I quickly turned the page. I couldn’t deny it was a fascinatingly beautiful tattoo, but to the Steels and to me, it meant so much more than that. It was a symbol of an evil man, a man we all wished we could forget.
Maybe a tattoo wasn’t such a good idea after all. I had no idea what image I was looking for. Most probably went into a shop already knowing what they were looking for.
If only I could find something that could negate my father.
Could negate…
I slammed the book shut. This was stupid. Completely stupid. A tattoo wasn’t some magic charm that could fix my life.
Maybe it was time to talk to someone. Really talk to someone. I put the book back on the table and walked out. As I opened the door, I met a familiar gaze.
A gaze that was only familiar to me because of my father.
Colin Morse.
His hair had grown out from the shaved head my father had given him. I cleared my throat. “Excuse me.”
Colin cringed but held his ground.
Just what I didn’t need. Another reminder of how much I resembled that psychopath who’d sired me.
What to do? Escape? Or say hello? Or say I’m sorry my father put you through hell?
Nothing seemed right. This innocent young man not yet three decades old had been brutalized beyond my imagination.
At the hands of my father.
He said nothing, just froze, the door still open, staring at me. Did he know his father had contacted me? Did he know what it could be about? I wanted to ask him all these things, but the words lodged in my throat.
“Hey!” the girl behind the counter yelled. “Shut the door, will you? It’s freaking cold outside.”
The weather was actually nice for early February, but Haley—as her nametag said—was wearing a black camisole crop top, no doubt to show off the triple piercing in her belly button.
I stepped back in and allowed Colin to pass. “Sorry,” I said to Haley. Then,
to Colin, because I felt like a fool not acknowledging him, “Getting a tattoo?”
He nodded.
“You Colin?” Haley asked.
He nodded again.
“Come on in. Trevor’s ready for you. You’re a virgin, right?”
I swung my head around and stared at Haley.
“Yeah,” Colin said.
“A virgin?” I couldn’t help asking.
“Virgin skin. Never tatted,” Haley explained.
“Oh.” I nodded. “I guess I’m a virgin too.”
“Did you see anything you liked?” she asked.
“Not really. Nothing stood out to me.”