Page 79 of Veiled Vengeance

Hayes—Declanrubs the back of his neck and sighs. “My father is?—”

“I know. Once I heard your last name, I knew,” I interrupt him.

“How?”

Biting my lip, my eyes dart away from his. “Don’t ask me that, please.”

Declan’s lips twist into a frown. “Why weren’t you afraid?”

“I knew you’d keep us safe,” I answer sincerely.

He reaches for me. His hands cup my cheeks, and he rests his head against mine. “Just don’t shut me out. I can’t handle that.” His honesty punches me in the gut.

“I won’t,” I whisper.

“You still going to show up for work at Abstract Dreams?”

Letting out a sarcastic laugh, I reply, “Definitely. It’s my only legitimate work experience, and I don’t have a sugar daddy to live off of.”

His smile is sad. Then he wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me close. I bury my face in his chest and finally allow a single tear to slip free.

When he lets go, he darts for the door, as if he’ll cave if he stays a moment longer.

“Bye, Dahlia. See you tomorrow.”

My real name on his lips is a shot to the heart. He knows some of my darkest moments, and he still wants to be with me.

“Goodbye, Declan.”

EPILOGUE 2

SPENCER, TWO YEARS LATER

“If I had known this would feel like a million kittens scratching me all at once, I wouldn’t have wanted to get one.”

Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.

“You’re doing fine, Mama. Just relax.”

Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.

Lifting my head, I glare at Asher and give his hand an extra squeeze. “Why didn’t you tell me it’d be this irritating?”

Asher doesn’t even flinch at the pain I’m trying to inflict. Instead, he rolls his eyes at my constant whining. “I did tell you. We talked about it a lot . . .in detail.”

“I’m almost done. Don’t worry.” Rio attempts to placate me but ultimately fails.

Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzz.

Soon after our cross-country road trip from Texas, I told the guys that I wanted a tattoo. They were all supportive but very adamant that they’d kill whoever laid hands on me, even if it was for something as simple as a tattoo. They only amended their threat to say that Joey didn’t count. I may have made some threats myself, which led to Rio deciding to learn how to tattoo.

Rio spent most of his free time over the last year and a half as an apprentice for a local tattoo artist. A week ago, he finally came to me and said he was ready to give me my first tattoo. I gave him complete creative control. My only stipulation was that the tattoo be something that would remind me of all of them, which is how I found myself lying on my stomach, topless, while Rio tattoos my spine.

I tried to argue that I would be cold and uncomfortable. Rio’s solution was that he and Asher take off their shirts to make it fair. He completely misunderstood me. So now I’m cold, uncomfortable, and horny.

Not a fun combination.

“Okay, Mama. All done.” Rio shuts off his machine and sits back.