Page 23 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

When I woke up this morning, Kellan was already gone.

After what happened the day before, we hadn't spoken to each other again.

Last night, Kellan asked Zoe to bring me dinner, and he only came back later after having his martial arts practice. We went to bed in silence, and I was trying so hard to keep my tears from falling.

I thought that he would slowly let me in. I thought that I could be closer to him and understand him better. But just as I thought that he had broken down his walls, he returned to the way he'd been before.

It pains me to know how much he's been suffering. The closer I get to him, the more I can feel his pain and the more I can feel the man behind that cold exterior.

His words hurt, but I know that it's just a camouflage to hide his pain. I've promised myself that I will make him see the good things in life, that he can still be happy despite his disability, and that he's worth it.

After I finish drying my hair, I plop myself on the bed. While I'm wondering what I'm about to do today, someone knocks on the door. I open it and find Zoe standing before me with a warm smile on her face.

Spending a day with her is exactly what I need right now, so my heart is filled with relief.

"Morning," I greet her with a cheerful smile.

Zoe and I happily hook each other's arms, walking down the hallway. She leads me to the basement where she lives with Stas.

When we arrive at her home, Stas greets me. "You're finally going to have your first tattoo, aren't you?"

His question startles me, and as soon as he sees the panic on my face, he laughs.

"Don't worry,” he says. “It won't hurt that much. Do you want me to do it for you? Or do you want Zoe to do it? It's your choice."

I snap my head toward Zoe, who bites her lip uneasily and scratches her temple. She takes out a note from her pocket and writes to me.

I'm sorry. I know that you might not want it, but today is the day you'll get your tattoo. Kellan said so. It's an order.

My eyes widen in shock. I don't think that I'll ever be ready for a tattoo. I heard that it's going to hurt, and I'm not planning to get my skin inked.

Zoe sighs.

This is a way for you to be completely safe here. Everybody knows the rules, and now you're the only exception.

One day, someone may take advantage of Kellan's disability and hurt you. Non-members are not supposed to be here. Outsiders have been killed in this place.

I gasp at that information, slapping my hand over my mouth.

There are people with grudges in here, people who wouldn't tolerate such unfairness. I really don't want to risk you getting hurt.

I have no choice but to admit my defeat. If it's the only way for me to survive this place, I'll do it.

I just never thought that I would be a member of a mafia.

Zoe's eyes soften as she notices my willingness to proceed with the tattoo.

"All settled?" Stas' voice breaks the silence.

I almost forgot that he's here.

He watches us with amusement before excusing himself. "I guess you trust Zoe more. Go have your girls' time. I'll be leaving," he jokes, giving me a pat on my shoulder.

I watch as he pushes through the door and steps out of the tattoo studio.

Zoe hands me another note.

Are you ready?

I swallow and nod. I guess that I have no other choice.

** *

Getting inked is definitely an experience that I won't forget for the rest of my life, but it's not as horrible as I thought it would be.

There are tears and little screams, of course, but it's not that bad. Thanks to Zoe, who makes me feel like I'm getting tattooed by an angel. She constantly tries to calm me down with her gestures. She handles me with gentleness and care—she even stops and hugs me a few times during the process.

By the time Zoe finishes the tattoo, Stas comes back with a set of new tools. The moment his eyes land on my tattoo, which is inked on the back of my right shoulder, he squints at it.

"I couldn’t believe it at first, but I guess his decision is final,” he says. “Did you use the special ink I gave you?”

Uneasiness stirs inside me. I can't imagine if there’s something wrong with this tattoo and I have to go through it one more time.

Zoe nods.

Stas sighs. “I guess we’ll see what happens next. I’m positive that I heard him right. It's the one he ordered for Layla’s tattoo when he came to see me this morning. I just hope that it wouldn’t cause any chaos.”

"What?" Worry fills my tone. "What's happening? What's wrong with my tattoo?"

I can't see it yet because it's inked on the back of my shoulder. They go silent for a while before Stas sighs again.

"Well, Layla..." He sounds like it's difficult for him to explain .

What could make him hesitant? I bet that he's made thousands of tattoos, so what could be wrong with this one that he couldn't even find words to explain it?

"I don't think we have the capacity to tell you about this tattoo," he says. "Only Kellan knows the reasons for it. You can just ask him when you meet him again."

