Page 13 of Ride Long
Ratchet pushed his chair back and stood, the others following suit. They left the room, leaving their dirty dishes behind. Immediately, Sam rushed forward to clear up themess.
“You shouldn’t make them angry,” she whispered. “Ratchet’s nice, but theothers…”
“Don’t worry about me,” I said, remembering the rite of passage I’d undertaken when I’d saved Chaser from the Hollow Men. “I can take care ofmyself.”
“You’re really going to let them tattoo you?” She seemed scandalized. “They don’t tattoo the women. Not even the OldLadies.”
I shrugged. “I don’t intend to get taken advantage of everagain.”
“Youmean…”
“Don’t look so shocked, Sam. You heard Spike. I’m a Marini, and Marini’s don’t get sold, they do the selling.” Standing, I helped her clear the rest of the table. “I’m not the same girl who left seven years ago. Not by a longshot.”
