Chapter Twenty-One
Camille
The fluorescent lights buzzed as they hovered over the lobby, filling the stillness as I clicked the computer awake. Trenton had disappeared to the break room, likely hunting down his second cup of coffee. I could already picture him leaning up against the counter, grumbling about someone using all the good creamer.
The screen lit up, still black but loading, and the sign-in kiosks blinked on one after the other, beeping in a short melody the moment they were ready. Moments later from somewhere in the back, Trenton turned on the music, something edgy I’d never heard before playing over the speaker system. As the schedule screen came into view, I called to my husband, remembering he had an earlier-than-usual appointment.
“Trent?” I called.
“Yeah?” he yelled from somewhere down the hall. I waited until he appeared, knowing if I didn’t, he’d just ask me to repeat myself.
He drifted out and stood next to me, coffee in hand, looking suspiciously content.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“What’s what?” he said, looking down at his black T-shirt.
The cotton fabric stretched slightly across his broad shoulders and chest, fitting in a way that showed off his time spent at the gym without fuss. His jeans sat low on his hips, held up by a thick, studded black belt, the denim worn just enough to hint at the countless hours he’d put into his craft. His scuffed leather boots—a staple of his standard Skin Deep uniform—had that lived-in look, lending him an understated confidence.
His gaze lifted to meet mine. “You’re giving me a complex. What are you staring at?”
I leaned in, grinning against his mouth. “I can’t help it. Sometimes I look at you and it just hits me how incredibly lucky I am. And now I’m thinking how beautiful our baby is going to be.”
He wrapped his arms around me, suddenly animated. “You want to go to the back? Let me try to give him a neighbor?”
I guffawed, my head falling back as my entire body shook with laughter.
Trenton frowned. “Not the response I expected, but okay.”
I kissed his cheek, trying to ease his bruised ego. “I’m sorry, babe, you caught me off-guard. It’s a little early for a quickie.”
“It’s too early for a nooner; it’s never too early for a quickie,” he grumbled.
I jutted out my bottom lip. “Don’t be mad. Remember Valentine’s Day two years ago?”
His face brightened. “Yeah?”
I winked. “Let’s try that again after we lock up tonight.”
He stood tall, puffing his chest out a bit. “You liked that? I can do that.”
“Ya damn right you will.” I stopped him as he walked away. “Marcus Thompson in ten. Third phase of his sleeve.”
“The geometric maze? Yeah, that’s going to be tight as fuck,” he said, shooting me a lopsided grin.
The back door chimed, signaling Hazel’s arrival. Her heavy boots clopped down the hall, stopping only when she stood next to Trenton.
“Well, well, look who finally got a fresh buzz cut,” she smirked, giving his hair a slow, critical once-over. “Guess you ditched that baby-chick fuzz just in time. I was this close to making Peaches your new nickname,” she said, holding her hand up, her eyes squinting as she stared at the centimeter of space between her thumb and index finger.
Trenton shot her a look, handing over his coffee. “Here. Jesus, take it. You could just ask, ya know. You don’t have to go so hard with the pre-coffee bitchery.”
She snatched it with both hands, grinning. “Yeah, but this way’s faster.” She shrugged with excitement before taking a sip.
Trenton narrowed his eyes. “You better be nice to me today. I’ve got tea hotter than that stolen coffee.”
Hazel set the cup down, instantly zeroing in on him. “Tea? How hot are we talking? Family drama? Did they finally arrest Cal for paying his parking tickets in pennies?” She squinted, unimpressed. “Wait—if it’s about Jerica Kempsey blacking out at The Red for the third Saturday in a row, I’m already up to speed. Girl just needs to admit she’s in a serious relationship with vodka.”
I snorted, ready for Trenton to knock her out of her clunky boots with the news, but she didn’t give him the chance. She turned to me, arms spread wide. “Good morning, cupcake. You look particularly glowy today. New moisturizer?”
I hugged her back, surrounded by the warm, spicy notes of her perfume. She stepped away, reclaiming her spot next to her favorite frenemy, her clothes their usual wad of color and patterns that somehow all fit together. Today’s look involved a neon yellow crop top, checkered high-waisted pants, oversized red hoops that nearly grazed her shoulders, and oversized, cherry-tinted round glasses. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her—Hazel always managed to look like she’d wandered out of a fever dream, and I loved her for it.
