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“Wait. I wanted to plan the engagement party,” I say, finally getting my bearings and finding my voice after Kato’s whispered promises and Brixton’s heated look and mention of having my nipples pierced.

Brix frowns up at Kato. “She expecting someone?”

“She’sright here, and I was going to meet with Flora so we could check out other locations, bigger ones, and maybe shop for a few other necessities.”

“I told her she’s not leaving the house yet,” Kato tells Brix, once again excluding me.

“Hey. He’s taking me out of the house. This is my second visit to the parlor.”

“Nico’s an artist Brix trusts,” Kato says.He’s an artist Brixton fucked. But I don’t bother saying that part out loud.

“And my windows are tinted so no one can see you and we go in and out the back door. The only person who’s aware you’re there is Nico.”

“But the party is in, what, two weeks?”

“The wedding planner can help plan the engagement party, too,” Kato says.

Whoever is at the door apparently doesn’t matter to him, considering he’s still standing here arguing with me.

“Fine,” I finally say. “Can you at least have her meet with me tonight? Or first thing tomorrow?”

Kato’s eyes narrow. “How do you know what I planned isn’t elaborate?”

“I’m sure it is, but I want it…I want to make my father look like an absolute fool. If he told the entire town I ran off to marry someone, he’ll look like a total liar or like he doesn’t know shit if we suddenly announce our wedding.”

“My sweet, evil princess,” Kato says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I remind him, “You’re still in the doghouse, but keep saying shit like that and I might let it go.”

He smacks my ass when I turn to follow Brix to the garage to get my tattoo finished, or at least filled in more. Wearing something like I have planned for our engagement party will look tacky if the design is nothing more than the outline with zero shading or colors.

Turning to gape at Kato over my shoulder, I roll my eyes when I catch him watching my ass sway instead of tending to whoever the hell showed up at the door unannounced. They must not be a threat if the guards let them through the gate, and my soon-to-be husband is more than capable of taking care of himself.

I have more pressing things to worry about, like the fact that a fucking tattoo needle is about to buzz against my skin for hours on end again. It hurt like a bitch when Nico did the outline; I’ve done some research since and discovered the filling stage isn’t as painful, so at least I have that going for me.

“Would Nico judge me if I took something to knock me out before he starts carving up my chest again?” I ask as Brix hoists me into his big truck.

Unlike the first time, he’s gentle as he grips my hips and raises me onto the passenger seat, stepping between my knees and cupping the back of my head as his beautiful, warm brown eyes trace over my face.

“Thought you said you’ve experienced more painful things than a tattoo?” he teases.

What he doesn’t understand is the memories that come with that tease, but I force a tight smile on my face and shrug. “Yeah, well. Doesn’t mean I enjoy any of it.”

His brows twitch together a little and he looks so deeply into my eyes I wonder if he’s trying to look into my soul.

“What just happened?” he asks.

I tighten my smile even more, but I know it’s not reaching my eyes and I’ve never been able to hide shit from Brix.

“Nothing. Just nervous about the tattoo,” I lie in hopes he’ll drop it.

I really don’t want to sit in the garage and have yet another heart to heart when we’re barely getting our feet back on the ground as a couple…a throuple…

What the hell is it called when there are four people involved, but only one receiver of the attention of the other three?

“You’re still a shit liar,” he says before pulling away and swinging my door shut. And if I’m not mistaken, he seems pissed that I won’t tell him what’s on my mind.

It has nothing to do with him or not wanting to talk to him specifically, I just don’t feel like rehashing the past four years, period. With anyone. Ever again.