“Perfect.” His eyes lift to meet mine, and he winks at me. “What do you think?”
There’d better not be any blood. That’s what I think as I turn my arm toward the mirror to see what has been put there. A small breath leaves my lips when I see what it says.
No wonder it took so long.
Just under my shoulder is a very easily read tattoo that proudly says, “Property of Drex” in some really neat font over the top of the Death Dealer grim reaper with a skull. Insulted is how I should feel. Relieved is how I actually feel.
No doubt no one else will ever touch me with that thing on. Even though I’m still worried about what happens after Drex is done with me, I’m not worried about things right now.
“It’s beautiful,” I say lamely.
Drake rolls his eyes. “If he had his name put on me, I wouldn’t think it was so damn beautiful.”
Drex glares at Drake as he walks off, but then his attention turns back to me. When his smile turns wicked, I can’t help but get a little excited.
I’m warped like that now.
“Let’s get out of here,” he says while tugging my hand.
I stand as Drake comes over, putting a clear patch of some sort on my skin that feels cool to the touch. I don’t ask questions. Drex is covered in tattoos, so I’m sure he knows how to deal with the aftercare for one.
His hand finds the small of my back as he guides me outside. Axle follows us, along with two other guys I don’t really know. I also don’t ask for names, especially since Herrin still acts like I’m some majorly awesome spy that is fooling everyone.
“You look sexy as hell with my name on you,” Drex says. No one has ever accused him of being humble.
I smile about the claiming, like the idiot I am.
But his smile falls as his phone buzzes. He looks down, and he holds up a finger, gesturing for me to stay put, as he walks off to answer it.
Axle is left alone with me as the two other guys walk over to speak to Drake, who has come outside. I look at Axle, who is looking anywhere but at me.
In the sunlight, I notice that big scar isn’t the only scar on his face. He has a smaller one that goes vertically over his lip, curling down to his chin, and two on his right eyebrow that seem to cause very thin spots where hair can’t grow—they ride up into his hairline. That had to have been something massive.
He catches me staring too hard, and his eyes narrow threateningly. Immediately I clear my throat, feeling like an ass.
“I never thanked you,” I say quietly.
His look softens, but he doesn’t speak. Only nods.
Drex’s arms wrap around my waist, tugging me back against him as his chin rests on top of my head. To the outside world, we look like a normal couple right now.
“We’re going home,” Drex announces. I thought that was the plan anyway.
“Home?” Axle asks in surprise.
“Yeah. Pop says he wants to cool things down for a week or two. He’s moving our business dates back a few weeks. There are three cars camped outside the warehouse right now. He worries they know something, even though I don’t know how they would.”
I don’t want to hear this. I don’t need to hear this. However, Drex and Axle keep speaking in front of me as though they aren’t worried about what I overhear.
“Shit,” Axle grumbles, not seeming happy about any of this. “Fine. I’ll see you when I see you then.”
Drex talks about meeting at the club next week, while I try to figure things out. Is he sending everyone away?
Finally, he tugs me toward his bike, and I follow without protest. The second I’m behind him with my helmet on, my legs firmly clamped against him, and my arms around his tight middle, the beast beneath us roars to life.
Chapter 23
EVE
When he said we were going home, I of course assumed he meant the warehouse. Instead, we’re at Drex’s house. For the first time. And it’s nothing like I was expecting.
It’s not a huge house, but it’s bigger than I thought it’d be. Much bigger. And there’s a damn pool. Which in Texas, that’s not too surprising, but often times the droughts restrict water supplies, so I’ve never figured out how that works.
We’re isolated here. In fact, I only noticed a few houses within a few miles during the drive here. It’s nowhere near the warehouse. It actually took us close to an hour to get here. I don’t even know where here is exactly.
The inside is all modern, sleek, industrial, and pristine. I mean, you can’t tell a bachelor lives here, because it’s that spotless.