Page 69 of Cast in Shadow
With sunlight streaming in through the windows, she yawned and made her way to the coffee machine. Part of her had hoped—irrationally—that Zeke might be waiting for her, but everything was just as she’d left it.
Wherever he was, she hoped he was happy. She hadn’t been in contact with Nix, so she had no idea what, if anything, had come from the information she’d sent her way.
Aggie started the machine, then foraged for something to eat. She added a call to the delivery service to her list of things to do.
She found some trail mix and sat at the breakfast counter, trying not to think of how Zeke had perched her on it more than once and snacked on her.
That was when she saw it. A business card, propped up against a tiny crystal vase. Linen, with pearly-white raised holographic lettering. Archangel Ink.
Her heart began to pound furiously as she reached for it. She turned it over, registering the handwritten message scrawled on the back.
Good for one custom tattoo. Must present in person to redeem.
* * *
Aggie shoved her hands into her pockets and looked at the shop on the other side of the street. It looked like a classy place, far removed from some of the dives she’d seen in her travels.
The street-facing window was large and tinted black with the same holographic image on the card.
She watched as a steady stream of people came and went, dwindling as the hours ticked by. It seemed to do good business, but she wasn’t surprised. She’d seen some of Zeke’s drawings. He was an extremely talented artist.
Just do it, Aggie.
Drawing a deep breath, she summoned her courage, crossed the street, and walked inside.
It was like entering an art museum. A semicircular reception desk sat just inside. Behind it, a spectacular mural of a fierce angel warrior, wings spread, sword in hand, ready to do some damage. To the left, a waiting area with leather seating and framed artwork. Two small, matching, curved desks were there as well, where clients could look through designs in binders and discuss options with artists.
What Aggie didn’t see were actual tattoo stations, but she could hear muted conversations and buzzing from the back.
An extremely attractive young woman came out of the back and smiled in welcome. “Welcome to Archangel. Can I help you?”
“Hi. Yeah.” Aggie pulled the card out of her pocket and handed it to the woman.
The woman’s eyes widened, and then her grin grew. “You must be Aggie. He’s been hoping you’d come.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Zeke
“All done.” Zeke finished up the sleeve and sat back. “Check it out,” he said, waving a gloved hand toward the trifold mirror.
The canvas got up and stood in front of the mirror, turning to view the image from all angles.
Zeke gave his back a stretch and cracked his neck. Both were stiff from being hunched over for so long. He’d been working sixteen-hour days, and he still had a waiting list.
He couldn’t keep up the pace much longer. The only reason he’d been putting in as many hours as he had was because he hoped Aggie would show.
Six months. That was how long it had been since he’d walked away. Four, since he’d had that unexpected meet and greet with Nix and the deadly duo.
He wiped down his station and glanced at the clock. Closing time. Another day that Aggie hadn’t shown.
Zeke started each day with the hope that she would, but as time went on, he had to face the possibility that it wasn’t going to happen.
Surely, she’d been back to the chalet by now. Surely, she’d seen the card.
Unless something had happened.
His chest tightened, just like it always did when that possibility entered his mind. And just like always, he flashed back to the first time he’d seen her in that farmhouse, bruised and battered yet feisty enough to save herself. Yeah, he’d shown up in time to help and maybe expedite things a little, but he had no doubt she would have done just fine without him.
