Ink

I nk wasn’t planning on having to start his life over at thirty—yet here he was. Living in the same town as his ex-wife and her new boyfriend, who also happened to be the best man at their wedding, was beginning to become a pain in his ass. The truth was, Lena was sleeping with his best friend for almost two years before she up and left . He never had a clue and that made him feel like a total sucker. Everyone in town looked at him with so much pity; he hated to even leave his house. So, he moved to a new town a few months back, and settling down wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. His first order of business was to find a place to live, and then, he planned on finding a place to open his own tattoo shop, using the money that his grandfather had left him. He didn’t have to work another day in his life with the inheritance his grandpa Fred left him, but he liked to keep busy, and having his own shop was always a dream of his. The rest of the money could go into the bank for a rainy day.

The third thing on his to-do list was to find a new MC to join because he missed his old club. His brothers called to check on him after the move, but it wasn’t the same as having a club to go to in person. had heard good things about the Road Reapers, and giving them a try was the best thing that he ever did. Mace was the club’s Prez, and he welcomed with open arms. A few of the guys seemed to be excited about a new tattoo shop opening in town and had even booked some of his first appointments, which was great since he planned on officially opening his doors in just two days.

The amount of stuff that he had left on his to-do list around the shop was insane. He knew that no human would ever be able to finish the entire list on his own in just two days but damn it, he was going to try.

He looked up when the bell over the door alerted him that someone was in his shop. “We’re not open yet,” he called. He couldn’t see Mace and the Blaine brothers until they were practically in the back of the shop.

“Well, we’re here to help, not get tats,” Owen said. “Mav, Steel, and I thought that we could install a security system for you.”

“You guys don’t have to do that,” insisted. He was going to hire someone to install a system as soon as he could find the time to make a few phone calls.

Mav shrugged, “It’s what brothers do,” he said.

“And since you’re a new member of the Road Reapers, we thought that we’d come over to help you check some items off of your to-do list,” Mace said.

“I don’t know how I can thank you all,” insisted.

“There’s no need,” Steel chimed in. “Like my brother said, that’s what brothers do. We help each other out and lend a hand when necessary. And from the look of this place, it’s necessary.”

“When did you say you were opening?” Mace asked.

“In two days,” grumbled. “I know the place looks a mess, but there is a method to my chaos.”

“Good to know,” Mace said. “How about you tell us how we can help, and we’ll get to work.” wasn’t sure what he had done to earn their help, but he was sure thankful to have it.

“Thanks, guys, I really appreciate the help,” said.

“Let’s get to work,” Mace ordered. couldn’t help his smile as they all scattered to get his shop ready for his first client in two days. Joining his new club was honestly one of the best decisions he had made in a damn long time.

was thrilled that his clients were lining up around the corner to get a tattoo from him. It had only been two weeks since he opened his doors and if things kept up this way, he’d have to hire one or two more artists to help him keep up with his clients.

He usually closed the shop for a half-hour lunch break at noon, but today, he was working on finishing up a big project. He was drafting a tat for Mace, and he really hoped his club’s Prez would like it. Giving Mace a tattoo was the least he could do for all the help that he and the club had given him to open his place.

The bell rang over the door, and he looked up to find a woman with strawberry blond hair standing in his shop, crying. God, he hated when women cried. It was the one time that he never knew what to do. His ex-wife, Lena used to cry, and he felt helpless when it came to trying to soothe her. She said it was one of the things she hated the most about him—and there was a long list. Lena claimed that he was uncaring and even cold to her when she was upset, and looking back now, maybe he was. He was just never comfortable with a crying woman, and now, he had one standing in his shop.

“We’re closing for lunch,” he grumbled. Yeah—maybe he could work on his charm and compassion, but right now, he wanted to concentrate on Mace’s tattoo.

“Um, I’m not here for a tattoo,” the woman said. She wiped the tears from her bright green eyes and tried to smile at him. The whole scene was almost comical, but even he knew not to laugh at a woman in tears.

“Then, what can I help you with, Miss?” he asked.

“I’m not sure if you can help me,” she insisted. “I’m in trouble and I need someplace to hide.”

walked to the front of the store and pulled down the shade that let everyone know that he was out to lunch, and locked the door. “What kind of trouble are you in?” he almost whispered. The young woman had a few bruises on her face that he hadn’t noticed when she walked in. And he completely missed her busted lip. Yeah—she was in trouble all right and judging from the bruises on her face, she was in a lot of it.

“My ex-husband is looking for me. He found me in the parking lot over at the grocery store and I can’t go home with him,” she insisted.

“Did he do that to your face?” asked. She nodded as a sob escaped her chest and he worried that he had asked too many questions.

“He did, and there are more bruises that aren’t on my face. That’s usually where he liked to hit me so that no one would see, but two nights ago, he did this to me. I left in the middle of the night, while he was sleeping and went to stay with my sister, but I’m afraid that I’m putting her in danger.” had known guys like her ex. They were bullies who didn’t deserve to draw breath, but playing God wasn’t his style.

“How can I help?” asked.

“Um, can I stay here for a bit—you know, until the coast is clear? I’m not sure that I should go back to my car, in case he’s waiting there for me,” she said.

“I’m good with you staying here while you wait your ex out, but there is one thing that I need to know first,” he insisted.

“What’s that?” she hesitantly asked.

“What’s your name?” he asked. She smiled and grimaced when her lip cracked open, and blood ran down her chin.

“Sorry,” she whispered, taking the cloth that he gave her.

“It’s clean, and you have nothing to be sorry for,” insisted.

“Thank you,” she breathed, “my name is Charlotte, but everyone calls me Charlie, and yes, I know it’s a boy’s name. It’s a long story, and I really don’t want to bore you with it.”

“Well, Charlotte, I’m not doing anything for the next hour, and I don’t think that it will be as boring as you claim,” he said. “I’m , by the way.” She giggled again and he thought that it might be the most magical sound he had ever heard. was always a sucker for a damsel in distress and from the look of it, Charlie was in a good deal of distress.

“Your name is very fitting, ,” she said. “I guess that’s why you named your shop , right?” he nodded and started walking to the back of his place.

“Come on, Charlie. I have a sub that I can share with you, and I’ll even throw in a few chips if you agree to tell me about how you got stuck with a boy’s name.” She followed him to the back of his shop, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to help Charlie, but he was sure of one thing—there was no way that he’d let her go back to her abusive ex.