“None of the above,” Trenton shot back, his grin sharp. “This is better than all of that combined. We’re talking exclusive, clench your butthole-level news.”
Hazel raised an eyebrow, pure skepticism. “Better than Calvin getting a full cavity search in county jail? Bitch, please.”
“It’s a two-parter,” Trenton teased.
Hazel stomped one foot. “Oh my God, you fucking attention whore, just tell me!”
“Cami’s pregnant,” Trenton blurted out.
Hazel blinked, but otherwise froze in place. I’d braced myself for a scream, maybe some tears, or at least one of her signature smart-ass comebacks, but she just stood there—a tiny Filipina statue dressed as an eighties-themed NASCAR circus festival.
“W-what’s part two?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I cleared my throat. “Madison bailed on her recommended extended stay at the facility… and now she’s MIA.”
“Holy sweet baby Jesus in a tuxedo!” she yelled, bending in half. She reached out to hold the counter, steadying herself. She stood, red-faced. “You… you absolute thundercunt!” She glared up at Trenton. “I thought you were going to tell me something bad about the first part!”
“What? No!” Trenton yelled back. “Why would I act excited to tell you that, you snack-sized weirdo?!”
Hazel paused, covered her mouth, then took turns looking at me, then Trenton, then me again. “We’re having a baby?”
I nodded. “We’re having a baby.”
She squealed, jogged in place a few times, then threw her arms around me, squeezing me tight. “I can’t wait for you to get fat!” She held me at arm’s length. “When? Tell me right fucking now. When do you get fat?”
“Uh, I’m due in December.”
“December!” she said, clapping her hands together. “Wait. Sagg December? Or Capricorn December? Because that’s going to determine if I like your kid or not.” She shook her head. “I don’t care, I’ll get over it. Yay!” she screamed, pulling us all into a group hug.
“That’s more like it,” I said.
“But,” she said, releasing us and catching her breath. “Madison’s missing? Really?”
“Yeah,” Trenton said, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re handling it. Just be aware.”
Hazel’s face softened, her playful demeanor shifting into something warm, protective. “You two holding up okay?”
“Yes,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “We’ve got more exciting things to distract us.”
“Yes!” she said. “Yes. Baby names?” She snapped her fingers. “Wait,” she said, pointing at me. “Are we bringing this kid to the shop? You’re not going to pay for a sitter when we can all take turns here, right?”
One of a million things I hadn’t thought about. Trenton and I exchanged a look.
“Uh, well…” Trenton started, scratching his head. “I don’t know that Calvin would approve.”
Hazel’s face scrunched. “Since when do we care what Calvin thinks? He’s just the owner. He can’t tell us what to do.”
“Pretty sure that’s exactly what being the owner means,” Trenton said, staring at her in confusion.
She looked at each of us. “So? Do we get a shop baby?”
I shrugged at my husband, and he mirrored the gesture. “I guess so, yeah.”
“Good!” Hazel clapped her hands, her whole face smiling. “Shop baby! I bet we’ll be the only tattoo shop in the world with one. Some places have shop cats; we’ve got a kid! I’ll help. Just tell me what you need.”
A warmth settled in my chest, a calm reassurance that things were finally coming together, another piece of the puzzle sliding into place. Keeping the baby close, knowing he or she would be safe and loved—there was real comfort in that. Not missing a moment, being there for every part of his day, gave me a deep sense of reassurance I didn’t know I needed. And with Hazel already stepping up, it all seemed a little more doable. It wasn’t about big words or promises; it was just that, in her lighthearted way, she’d reminded me that when things got hard, we had our village.
Calvin emerged from the hall, his expression blank as usual. I opened my mouth to inform him of the upcoming, somewhat life-altering changes coming up for all of us, but Hazel beat me to it.
“Hey, Cal!” she shouted, waving him over with a mischievous grin. “Guess what? You’re gonna be a grandpa!” She gave him a quick, judgmental scan, from his tousled, graying hair to his scuffed-up Vans. “A cranky, complaining, permanently annoyed grandpa.”
“I heard. Pretty sure the nail salon next door heard. The rats in the alley heard,” he deadpanned.
