Page 57 of Savage Hate
The anger from earlier makes a comeback.
“I don’t want anything to do with you,” I hiss, swiping at my face. “Please leave.”
His jaw ticks as he takes in my words. Standing straighter, he shakes his head.
“And where will you go, Lennon? Who are these guys, and why are you working here?”
“I’ll be fine.” I ignore his questions, wanting him gone before I explode.
“What, working in a shithole like this?”
“Hey, man,” Silas interjects from behind me. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
“He was just leaving,” I say, crossing my arms as I feel Damon and Jude’s presence behind me, too.
“What the hell happened to you, Lennon?” Wright asks, looking at me with disgust. He eyes my outfit of leather leggings and a ripped grey t-shirt, with black studded sandals. “This isn’t you. I don’t know what kind of life you’re trying to chase–”
“My life,” I say a little too loudly. “Myreallife.”
Wright laughs, mocking me. “Your real life? Working in a tattoo shop, trying to be something you’re not? The Lennon I knew went to bed at nine, wore pearls and flats, and read newspapers. You never had an ornery bone in your body.”
My cheeks heat, and I grind my teeth together. “That’s not true. You just never bothered to get to know me.”
“I’m sure,” he grits out, eyeing me up and down. “I made a mistake coming here. It doesn’t matter what lifestyle you mold yourself into, you’ll always be the same boring person, won’t you?”
His words shock me to my core, the hurt rolling through me. I clench my fists at my sides and narrow my eyes, opening my mouth to tell him off, when Damon walks up to Wright and shoves him backward.
“Leave. Now,” he orders, pushing him toward the door. “And if you ever come back, I promise not to be so gentle,” Damon grits out, shoving him once more.
“Get your fucking hands off of me,” Wright says, pulling out of Damon’s grip. He looks back at me. “You’re making a mistake, Lennon.”
Something inside of me snaps at his words. Maybe because they’re so similar to the words my mother spoke to me, and maybe I’m sick of people assuming what’s best for me. Wright especially. He never knew me, and he never will know me. I cock my head and cross my arms.
“Wait,” I blurt, holding a hand up. Wright has the audacity to look relieved, so I give him a wicked smile as I look at Damon. “Lock the door.”
Damon’s eyes dance with mischief as he reaches behind Wright and locks him in.
“What the hell are you–” Wright asks, but before he can finish the sentence, Damon has his hands behind his back. He leads him to the back room, where I see both Silas and Jude looking way too smug for their own good. “Lennon, what the hell is going on?”
I put my hands on my hips as Damon forces Wright into one of the tattoo chairs. Jude grabs a zip tie and ties Wright’s arms and legs together as he thrashes against them.
“Welcome to the dark side of Savage Ink,” I say smoothly, winking at Wright as Silas forces him to lay down in the chair.
thirty-three
Lennon
“What the fuck does that mean?” Wright asks, and before he can ask any more questions, Silas slaps a piece of duct tape over his lips. His muted scream is satisfying, and Damon chuckles as Wright thrashes harder against the zip ties.
I look over at Silas, and he’s watching me with a mischievous expression. “So? What should we do?” he asks, and when I look at Jude and Damon, they’re both waiting for me to give them directions. The thrill of the power I hold makes me smile.
I walk over to Wright and pull the tape off his mouth. He grimaces and pants, glaring at me with pure hatred.
“What the fuck, Lennon,” he growls, jerking against the plastic ties that are holding him down. “Let me go. This isn’t funny.”
I cock my head. “I don’t think we should tattoo his forehead,” I remark carefully, and his eyes widen.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He looks at Silas. “My father can send you to jail for a very, very long time. Aggravated assault. Look it up and let me go, asshole.”
