Page 87 of Dylan
CHAPTER 32
AGift
Ciara
A month later …
It’s beena month since Ciarán was kidnapped. I still can’t bring myself to let him out of my sight when he’s not at school. I have rearranged my schedule to be the one who picks him up. On days when I can’t, there’s always someone I trust waiting for him to arrive at the gym for the handoff.
Booker has started to hang around a bit to make sure Ciarán gets settled in with his trainer before he takes off. Corey is still training Ciarán since Dylan has been spending more time outside of the gym, busy with some project.
I’m surprised he’s been around so much today. To be honest, I’m starting to get suspicious. He hasn’t stopped smiling and he insisted on taking me and Ciarán out once we arrived from Ciarán’s school.
He won’t tell us where we’re going or what we’re going to do. He just told us we were leaving, now we’re off to who knows where. Since Dylan has been brooding for the last four weeks up until earlier this week, I’m going to give him a pass.
“You’re not even going to give me a hint?” I ask as I look up at him while walking at his side.
“Nope. Besides, we’ll be there soon enough. It’s not that far away,” he croons and glances at me with that gorgeous smile on his face.
“This better be good, O’Brien.”
He chuckles and squeezes my waist as he keeps his arm around me. We’re about a block and a half away from the gym when he turns into a shop that has the windows covered.
Dylan waves for Ciarán to head inside ahead of us. My brother bounces through the doorway with a huge smile on his face. I walk in next and stop in my tracks.
“Dylan?” I call out as I stumble back and bump into his chest. “What have you done?”
“I told you to trust me and give me time. This is my gift to you.”
“A freaking tattoo shop? Are you kidding me?”
“Not kidding at all. This place is all yours. I placed the deed in your name.”
I look around with my mouth open. There is a huge sign on the wall that reads C&D Irish Ink. There’s black-and-white art on the black and gray walls that have graffiti painted on them.
The reception area is sleek and welcoming, with a cute waiting area off to the right of it. A pretty dark-skinned woman with bright brown eyes steps forward and offers me her hand. I take it and shake it, not knowing what else to do.
“This is Kary. She will run the place for now. You will be her apprentice.”
“Congratulations. It’s so nice to meet you. I signed on for two years to get this place up and running for you and help out with getting you your hours and license.
“I’ll get you through the paperwork and exam. Any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them for you. I’ve managed three shops in the last ten years. One in Chicago, another in LA, and Dylan poached me from right here in Brooklyn,” she says.
“I … I …wow.” I turn to look at Dylan with my brows knit. “A hole-ass tattoo shop. Really?
“Like, when, how? You did this right under my nose. This is only like two blocks from the gym. How didn’t I know about this?”
“Because he threatened us all with bodily harm. Not to mention the man is crazy about ya and worked us all into the ground to get this done for ya,” Taegan sings as she and Daliah appear with a cake in their hands that has the shop’s name and Congratulations on it. “Congrats, love.”
“Congratulations,” Daliah gushes as she bounces on her toes.
“Oh my God. Thank you. Kary, I’m so sorry. It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I’m a bit in shock at the moment.”
“Girl, you’re fine. I wish I had a man this in love with me. Come on back and I’ll show you the suites.”
“Suites?”
“This place is so cool, Cee. Wait until you see it all,” Ciarán croons.
