Page 29 of Savage Hate
By the time the last customer leaves at around two in the morning, I’m nearly wringing my hands with anticipation and nervousness. I knew this was coming, and I’ve thought long and hard about it all evening. Seeing Jude–hell, seeingSilasthreaten my mom like that–it undid something inside of me, and all I currently feel is remorse and guilt. They saved me back there, stood up for me, and protected me–and what had I done to them all those years ago? I’d lied. I’d accused them of something they never did, and it cost all of them so much.
Just as Silas begins to pack his things away, I walk up to his station.
“Wait.” I try to get the words out before I chicken out. “Do me.”
He raises his eyebrows, and Damon snorts from a few feet away.
“Well, princess, you’re not really my type, but–”
I swallow the strange sting of rejection. Why should I care about that?
I roll my eyes and brush off his comment. “No, I mean… give me a tattoo.”
Silas’s blue eyes bore into mine, and my stomach clenches as his tongue swirls around the inside of his cheek.
“Are you going to pay me for this tattoo?” he asks, cocking his head and leaning back. “Or are you just demanding something from me?”
I narrow my eyes. “As payback,” I explain, shuffling my feet. “Like what you did to Noah,” I whisper.
His face falls, and the amusement dies as he frowns. “Noah is a rapist.”
“And I am a bully,” I say boldly. “I’d rather not wake up to you guys tying me up one night, so just get it over with now.”
He considers it for a few seconds, and I look at Jude and Damon, who are both watching us raptly. I have no idea if that was their plan, or if I was even on their radar like that. My cheeks heat as I consider the fact that they reallydon’tcare. Maybe I’m putting my foot in my mouth yet again and being presumptuous.
“Okay, deal,” Silas says slowly, his expression unmoving. He nudges his jaw to the chair, gesturing for me to sit. “Where?”
I don’t move, instead swallowing nervously. “You choose.”
My whole body is screaming that this is a bad idea.
He gives me a small smile, and I hear Damon and Jude continue to clean up their sections while pretending not to eavesdrop.
“Lie down,” Silas commands, running a hand through his messy hair. He prepares his station, and as he lowers me down to a laying position, I close my eyes and clasp my hands together.
I don’t want him to see me shaking.
Taking a few steadying breaths, I jump when the tattoo gun buzzes.
Silas chuckles. “Just warming her up,” he says smoothly. His voice sends shivers down my spine, and I don’t hate the feeling of the adrenaline coursing through me.
“Last chance, princess,” he mumbles, and I snap my eyes open.
He’s staring down at me, tattoo gun in his grasp, gloved hands gripping the stainless steel firmly. His lips are cracked from the long night, and his eyes are slightly rimmed with red. Still, he gives me a large smile, and I’m not sure if he’s being nice or malicious.
“I’m not scared.” I close my eyes again.
“You sure? I can see you shaking from here.”
“Try this.” Jude’s voice is close, and when I open my eyes, he’s holding a bottle of tequila. “And this.” In his other hand is a soda can. “Two shots. Enough to relax you, but not enough to bleed all over Silas’s station.”
I squint and narrow my eyes. “Bleed all over?” My heart begins to race as I sit up and grab the two drinks, taking two large swigs and washing them both down with soda. I make a face and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. Lying back down, I try not to gag.
“If you have too much alcohol in your system, it thins your blood,” Silas explains. His voice is so low, it almost always sounds like a growl.
“Lovely,” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut, but I can already feel the alcohol doing its job. My body loosens, like coils softening, and I sort of feel like I’m floating. Jude was right–I’m not drunk. Just… at ease.
“Do you want me to tell you where–” Silas starts.
