Page 25 of Ivy

“I’m brill, mate, fucking brill. Addy and Phoebe are fab also.”

“Good, good. Well, let me introduce you to these two.” Ford steps over to Cleo, helping her to her feet. “Dex, this is Cleo Rogers. And this…” He walks over to Damon, who stands from the couch. He offers his hand to Dex.

“This is the better half of me. Damon Vardy, meet Dex Castle, the only other man that can put his hands on my body and not get a throat punch for it.” They all chuckle.

“Why is everyone having a party without me?” A booming voice comes from the door, making Cleo jump out of her skin. I touch her arm and smile at her.

“He’s fine, Cleo. That’s Luke Baker. He’s another tattoo artist here, and he also does piercings.”

“Plus, I’m her man. Ain’t she a lucky girl?” He winks at us.

“Beast,” I mutter, making Beast laugh.

“Always, babe.” He comes further into the room and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. He hands me another handmade paper plane. He always sends me these, with little love notes on them or names of songs that remind him of me. I open the piece of paper as I sink further into his body.

‘Tell me you will always be by my side. Or under me. Or on top of me.’

I burst out laughing and get a bunch of curious looks from the people in the room. Beast leans forward and kisses my neck, making me shiver. I love it when he kisses my neck, it always sets my body on fire.

Dex makes the new introductions as Jay walks through the door and offers everyone a charming smile. That is Jay all over.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Cleo. I think you’ll fit in great here. Your work is out of this world. Now, Ford says you want to learn to actually tattoo. Is that something you still want to do?” I ask her.

“Y-yes, please. If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Hell no, it isn’t too much trouble. Between the three if us, you will be a class A tattooist.” Luke winks at her, making her blush. She will do great here. I know Dex, Jay, and Luke will protect her and make her comfortable at the studio. They will teach her everything they know, and they will be patient with her. That is the type of men they are.

“The girls will be here soon. They kinda complete the Castle Ink family. You’ll like Addy and Cassie,” I tell her.

“I can’t wait to meet them. I know Ford told you everything that has happened to me and I am so grateful for you taking me on like this. I promise to do you proud. I won’t let you down. Or you, Ford and Damon. You both have done so much for me.” I try to swallow around the lump in my throat. She looks at Ford and Damon like they hung the moon. From what Dex has said, they took her in when she came home from rehab, because her parents thought it would do her some good to learn to be independent.

Beast tightens his grip on me, as if sensing I’m going to cry. I step away from him and stop face-to-face with this truly amazing girl.

“I know that I speak for all of us here when I say you will never let us down. Do you know why?” She shakes her head. “Because you have already made us so bloody proud by not letting that person win anymore. You will learn foryou, not for my brothers, or for Ford and Damon. And they agree with me.” She looks around the room, to see a group of men nodding in agreement.

“My story is similar to yours, so I’m always here if you need a chat. I understand how you feel, but coming here to finally meet my brothers was the best thing I ever did.”

“Hey, what am I, chopped liver?” Luke jokes from his spot.

“Fine, he is one of the best things as well,” I answer him.

“One of?”

“Bloody hell, you don’t want much do you?”

“Nope. Now say it,” Beast answers.

“Okay. Bloody hell, man. Luke is the best thing that has happened to me since I arrived here. He’s my second favorite guy in the world.”

“Second?” Cleo asks. I nod and pull my phone out of my back pocket and open the photo gallery.

“This is my six-year-old son, Carter.”

“Oh, look at him. He is going to be a heartbreaker one day,” Cleo says. I have to agree with her. I thank my lucky stars every day that he doesn't look like Tim at all. Carter is all ‘Castle’. She turns to look at Luke and then back to me, and I chuckle.

“Beast isn’t Carter’s father. That title goes to my arsehole of an ex,” I explain.

“But soon,” Beast says from his spot. My gaze snaps to his and he just smiles at me. The type of smile that makes his face look ten times more handsome, and the type where he is telling me that both Carter and me will belong to him. My heart beat skips a few irregular beats at his words. He bounces his eyebrows at me once and pushes off the counter before walking towards me. He offers me his hand and I take it with no hesitation.

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