Chapter Twenty-Five
“We closed the shop today for you guys. I only came in to answer the phone and take messages, so you’re welcome to sit with me if you want.
I like to people-watch during the lull of the day.
You would be surprised to see the crazies who traipse by here.
” Sharon, the receptionist, patted the barstool next to her.
“I have the best seat in the house for viewing.” She waved at the people walking by at the front windows.
“There’s quite the eclectic group of people, that’s for sure.”
“It’s the holiday season.” Sharon tucked her hot pink hair behind one ear as she leaned forward on the desk.
Jinx understood what she meant as men and women of all ages and walks of life went up and down the sidewalk in front of her.
When the holidays rolled around, everyone would go out and meander up and down the streets to shop.
She turned around to see what the others were doing and saw Ayesha behind her getting tattooed by Lux.
Their words were too low for her to make out, but their easy flow put Jinx at ease.
She swiveled on the stool to see Tiana lying on her stomach. It was wild to see such a large man like Tymber holding a tattoo machine and creating such a beautiful piece of art on her friend.
“He does great work.”
Jinx jumped, embarrassed at being caught staring.
“My husband is one of the best in business, and I’m not just saying that because I’m sleeping with him. Although I do enjoy that part. Would you like something to drink? I’m Ivy, by the way.” Ivy held out her hand.
“Jinx,” she said, taking the other woman’s offered hand.
“I’m heading out. It was great meeting you. I’m sure I’ll see you around again.” Ivy waved, walked over to her husband, and gave him a kiss as he stopped inking Tiana for a moment.
“See, that’s why I’m single. I put every man I meet up to standards like the men I meet around here.
Tymber, King, Traeger, and all the Royal MC men have totally ruined it for men everywhere.
Legit, my last boyfriend, who I thought was going to be a possible candidate for one who I might let past third base.
” Sharon shook her head. “Sadly, he was not up to the task of finding the clit. Like, how hard is it for real? Honestly, I told him I was calling my vagina Chaos Incarnate. The clit is fucking obviously hard for him to find without a damn map.”
Jinx covered her mouth with her hand. “What did he say?”
“Oh, that bastard had the audacity to blame us women. He said it was buried so men couldn’t find it.
He actually said the vagina is a badly optimized interface with folds on folds.
In his words, the vagina is an aesthetically unappealing layout of inconsistent shapes, and it’s hard for men to understand.
Nothing like a man's penis, which is sleek, functional, symmetrical, and easily maneuvered. Whether flaccid or hard, they have a cohesive structure.” Sharon tossed her hands in the air.
Silence descended in the shop.
Jinx sputtered, her eyes watering with tears. “How did you not throttle or laugh your ass off at him?”
“Girl, all I could think was this man truly believes the shit coming out of his mouth. He’s either gay or delusional. Neither option works for me. I wasn’t going to waste another second with him.”
“The pussy is the most beautiful thing a man can get up close and personal to. If a man is lucky to be offered the chance to learn the ins and outs of one, he should count his blessings. The fact your ex said all that...he was obviously dropped on his head as a child,” T-Rex exclaimed.
“Sharon, I promise you will find a man who knows all the things. Don’t let some asshole make you undervalue your worth.
Whoever really gets you will earn the title ride or die.
He will have seen you at your worst, your pain, and your silent battle, fought beside you and in front of you, and still loved you.
That’s when you’ll know he’s the one,” Ayesha said.
Shit. That’s exactly how Viking said he felt about her. He’d seen her in pretty much all those situations. She’d take a leap of faith like the ladies suggested and stop thinking she wasn’t good enough for Viking.
After a couple of hours, she stood up needing to take a walk. She met T-Rex’s gaze. “I’m going to step out back and stretch my legs.”
“Let me contact Coal. He’ll watch over you.”
“He’s right outside the door, right?” she asked, not understanding the need for such protocol.
“Yeah, but I’ll make him aware you’re stepping out.” T-Rex’s tone said he wasn’t asking.
She figured by the time she got out back, Coal would be alerted, so she started out.
She didn’t wait for the all clear, unaware of the rules.
The EXIT sign glowed like a beacon in front of her the closer she got to the door.
Jinx shoved the heavy door open, breathing deeply when she stepped out immediately.
The large SUV sat in the same spot it had earlier.
With its tinted windows, she couldn’t see Coal.
Still, she raised her hand, figuring he’d see her.
The building to the right of Twisted Ink sat empty, but as she neared, the door opened. She stumbled back, shock held her frozen in place.
“Hello, Blair. You’ve been truly hard to find. It’s time for you to come home.”