“Then you know we’re getting a shop baby,” Hazel said. Sometimes I wondered if all her ideas were merely to torture Calvin.
He looked to Trenton, then me. “You think you can work with the baby here all day? The same as before?”
“Of course I can,” I said.
“And,” he said, thinking, “you’re okay with a newborn being around the public? Germs and all that.”
Only Trenton’s eyes moved in my direction. We were both surprised that Calvin would think to even ask.
“I’ll adjust some things so the baby can be behind the counter away from dirty hands and coughing, if that’s what you mean,” Trenton said.
“Yeah, that’s what I mean,” Calvin said. He seemed annoyed, as if it should’ve been obvious. “I don’t care if you bring it, just don’t expect me to change diapers… or pick it up. Or look at it.”
We both nodded, and for a moment, Calvin just stared, his expression unreadable. Then, he gave a single shrug before turning for his office.
Hazel cringed, showing most of her teeth. “Oops. I got a little excited. That was your news to share.”
Trenton laughed under his breath. “Guess that’s one way to do it.”
Hazel gave my shoulder a playful nudge. “Well, guess that’s settled. So, what do you need? A crib? Diapers? Play area in the break room?”
Worry prickled in my stomach. Doubling everything to have at the shop was going to be expensive. “I don’t know how we’re going to swing it. I guess we can put those things in our baby shower registry and cross our fingers?”
Without missing a beat, Calvin’s voice called from down the hall, “Use the company credit card. Consider it your Christmas bonus.”
The three of us froze. Trenton shook his head slowly, a grin spreading across his face. “Beneath all that gruff, he’s just a teddy bear.”
I looked down at my hand resting against my middle, a smile tugging at my lips. It wasn’t going to be as scary as I thought.
The front door chimed as Beck and Sylvie strolled in, the scent of Beck’s cologne mixing with the familiar bite of disinfectant and fresh ink.
Beck clapped and rubbed his hands together, flashing that easy grin. “Alright, what’d we miss?”
Sylvie set her purse onto the front desk, her braids shifting over one shoulder. “Yeah, y’all have a look. Either something juicy happened, or we just landed a celebrity client.”
Hazel and I burst out laughing. I shook my head, wiping at my eyes. “No, no, nothing like that,” I said, still grinning. “But… I do have some news.” I pressed a hand against my stomach, my gaze dancing between them and then landing on Trenton. “We’re having a baby.”
Trenton seemed as if his heart might explode from his chest, watching me so easily share the news.
Their explosive reaction was instant. Sylvie gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth, while Beck’s eyes widened before his whole face split into a grin. “No shit? No shit! ” he hollered, grabbing me into a careful but enthusiastic hug before passing me off to Sylvie, who practically squeezed the air out of me.
Hazel clapped her hands together. “We’re getting a shop baby! ” she cheered. “Cami and Trent are gonna bring the little nugget to work—tattoos and tummy time, it’s gonna be iconic.”
Sylvie pulled back, her eyes shimmering. “Oh my goodness, I’m so happy for you guys.”
Beck shook his head, still grinning. “Man, we gotta throw a party or something. Invite every baddie in town. Do you know how much ass I’ll get holding a baby? Damn…”
Sylvie shot her brother a look and nudged him with her elbow. “Not at the same time, ya nasty.”
“Hell no, Sylvie! The fuck?” Beck replied, appalled.
“Alright, alright.” I laughed. “Let’s pace ourselves. I’ve still got a few months to go.”
Sylvie playfully tugged at my shirt. “Yeah, but we only have so much time to find baby-sized band tees and tiny Doc Martens.”
Hazel gasped. “Matching flannels!”
Beck chuckled, shaking his head. “Kid’s about to be the most stylish baby in town.”
I looked around at my little shop family, overwhelmed with how much love already surrounded this baby. Yeah, this was going to be really good.
As the afternoon light waned, casting long shadows across the shop, the steady hum of Trenton’s tattoo machine became a comforting rhythm in the background. The hours passed as I moved about the building, from the front desk checking in clients to turning in paperwork to Calvin to taking calls. Every now and then, I’d steal a glance into Trenton’s room.
