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“It’s there to remind me of someone. He is dead.”

Sienna looks surprised, but she doesn’t regurgitate the usual ‘I’m sorry’ crap that I detest.

“I didn’t think there was anyone besides yourself that you cared for.”

Trixy laughs heartily. No one talks to me this way. Only Sienna.

“Wow. She is calling a spade a spade. How refreshing. You are definitely bringing her to my wedding on Saturday. And even if you don’t,” Trixy swivels to face her, “you are invited. I won’t take no for an answer. Anyone who can call this frosty giant out on his bullshit is my best friend.”

She swivels back around, continuing on the tattoo with a big smile. She is enjoying this.

“You’re getting married?” Sienna asks, somewhat surprised.

“Yes. Finally, some would say. Roger has been asking me to marry him for years. His persistence has paid off.” Trixy was marrying a hotshot lawyer who worked in a law firm in town. They met when she was dragged into a huge court case where one of her tattoos was pivotal in convicting a serial killer the state had been trying to prosecute and put behind bars.

The unlikely pair formed an immediate attraction, their opposites in everything, making for some turbulent but very heated interactions. Finally, when the case was closed, those feelings erupted in a rough and tumble in the very courthouse they had been in just days before. I only know because she asked me to help her remove the footage. Footage that would have had him disbarred. That’s when I knew how much Trixy loved him. She wouldn’t have asked and raised a future payable debt with me if she didn’t. Love makes people do strange things.

“Congratulations. Where is the wedding taking place?” Sienna's obvious excitement makes me wonder if she still wants that. Wedding.Marriage. Children. Vanilla. I couldn’t give her that in the traditional way. Though my obsession would guarantee I would never leave her. That I would kill anyone who ever hurt her or tried to hurt her. But would that be enough? Or would that be too much?

“At Lola’s. We will be married out in the garden. It overlooks a large lake.” Trixy smiles, her face softening at the thought.

“Yes. It has a small chapel on the property. I remember it.”

“You’ve been there?” Trixy wipes the blood from the tattoo, which is near completion.

“I was married in that chapel.” This grabs Trixy's full attention, and I stiffen, something she notices as she dips her head in confusion.

I skimmed over the finer details in my file on Sienna's wedding to James. I should have paid more attention.

Sienna looks uncomfortable, her eyes moving between Trixy and mine.

“You’ve been married before?”

“Uhh, yes.” Sienna's voice betrays how uneasy she is with the direction of this conversation.

“I take it you’re no longer together. Damon doesn’t like sharing.” Trixy jokes, but Sienna doesn’t smile.

“Bad divorce?” Trixy continues with her line of questioning, not good at reading social cues. Or just not caring. She is nosy as fuck. No doubt prompted and fuelled by the branding now completed and etched into the skin over my heart.

“He died.”

Trixy stills, and Sienna looks away. Two little words pull those emotions up. And I hated it.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know when to stop.”

A minute ticks by, and then Sienna lifts her head, composed, her satin-soft skin glowing with a small, reassuring smile.

“It’s fine. It’s been a while, so…I’m actually okay.”

Trixy smiles at her apologetically and then tries to bring the atmosphere back to what it was before—using diversion as a strategy.

“Well, we are all done here. At least you have found love again.” Sienna's face blazes with unvoiced confirmation before sliding her gaze over to me, looking for a reaction. I want to see this play out and say nothing, not giving my feelings away. She wants to keep it a secret, but I know everything about her.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Sienna stammers, making Trixy laugh.

“This.” Trixy’s hand flies between us, the tension now thick in the air.

Sienna’s face gets redder the longer the silence continues until Trixy bursts out laughing.