The woman with hard eyes identical to her own and her twin sister's stared down at Jinx. Her disdain was written on the expertly made-up face. Hilaria Clemons, Jinx’s mother, snapped her fingers as if she were getting impatient.
“What are you doing here, Mother?” Jinx asked, her voice cracking.
Hilaria waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Jinx remembered her mother doing the same move from her childhood whenever she didn’t want to answer a question or thought they were being annoying.
“Obviously, I’m here to take you home. It’s been ten years, Blair.
I think that’s long enough for your little tantrum. Don’t you think?”
A hard body hit her from behind, propelling her forward. Her mother stepped aside, giving whoever shoved her a chance to maneuver them into the open doorway of the empty office space.
“Get the fuck off of me,” Jinx yelled.
She fell as the person pushed her. Using the momentum like she’d been taught, she rolled coming up in a crouch.
Horror hit her square in the chest.
“Hello, sister. Miss me?”
Fear and loathing fought inside her chest at the sight that met her eyes. “How?” she gasped.
“How am I not a fucking vegetable after you tried to beat my brains out? Or how am I standing here in front of you instead of locked up in some institution?” Benjamin shifted on his feet, bringing Jinx’s gaze down.
She took in his appearance, gauging the way he stood and held himself.
He stood at close to six feet, weighing less than two hundred pounds if she were to guess.
Although he’d aged like her, she didn’t find him more intimidating.
Not like when they’d been younger, and he’d been her and Clair’s boogeyman.
“No, I think I can guess all of that. Mommy Dearest obviously funded your medical care and facilitated your escape. I know for a fact you’re not out here free and clear.
Batshit fucks don’t get out of jail free cards, even if they have all the money in the world.
Not when the evidence was stacked against them, like in your case. ”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re awfully brave now that you think your biker boyfriend can protect you. Newsflash, we took care of the man in the vehicle outside. There won’t be anyone coming to save you this time, sister.” Benjamin took a step toward her.
Jinx moved backward, keeping her eyes on the two in front of her. “How did you find me?”
“That is actually a funny story. Or coincidence, maybe. Three guys I used to play ball with happened to run into a little bitch in a bar, who they swore reminded them of my sisters. One of them snapped a picture of you and sent it to me. I knew the second I saw you who you were. From there, it was easy to mobilize mother and, well, here we are.”
She shook her head. “But why? You must know I would never come back with you.” Jinx looked at her mother, letting her see the hate she felt. Her mother chose Benjamin, the murderer, over her daughters, and Jinx wouldn’t forgive either of them for that betrayal.
“Don’t think mother wants you home for reasons other than two.
One, because I want a plaything. And two, because your full inheritance becomes available next month when you turn twenty-five.
Ah, you didn’t know about that, did you?
You see, since brother Brandon is gone. Sister Clair is as well, and thanks to you and your bullshit, I’m disqualified.
You, dear sister, get the full inheritance of our grandparents from our mother’s side.
You thought the small bit you’d taken when you were eighteen was a lot, but you have no clue what you’re going to get next month.
” Benjamin took a menacing step toward her.
“Shut up, Benjamin. You talk too much,” Hilaria snapped. Her hand lashed out, slapping Benjamin across the cheek.
Benjamin’s head whipped to the side. A red handprint bloomed on his fair skin. His eyes flared with an angry, hate-filled gaze toward their mother. “How dare you hit me?”
“I dare because I’m your mother.”
Her brother wrapped his hand around Hilaria’s neck. She’d seen him lose control on more than one occasion. Like now, he would snap as if disassociating from reality. She wondered if their mother had ever seen this side of the fucker or if she’d been blissfully unaware.
She tried to pull the cellphone from her back pocket without making it obvious, keeping her movements slow.
Benjamin and Hilaria were pressed against one another, looking.
..intimate. Oh, shit. She moved the phone in front of her, seeing the favorites icon, and hit the one for Viking.
Typing out a quick text and snapping a pic of the image in front of her, she hit send with the word Help at the end.
Jinx made sure the ringer was off in case Viking tried to call or text her back. She already knew he’d be blowing up T-Rex’s phone. It shouldn’t take them long to find her, she hoped.
Benjamin gripped their mom’s face. “Kiss it and make it better, mommy,” he ordered.
Hilaria looked to where Jinx stood. She let them both see the revulsion in her face.
Their mother smirked. “You were always the good one, Benji. It’s why I chose you.”
Jinx couldn’t watch as her mother leaned forward. What the fuck ever they did, she didn’t want to be a witness to. It was apparent that her mother abused Benjamin as a child. Did that make him who and what he’d become?