My worry escalates. I turn my head toward Zoe, who gives me the same guilty look.

"I'm sorry, Layla," Stas speaks again. "We can't give you the answer. We don't want to surpass Kellan's authority."

I feel like I'm about to cry. Now that I think about it, the last time I saw Kellan he was freaking mad at me.

Maybe he gave me this tattoo to punish me, not to protect me.

"You did the best you could," Stas says to Zoe, ruffling her hair. He gives her a kiss on the forehead. "I'm so proud of you."

Zoe smiles with tears brimming in her eyes, and I don't even know whether it's a sad smile or a happy one.

"I think it's better to wait for Kellan to announce it himself. I don't think that anyone would be ready for this." Stas straightens up.

Zoe quickly nods and hurriedly helps me wear my clothes back to cover my tattoo.

"Go with her for breakfast," Stas says to his daughter.

My heart is beating like a drum in my chest.

"Don't worry, Layla," Stas says while Zoe and I are heading to the door.

I glance back at him, only to find him looking at me with a serious expression.

"Everything will be all right. "

That's the last thing I hear before Zoe drags me out of their home.

Zoe and I make our way to the kitchen. She only gives me silence and an apologetic look when I ask her about the tattoo again along the way.

"Please, I need to know what will happen to me." I halt as we almost reach the kitchen.

She shakes her head, and my heart sinks with disappointment again. She places her palm over my heart and gives me a reassuring smile, as if she's trying to tell me that everything will be okay. But it's not enough for me.

Someone bumps into me, and when I turn my head, I see Nina, the girl whom I met when I first stepped into this mansion.

"If it isn't the girl without the tattoo." She sneers and then tosses Zoe a degrading look. "You've got yourself a friend, Layla. A stupid mute."

My heart burns with anger after hearing how she spoke about Zoe.

"Just leave us alone," I bite out.

"Layla," someone booms, and the entire room's attention is immediately on me.

Shivers run down my spine as I spot Luca walking toward me with his two friends. One of them indeed resembles Marco, and I snap my head around to find the other brother, hoping that he will show up and knock some sense into them again.

"I think it's about time that Kellan trashes you." Luca stops in front of me while everyone else goes silent. "He hasn't said any warning again after the first one, and as far as I can see, you're the one who's always on his tail. "

"Do you not have anything else to do other than bullying someone?" I speak through gritted teeth. "An important mission, perhaps?"

Luca clenches his jaw, and I know that I just hit the right spot. His ego is bruised.

"Watch your tongue," he snaps, advancing toward me.

Zoe steps in front of me, shielding me from him.

Luca chuckles, eyeing her with pity. "Step away, you fucking mute. Don't interfere in my business with her. It's about time that she knows who's in charge here."

Zoe shakes her head firmly. When Luca takes one more step forward, she daringly pushes his chest, earning gasps from the surrounding people. It's not every day that we see Zoe picking a fight with one of the knights' right-hand men.

Rage takes over Luca, and before I know it, he pushes her with such force that she hits a table around the corner. My eyes widen in horror as I watch her fall onto the floor.

"What the hell did you just do to her?" I shout angrily at Luca before rushing to help her.

Zoe winces in pain. She takes my hand when I help her up.

"Are you okay?" I ask, worry laced in every word.

She nods. My anger builds as I see the bruise on her forehead.

"Are you crazy?" Marco's brother shouts in Luca's face while his own face suddenly turns white as a paper. "Cole will be pissed if he knows about this."

"Shut up," Luca barks.

I frown in confusion. In the back of my mind, I sense something between Zoe and Cole, but I can't be sure .

"Important mission, you said?" Luca scoffs at me.

I automatically retreat as he steps closer to me and Zoe.

"Do you even have any idea where the men who went on such a mission are now?" He takes another threatening step. "Did they even succeed? That's bullshit. Fenrir told me that he couldn't even contact them anymore. They've been missing for days."

Zoe's face pales, and her eyes are now glistening with tears. The girl who just held her head up high despite being harassed is now close to crying.

"You're worried about Cole?" Luca hisses to Zoe, his voice full of hatred. "You should."

I can't help but think about my phone call with Jaxon, which ended abruptly because of gunshots and explosions. Until today, I haven't heard from him again, not even a reply to my text message.

Indeed, something really bad has happened to Jaxon, Cole, and Levi. But I refuse to believe that they're dead.