Page 95 of Twisted Bonds
My hands shake as I start my car, not because I'm scared, but because I'm angry as hell. Not only did she lie to Bain about why she couldn't sleep with him, but apparently, we are nothing but freaks to her. I understand she didn't mean freaks in such a bad way, just what we like to do, but still, that doesn't make it any better. Too upset to care, I push down on the accelerator, peel out of the driveway, and take a left out of the drive to head for town.
I hiss at the sting of the needle, but at the same time, it feels oh-so-good. After witnessing Chloe and Baxter, I needed something, and since this was on the agenda anyway, I came here first, hoping to calm myself before running my other errands.
A tattoo was never something that I had planned on getting, but I needed something that I could look at on the really tough days. Something that would remind me that I matter, and I am strong enough to get through even the darkest of days. Three tattoos in one day is more than enough, and although the words on my wrists didn't really hurt, I seem to have some tender spots on the back of my neck where the third tattoo is being done as we speak.
"There we go, beautiful," the tattoo artist, Blaze, says as he takes a final swipe at his finished work. "Follow me, and you can check it out."
I follow him across the room to where there is a large mirror. Right beside it, another female lays on a bed, topless and on her stomach, asanother tattoo artist works on a back piece that entails a beautiful set of fairy wings. Blaze pulls my attention away from the mesmerizing piece and has me stand with my back to the mirror.
"Here, hold this," he says, handing me another mirror to look at the tattoo permanently engraved on my neck.
"It's beautiful. Thank you…"
"I take it you've been through some rough shit in your life." Blaze glances at my wrists.
I give him a slight smile and stare at the two quotes, one on each wrist, written over my scars.You MatterandI Am Strong Enough.My neck tattoo design is a swirl with a cross that symbolizes, "I am strong enough."
"Yes, you can say that, but I think I will be okay now." I pass the hand mirror back to him.
"That's awesome to hear." He holds out his fist for me to pound, then nods. "Come on. Let's cover those up, and you can be on your way."
I'm so happy as I finish paying for my tattoos. I'm not sure how Beau and Bain will feel about me marking uptheirbody, as they like to call it, but I don't really care. They always leave their marks on me; it's only fitting that I leave my own.
I'm still smiling as I leave the tattoo parlor, staring at the new ink on my wrists, when someone bumps into me. "Oh! I am so sorry…"
"Well, well, well, look who it is." I hear her voice first and freeze.
"Mindy. What are you doing here?" I straighten my composure and remind myself she was also at the stronghold against her will. "How have you been?"
She scoffs, "What do you care?"
I shouldn't take offense to her attitude,butI did pull a ginger root out of her ass that one time. "I was being polite, but if you're just going to be a bitch, then goodbye."
I try to walk around her, but I'm grabbed by the elbow. "Where the fuck do you think you're going?"
I freeze for a second time in less than five minutes. Chills wrack my body as I slowly turn and face someone I didn't think I'd ever see again. "Mario…"
"It's about time I find you, you fucking bitch. You're coming with us," he sneers. "Get the door, Mindy."
She gives me a smug look as she skips over to a shit brown van that looks like it belongs to a pedophile. Then again, Mario does work in the skin trade, so who knows who he picks up in this piece of junk. I'm digging my feet into the ground as I look around, but we're in a part of town that doesn't have much traffic.
"Let me go, motherfucker!" I dig my nails into his hands trying to get him to loosen his grip, but it's no use.
"Not a fucking chance. The boss is paying big bucks to bring you in, and I'm not about to pass that up." Mario yanks on my arm even harder.
"Your boss can kiss my ass!"
"Oh, I'm sure he has already, right before he's fucked it." He cackles.
He can't be bringing me to Sergio; he's in prison, isn't he?
Mario almost has me to the van even though I'm trying to not let them get me any closer. I kick up my foot and aim for his nuts, but he deflects it. Just when I'm about to give up because I no longer have the strength to fight him off, I hear something that literally brings tears to my eyes.
"I suggest you let my girl go, if you know what's fucking good for you!" His voice is like an angel, but when I turn and look at him, he seems anything but an angel.
In his hand, he holds a gun pointed straight at Mario's head. I'm not expecting Mario to let me go so quickly, so I fall onto my ass when he does, and I scramble back as fast as I can. I don't stop until I feel Beau's legs and use them to stand up. I try not to show any weakness, but Mario scares the shit out of me.
Suddenly, a siren goes off, and I sigh in relief as I see red and blue lights reflecting on the van's windshield. Thank God. This piece of shit is going away for good now. I'm about to turn around and tell the police to arrest Mario when a booming voice calls out, "Drop the gun, Huntley, and get on your knees with your hands behind your head!"
