it is to wait around for someone who is getting inked and you’re not,” I say to her. She beams at me and winks at Addy.

“Swoon...So this is the baby daddy?” she asks Addy.

“Yeah, I did good, right?”

“Hell yeah. I can tell by your arms that you know a bit about tattoos, Dex,” Sammi says.

“I know a bit,” I laugh. Addy laughs with me and pinches my nipple. “Fuck, that hurt, babe.”

“Good. Dex owns Castle Ink over in Bell Harbor, with his brother Jay. I used to work there until…” She stops speaking, I see the flash of hurt cross her face and my stomach tightens. Sammi looks between us, confusion quite clear on her face.

“Until I fucked up. You can say it, baby. I know I fucked up. Captain Twat remember?” Addy nods and gives me a sweet smile. That is one of the things I love about Addy. She can be super feisty and then sweet in the blink of an eye. I know some people look at her with her tattoos and see a broken goth, but my Ads is nothing like that, yes she had a shitty childhood but nothing that would break her permanently. People are so fucking quick to judge these days, everyone has a problem with everyone and everything. Like we always say, ‘A person with tattoos, never judges a person with no tattoos. But a person with no tattoos, always judges a person with tattoos’. It’s a shitty thing but it is what it is and no one will change their mind.

“Are you going to introduce us?” a gruff voice comes from behind me. I turn and look over my shoulder and see an older man. His head is shaved close to his head and his hair is grey in places. He looks in pretty good shape for his age, which I would say is over fifty. I feel Addy move to the side to see behind me and a big arse smile covers her face.

“Hey Mike. Now why would I introduce you?” she smarts at him. Full of attitude my girl.

“Why? Because I want to know the name of the lad I will have to kill and bury somewhere if he ever fucking hurts my baby girl, that’s why!”

“Like you could do that shit. Stop acting all mafia and hard,” Addy giggles. I move my body, so I am standing by her side, her hip against my stomach. I put one arm around her shoulders and one over her baby bump. The bloke’s eyes track my movements but his face stays placid; showing no emotion.

“I know people and this boy needs to know that. I will not have anyone hurt you, baby girl. You are like a daughter to me. Now who the fuck are you”? He directs his question at me. I can play this game also; I give as much as I take.

“Mike. I can take care of myself. Plus, you already have a daughter,” Addy warns, but he ignores her.

“I have two daughters, Addison Cole. I told you that, didn’t I?” She nods her head and I hear her sniff. Damn, the man really cares for my girl. I kiss the top of her head.

“It’s fine, babe. I’m Dex, Addy’s boyfriend and the father of her baby. Who the fuck are you?” He quirks an eyebrow at my answer and returned question. Yeah, fucknut, I ain’t backing down, not where my girl is concerned. I know who Mike is. Addy has told me all about him and his wife, Wendy. We stare at each other for a few moments, the only sound is the buzzing coming from the tattoo guns around the studio. Addy is still sitting on the stool, she is looking between Mike and me and back again. A slow smile breaks across his face and I feel Addy’s body physically relax under my hands. I knew this fucker was testing me and by the looks of things, I passed. I could learn a few things from this guy about threatening boys being around my daughter. He clearly has experience when it comes to his daughter and knobhead men.

“I’m Mike, surrogate dad to this girl here. So I have an important question for you, Dex.” Addy buries her head in my chest and laughs.

“Oh God, here we go.”

“I can only guess that you have seen my handy work on her back?” I nod my head. “Now, I know that you have done some of her other work, and so has your brother.” I nod again. I know where he is going with his line of questions. “So, I want to know… Do you think your work is better than mine?”

“Yes,” is all I say.

“You do, huh?”

“Yes, I do. Your work on my baby, is pretty damn good, Mike. But mine is better, simple. I will never regret any piece I have worked on. My work is defined. My designs represent me. Each line, each fucking star and heart, every fucked up tattoo that I have had to cover up because some knob has had his girlfriend's name tattooed on him. Plus, I am a cocky twat who will always say that his work is better. Addy knows this.” I smirk at her and lean in and kiss her lips softly.

“I see the cockiness is a must have to be a tattoo artist then,” a lad says from behind Mike. His smile is directed at my girl and I inch forward, towards her. His eyes are filled with dirty thoughts, I can fucking tell. Bastard.

“Hey, Ads.” Oh, hell fucking no.

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