Even after years of watching him in his element, the thrill of seeing Trenton bring his art to life on someone’s skin never faded. His hands moved with a steady precision, every stroke deliberate, each design forming under his focused gaze. There was something captivating about the confidence he radiated while doing what he loved, knowing people had come from all over the country just to carry his artwork with them for the rest of their lives.
Hazel’s easy banter floated to the front during every appointment, her blunt responses and off-color jokes putting even the most anxious clients at ease. With each interaction, we fell into a steady rhythm—small talk, buzzing machines, the sharp scent of antiseptic—giving the shop an odd sense of calm as daylight surrendered to the night.
I’d barely noticed the shift in energy when the last client waved goodbye. My eyes were trained on the night audit, fingers moving across the keyboard out of habit more than anything else. The click and hum of the computer filled the quiet as the rest of the shop settled into the final routine of the day. Calvin had headed out shortly after lunch. Beck and Sylvie wrapped up their closing tasks and had just headed out for the night, their laughter still lingering in the air. That left only the steady sound of Hazel’s sweeping, mingling with Trenton’s low, easy voice as he chatted with me from across the lobby.
“So, when are we thinking of pulling the trigger to build up the baby inventory?” Trenton asked, his voice barely louder than the sweep of Hazel’s broom. “It’s too early, right? But, I mean, it’s also not a bad thing to get a jump start. Spreading out the purchases over eight months seems better than waiting and dropping a load of cash all at once.”
A small smile crept onto my face, though I kept my eyes fixed on the screen. The pregnancy still felt surreal—no longer just our secret, yet somehow more real in that quiet moment after hours, the shop dimly lit by the soft glow of shelf lights and the hum of the neon sign against the window.
“We’ve got time,” I murmured, the words meant for both of us. But the truth of those words sank in, settling over me. “We should probably just get the stuff we’re not including on the baby shower registry.”
Hazel dumped the dirt and dust bunnies into the trash bin, banging the pan and breaking my focus. “All right,” she said, sighing. She moved to the front, reaching for the neon sign by the window. Just after switching it off, she paused, her eyes narrowing at something outside.
“Trent,” she called, voice tight. “There are two cars idling in the back of the parking lot with their lights off.”
I frowned and looked up at her, trying to find her face in the dim light. I walked over to join her at the shop’s front windows. Exhaust rose in clouds around the twin black SUVs, and a strange tension pulled at the air, tugging at something deep in me.
“They’re just… sitting there?” Trenton asked, moving toward Hazel.
“Yep. Not moving,” she answered, crossing her arms, the broom forgotten in her hand.
Trenton peered outside, his gaze narrowing as he squinted into the night. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to brush away the cold feeling prickling the back of my neck. I’d told myself not to let my imagination get the better of me, but it was nearly impossible. With the likelihood that Madison was back in town—chaperoned by an unknown group—even the smallest things felt like potential threats. The sight of two cars idling in the shadows, still and waiting, made a chill creep up my spine.
“It’s probably nothing,” I said, almost too quickly, mostly to convince myself. “Did Lachlan ever say what kind of car came for Madison that night?”
Trenton shook his head, eyes still on the parked cars. “No. I’d remember if he did. They may just be random people meeting up, but I’m treating everything odd as an imminent threat. Baby, get my phone. I’m calling Lach.”
There was something in his voice I couldn’t read—some edge I’d missed. I was about to ask him more when he blinked and jerked back slightly. “Wait. Isn’t that Lachlan’s truck?” He pointed to the opposite end of the lot, where a lone vehicle was parked.
I swallowed, unable to peel my eyes from the SUVs. As if reading the situation, the two parked cars suddenly took off, tires squealing as they disappeared around the corner, leaving a strange stillness behind, but only for the few seconds it took for whoever was in the truck to decide to tear off after them.
Trenton cursed under his breath, grabbing the door. “Stay here,” he ordered, throwing the words over his shoulder as he sprinted outside, chasing after the vehicles with a reckless determination that made my heart pound.
I lowered myself into the closest chair, my gaze darting between the door and Hazel’s tense silhouette. She slowly let out a breath, her arms falling to her sides, the broom clattering against the floor.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” I whispered, almost afraid to say it aloud. “Madison.”
