Page 6 of Inked Desires
I don’t intend to scam him. But if I have to run in a hurry, I won’t hesitate for a second. Survival instinct overrides everything.
"It’s your job to manage that," he says simply before leaving the room and the building without further explanation.
This guy is strange. But that suits me fine—less he talks, fewer questions about me. Knowing myself, I’d get caught in my own lies, so silence is safer.
I get back to work, paying the bills from his account. There’s a decent sum. Maybe I should learn tattooing to make a living and escape abroad. There, Jace won’t find me. But first, I’d need a fake passport.
The doorbell rings. I turn and see Arès carrying a plastic bag, heading silently to the kitchen without a glance.
After paying the bills, I check his emails: nothing interesting, mostly spam. I clean out the inbox to prevent overflow later.
"You gonna spend your lunch break at your desk?" he asks, poking his head out of the kitchen.
I straighten up, confused. With so little work, I hadn’t even thought about taking a break.
He disappears again. I stand and follow him immediately. Three cardboard boxes sit on the table. He bites into a burger and nods toward one of the boxes when he sees me. I sit in a free chair and open it, finding a cheeseburger.
My stomach growls. Except for some coffee, I haven’t eaten in two days. Grateful, I devour it greedily, savoring every bite. I’m starving, and it’s probably the best burger I’ve ever had.
"Try chewing," he jokes.
Embarrassed, I glance at him. My burger is nearly gone. I wipe sauce from my face and mumble, "Sorry, I was really hungry."
A slight smile tugs at his lips. He looks more human like that.
"If you’re hungry, go to the diner across the street," he says, regaining his seriousness. "I’m not babysitting your breaks."
"Do you often give your codes to complete strangers?"
"Hmm… You’re not a stranger anymore. You’re my employee."
I finish my burger too quickly. A sharp pain grips my stomach. Seeing it, he wordlessly offers me some fries.
"Thanks, but I’m full," I politely decline.
"Eat. You’re too thin."
I flush with embarrassment. His comment, though kind, drags me back to everything I’ve been through. I gather the empty box and whisper a "thanks" before quickly leaving the kitchen.
Outside, I take a deep breath to calm my anxiety. I can’t let panic take over. Jace no longer controls my life. I have to stay strong.
When I come back, Arès leans against the wall, arms crossed. He watches me silently, his gaze lingering on my eyes, searching for something I don’t want to reveal.
CHAPTER 2
ARÈS
I’m settled in the tattoo chair, the one soon to be occupied by one of my clients. The door is slightly ajar, letting me catch sight of the stranger sitting behind my desk. Seeing him at the diner had hit me like a shock. I thought my worst nightmare had come back to destroy what little life I had left. The same black curls, pale skin, a slightly pointed nose, and blue eyes. He had promised never to come back, yet here he was, sitting just a few inches from me. One step closer and I could breathe in his scent again.
He didn’t say a word, just bolted outside, looking completely terrified. Then he reappeared in front of my shop, offering to work for me. Did he want to break me? Was that why he pretended not to recognize me?
William’s call pulled me out of my lethargy, bringing me back to reality: the man in my shop is a stranger. He’s not playing games—he doesn’t recognize me at all. That only deepens the mystery. How is it possible he looks so much like him?
I’ve made a point to study him closely. William couldn’t have been on the phone and at the same time sit silently next to me without saying a word. I needed to find differences between them.
Andrew’s eyes hold a faint golden gleam, making his gaze even sharper. On his nose is a tiny mole that twitches slightly when he furrows his brow—it’s... charming.
I run my hand through my hair. Charming. No, it’s not charming. Humans in general shouldn’t be reduced to such words. They can be monsters. Andrew is here only because his appearance caught me off guard.
