Page 91 of Tragic Empire

Arching a brow, Armani drawls, “You’re letting a child permanently alter your body?”

“Can I go next?” I cut in, taking the closest seat to the pair.

Armani’s eyes light up. “Really?”

“Fuck yes you can, doll,” Colton cheers. “You want more ink?”

After this morning? I think a few tattoos might be just what the doctor ordered, actually.

“I do,” I admit, biting my lip. “But you can’t tell anyone about it. At least until after I show Cassio.”

Colton whistles. “Secretink? I am soooo in.”

“What are you thinking?” Armani asks, tilting his head at me. “Do you want to add to your back piece?”

“No…” I pause, feeling a bit shy about my request. “You might think it’s a bit crazy.”

“Doll, crazy isfun.” Colton grins. “Hit us with it.”

“Well, I want Cassio’s name?—”

“Oh, shhhhit.”

“—in seven places.”

Both men go silent and blink at me, digesting the confession.

“Seven places?” Armani eventually asks.

“Just in small cursive script,” I clarify quietly. “But yes, seven places. I’ve been thinking about getting his name, and every time it’s come up, I can’t decide where I’d like it best.”

Colton chuckles. “So you’ve decided you want it everywhere?”

“The number seven is considered lucky for relationships in Chinese culture,” I explain, wringing my hands. “My mum always used groups of seven in her more romantic paintings. And I know people say name tattoos are bad luck, but let’s face it, mafia marriages are forever. Even if they weren’t, there’s no scenario in which I let Cassio get away from me now.”

You’d have to pry that man from my cold, dead hands.

“Plus, it would be a hugefuck youto whoever the hell thinks they can tell me who I belong to,” I add, a dangerous thought glinting in the back of my mind. I hope this psycho figures out what I’ve done and it makes them weep like a baby.

“You’ve got a devious side, doll,” Colton drawls, flashing an approving grin. “You may look like a proper little mafia princess, but you’ve got the edge of danger about you that Ilove.”

“Agreed,” Armani chimes, smirking. “Cassio said we aren’t allowed to tell you this, but you looked hot as fuck dropping that bitch Morgan. I barely caught what she said before I saw you attack.”

“Like a runway model playing an assassin in an action movie.”

Laughing, I rub the back of my neck awkwardly. “I guess I don’t need to worry about my little incident scaring you both off.”

“Pffft.” Colton waves me off. “Armani has a little book of creative ways to kill people for fun. He’s not quite Nico-level murderous, but we’re no strangers to putting people down for crossing a line.”

“Can’t scare us off,” Armani agrees. “Now, let me finish up this rib piece, sort out some clean materials, and then I’ll get you stenciled up, girl. You know every spot you want them?”

“Sure do.”

Five hours later, my new tattoos are all done, out of their wrapping and slick with Aquaphor. Armani did an amazing job, scripting my husband’s name by hand and printing seven identical stencils to mark me with. Cassio is due home at any minute, and I’ve decided exactly how I want to reveal my little surprise. I just hope he doesn’t think I’m insane for going this far. I want him to like it—no,love it.

I don’t have a lot of lingerie in my collection. In fact, most of it is unworn, only purchased when I’ve been in one of my slutty little moods. I like to feel sexy, but I’ve never put anything special on for a man before. The blue lace teddy that matches impeccably well with my wedding ribbon was too good of an opportunity to pass up. It hugs my waist tight, and pushes my breasts into a relaxed position closer together. The fabric is so soft, even the cheeky bit that rests between my arse cheeks.

I’ve put the ribbon bracelet on along with my teddy, having saved it. I know Cassio had to cut his off, but my wrist was small enough to slip right out of the material, and I couldn’t bear to part with it.