Page 27

“People actually do this. Usually at conventions and shows or overseas studios, but it’s a thing. There’s a reason why if someone’s getting a big piece it’s usually broken up into sessions.”

“Sorry. I’m just surprised. I’m not blaming you and I’m not mad. Thank you for calling and for caring. I’m coming. I’ll bring something for him. I’ll order it and pick it up and be there soon.” I still don’t have my own wheels, but so what? I’ll have a cab here as fast as I can get one.

“He’s going to be fine. Crow just wanted me to call you and ask about any medical conditions. They didn’t make him fill out the regular forms like they do with most clients.”

“Like what?”

“A heart condition. Diabetes. Allergies. If he’s prone to seizures or black outs. If he has any heart problems.”

“Jesus Christ, what the fuck is happening there?”

“It’s okay. Really. It’s probably just low blood sugar, but Crow doesn’t take chances. He already feels like an asshole.”

Dravin was a SEAL. He did the BUD/S training, and I’ve heard that they basically drown people and resuscitate them. He’s no doubt handled his fair share of pain. He’s covered in scars. He’s been injured before. He’s going to be okay.

There’s no need to lose your mind.

I am. I’m losing my shit.

“We’re not actually related.” It just happens.

It comes out. I clench my phone and squeeze my eyes shut.

“We just needed to start over, and he thought this was the safest story. I had a brother. He was blood. He was Dravin’s brother too, even though they didn’t share DNA.

Honestly, Tarynn, I don’t know about his medical shit. There’s so much he hasn’t told me.”

To her credit, she doesn’t so much as miss a single beat. “Does anyone else know?”

“Not really. Preacher, I guess. Do you not want me to come down there?” Pain lashes me. That would be the worst thing I could imagine. Not being able to see Dravin when he needs me. I know he’d like it better that way, but that’s not going to stop me. “I’d understand. I lied to you.”

“Your past belongs to you. We all have things we don’t tell other people. I do. Crow does. All of us. Don’t worry about the food. I’ll order something for everyone. They’re finished for today. I’m getting Vietnamese. What can I get you?”

I can’t imagine eating anything right now. I feel like I’ve just been winded hard enough to make me gag. “Anything. Thank you.”

“Are you okay getting here? You don’t have a car.”

“I’m okay.”

“I’ll order you a car and then I can trace your destination on their app. Is that okay?”

“Thank you.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Yes. Thanks again.”

As soon as she hangs up, I let my phone fall from my hand.

I clutch them together, shaking as badly as if I’m going into shock.

My face is awash with hot tears that cascade down my cheeks and drip off my chin to the floor.

I’m probably overreacting. Tarynn seemed calm, but for a moment thinking that something had happened to Dravin…

I suck in a breath and force another, then leap up, swipe at my face and get my shit together.

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed, have my hair put up, and did a layer of passable makeup.

Dravin would never forgive himself if he knew I was sitting here worrying about him and crying over this.

He’d think he’d hurt me, and it would make him feel guilty.

I know that it’s true because Marcus was the same way and Dravin is even more sensitive.

He’s a deeper thinker than my brother was. He feels things that Marcus never did.

I know why I’m losing my mind. I lost my brother. That’s something I’m going to have to try and process for the rest of my life. I can’t lose anyone else right now. Even just the thought of it scares me to death.

I’m not in love with Dravin. That’s not what’s making me lose my mind. I’m just… I don’t know. Regular emotions are no longer for people like us. I suppose that we’re attached to each other and the way that started out is changing.

I throw a sweater on over a tank top, slip into my flip flops, and grab my bag. I’m at the door and waiting four minutes before a cherry red car pulls up in front of the house.

My driver is a young woman who barely looks old enough to have her license, but she’s cheerful and sweet. Her endless, almost hyper chatter pulls me out of myself and a few times, she even has me smiling.

I thank her, tell her to be safe, and tip her well when we get to Crow’s studio. The lights above are all dark. Dravin’s place . I haven’t even stepped one foot inside there.

All my doubts and feelings about being an intruder here, a liar, a person I don’t know or recognize, fade as soon as I push open the heavy wood door. Tarynn comes streaking across the room, a bright pink blur, and hugs me like we’ve been besties for years, not like she’s only met me twice before.