Hazel didn’t answer, but her eyes were wide and unsure. “I thought it was just an overabundance of caution,” she said quietly. “I mean, I believed you; she made that scene at the restaurant, about the altar or whatever, and her concocting that delusional plan to steal your husband. That she’d keep coming for you wasn’t on my bingo card. But if Lachlan’s chasing people down… maybe it’s worse than we thought.”
Her words lingered in the air and then disappeared into the darkness, filling the room with a palpable unease, thick enough to taste.
Several minutes passed, each tick of the clock above the reception desk echoing in my chest. Then, just as the waiting became unbearable, the door burst open, and Trenton strode in, his face flushed and determined. He didn’t say a word, heading straight to the counter and fumbling for his phone.
Before he could press a button, a loud knock on the door startled us all, the sound sharp and sudden in the quiet shop. I felt a jolt run through me, like someone had slammed a hammer against my chest. Trenton’s hand froze over his display, his gaze snapping to the door.
I followed his stare, relief washing over me when I saw the face outside the glass—a younger version of Trenton, a bit taller, with sharper features and a steady, familiar presence. Travis Maddox stood just outside wearing his red ballcap backward, looking like he’d come straight from the gym. A dark, sweat-dampened T-shirt hugged his shoulders, his gray athletic shorts were slightly wrinkled, and there was a gym towel still tucked into the waistband. Even though he looked like he’d been pulled away mid-workout, he appeared unfazed.
Trenton let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing as he moved to unlock the door. “Jesus, Trav. I was two seconds away from turning this lobby into a human demolition derby. What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, pulling his brother inside. He sucked in a breath, scanning Travis’s face, still healing from what looked like a serious beating. “What the fuck happened to you?”
Travis stepped in, glancing around the shop with a casual confidence. “Had to break up a brawl at the gym last week.”
“So, you weren’t sick for the announcement? Who in Eakins could beat your ass that bad? Trenton asked.
“It was a lot more than one, and you should see the other guys.”
“Jesus Christ, brother,” Trenton said, still in shock.
“We need to focus. Lachlan sent me,” he said simply, his voice even. “I’m supposed to follow you two home. Make sure you get there safe.”
A knot formed in my stomach. I glanced at Hazel, who was watching the exchange with an intensity that mirrored my own unease. I could see the questions forming on her lips, the uncertainty and confusion, the slow, creeping fear we’d all felt the moment she’d noticed the SUVs.
“Hazel,” Trenton began, his voice careful. “Maybe we should follow you home, too.”
She crossed her arms, her expression defiant. “I’m not scared, Trenton.”
Travis’s eyes darted to her. “They’re not after you, but you should go now.”
It was the way he said it that finally made her pause. “Who the rickety fuck are they ?” she asked. “And why are you trying so hard to look cool and collected?”
Travis raised one brow. “This is just my face. I’m beautiful and stoic, okay?”
Hazel rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “That face ain’t so beautiful these days.”
Travis touched his chest. “That hurts, Hazel.”
“There were two cars,” Trenton muttered, running a hand over his buzzed hair, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. “Who’s to say they weren’t planning on following both of us home?”
“They weren’t,” Travis said.
“You don’t know that,” Trenton shot back. He looked at Hazel, his expression softening. “We’ll follow you home, make sure you get there, all right?”
Hazel nodded, the defiance in her eyes fading. “For the first time in my life, I don’t have anything pithy to say. That’s my current level of concern.”
The drive was quiet, with only the steady hum of Trenton’s truck filling the space between us. I glanced at him, watching his face as he stared out at the road, his expression a mix of worry and something I couldn’t quite place.
“What do you think all this means?” I asked softly, breaking the silence. “Do you think it was Madison and friends?”
Trenton nodded, his eyes fixed ahead. “The way they took off? It has to be. If not her, it’s someone involved with her. They were watching, waiting… but for what?”
I swallowed, his spoken thoughts settling uneasily in my mind. We couldn’t be sure until we heard from Lachlan, but I trusted Trenton’s instincts.
The road stretched ahead, winding through the darkness and patches of moonlight.Top of Form
I held on to one thought: whoever they were, Lachlan was already on their trail. Somehow, he’d known, and even mid-chase, he’d managed to dispatch Travis our way in record time. Our village was also a fortress, and if this was Madison’s cult testing the waters, they’d just learned we were anything but easy prey.