I need it.

My god, do I ever need it.

“The food just arrived.” Tarynn backs off to give me space to breathe, even if that feels pretty much impossible at the moment.

I’m too agitated to notice much of my surroundings except for the red ornate sofa and chaise with the gold trim and the walls with just about every square inch crammed with artwork of all different varieties.

Normally, I’d be captivated. I’d take my time studying each and every detail, drinking in style, composition, and choice of medium.

I’d look at things like matting and framing.

Right now I just care about one thing.

One person.

Tarynn takes my hand and squeezes a little too hard. I don’t like the way it seems like she’s trying to prepare me for something terrible.

“We told Dravin we called you and he didn’t like it.

He didn’t want you to come down here, the whole macho, no one’s allowed to see me like this, lest of all Kael.

” She drops her voice as my stomach bottoms out.

“I’m guessing that he would never have used your real name if he wasn’t out of his head. Or is it a nickname?”

“Uh- I…” Never in my life would I ever have thought that Dravin would ever slip up.

“It won’t go anywhere. The other people who work here are good shit and Crow is the equivalent of a vault where information is concerned. He’s already told us not to tell the other brothers that he puked.”

“He puked?”

“Crow says it’s not the first time a client’s yakked. They’ve got him cleaned up. He needs to eat something, though. Maybe you can convince him.”

“I’ll do more than that. He’s lucky if I don’t string him up by his—”

“Maybe pencil in the angry castration after we get him caloried up and get some sugar into him. It’s lucky that he lives above the shop, but he still has to get up there.”

She’s trying to be funny and thank goodness for that. I’d probably collapse if she was morbidly serious right now. At last with Tarynn here I can imagine the worst and still want to laugh out in profound relief. I guess if he’s wanting to protect his macho pride then he can’t be feeling that bad.

“Can you take me to him?”

“Sure. I’ll get the other guys to come for dinner.”

Privacy. She gets it.

She locks the front door now and takes my hand, holding tighter than she has to. She walks me back past a reception desk overflowing with several different large books, and past several different rooms where the doors are open, but they’re too dark to make out details.

The last room is a big one, with all the trappings of a tattoo artist, including several rolling stations set up with ink cups, bottles, paper towel, and tattoo guns set out.

There’s a huge TV in the corner, on mute, playing music videos.

My eyes flick there for half a second. The guy on the screen actually almost looks a little bit like Dravin with his new haircut.

Dravin’s sitting up on the big table, legs hanging over the edge, his feet scraping the floor.

He’s barefoot, but he’s got his jeans back on.

They’re undone at the top and there’s nothing I can see sticking out except for his muscles and a hint of dark hair.

I swallow thickly. Now is not the time to get feral over seeing him naked, even if he’s shirtless, his muscles tense so they look rock hard, the veins standing out all over his arms. He looks like he’s about to enter one of those body builder competitions where they’re flexed and oiled up.

A sheen of sweat coats his skin, but he’s missing the tan.

He’s pale to the point of chalky, eyes ringed in dark circles, and he’s shaking so damn hard that the massage table thing is actually vibrating and it doesn’t look cheap or lightweight.

“Holy shit, Dray. You look any worse and they’re going to call an ambulance.”

He lifts his head, stares at me through bleary, unfocused eyes, but then he raises one hand from the trashcan and flips me off, a thick silver ring made up of skull heads flashing in the bright overhead lighting.

There are two younger looking guys in here and Crow, all dressed in various outfits comprised entirely of black, and one gorgeous woman. With her short blue pixie cut and tiny stature, she looks like a badass fae. She laughs and claps her hands, all her nose and lip piercings catching the light.

“I think he’s well enough for us to take a dinner break.

” She shakes out her hands. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been cramping up for hours and I’m starved.

” She smiles at me. “We were waiting until he asked for a break until we took one, but we didn’t know the guy’s made out of fucking marble. ”

She’s also trying to make me feel better about this whole thing.

Tarynn runs her hands down my arms, smoothing away my goosebumps and unknotting my bound up throat. “We’ll just be out there. He’s wrapped up already, so you can join us whenever you’re feeling up to it.”

Crow walks in front of Dravin and chucks his chin up. “Get your shit together, Viking . I’m starved.”