24. Ink
INK
“Guess he’s not getting his bath tonight,” Naomi murmured as they made their way back toward the warehouse. Ink carried a passed-out Asher in his arms, pleased that the walk seemed to have relaxed Naomi even more.
Sure, she kept looking around for the first little bit, but she stopped when she spotted Taz up on the roofs of the buildings and houses they passed.
He was going to hear about that from his brothers, especially after Taz scared the shit out of Royal when they passed by her and Savage’s place. Savage looked murderous until Taz explained what was going on and pointed out Karissa on another roof.
After that, Naomi seemed to relax and calm down. Asher was none the wiser. He skipped along, asking random, gibberish questions and gathering more and more flowers as they went. He’d dropped them somewhere along the way when he started getting cranky from being tired.
Ink tried not to feel guilty over Asher wanting him to carry him instead of Naomi, especially when a flash of pain crossed her face. He was glad Asher trusted him this much, but he didn’t want Naomi to resent him when they were making enough progress that she might give him a chance.
“One night without a bath probably won’t hurt him, will it?” he murmured.
“No, I’ll just change the sheets and wash them tomorrow. Are you sure you’re okay carrying him? I can take him if he’s too heavy.”
He stared at her, insulted, and her lips twitched. “You’re just itching to flay my ego, aren’t you, baby?”
She ignored the pet name. “I just thought maybe your hand was still sore.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You mean the hand you chomped down on like a piranha?”
“Piranhas eat your flesh, and I’m not into cannibalism.”
“Thank Christ for small miracles. I’m fine. If you want a demonstration, I can carry you back too, without breaking a sweat.”
She flushed but shook her head. “I’m not a child, and I’m not going to make your ego any bigger than it already is.”
He bit his tongue to keep from making the raunchy joke that popped into his head. Instead, he smirked and said, “I don’t know, you’re awfully tiny compared to me.”
“You’re not picking me up, Ink, and if you do, I’m going to be forced to grab Asher and kick you in the balls.”
He chuckled but didn’t doubt she was serious. Not after the other night. “All right, I won’t.”
“I’d pay to see that,” Taz called out from above them with a chuckle. “Just make sure you do it in front of a camera, Nay-Nay, so we can relive it over and over again.”
“Nay-Nay?” Ink repeated, scowling.
Naomi looked up at the rooftop and shook her head. “I’m not doing anything for your amusement, Taz. And don’t call me Nay-Nay. I’m not a toddler.”
Ink grinned. Good. He didn’t want any other man to give her a nickname. Besides, he loved her name. He couldn’t wait to moan it when he was deep inside her.
Taz laughed, unfazed as they reached the warehouse steps. “I’ll think of something better, then. Karissa is going to take the next watch while I get a shower and some food. Not like you guys offered me any dino nuggets.” Ink didn’t even need to see his face to know he was pouting.
“I figured since they weren’t in the shape of a banana, you wouldn’t want them,” Naomi fired back, laughter in her voice as they walked up the steps.
Ink let out a soft snort, trying not to wake Asher, but Asher was dead to the world, not even a hint of stirring.
Taz’s laughter boomed through the air as Naomi opened the door and held it for Ink to slip inside. “Just put him down on the bed, and I’ll get him changed and tucked in,” she whispered. He nodded and did as instructed.
He eased away, giving her space, but didn’t venture far from the doorway. She expertly got Asher into his pajamas despite Asher’s limp body and groans when she woke him. By the time he was tucked into the middle of the bed, his little stuffed animal under his arm, he was fast asleep once more.
“Damn, I wish it were that easy for me to fall asleep,” he whispered as they headed back down the hall, leaving the bedroom door ajar so they could hear him if he called out.
“He’s always been a hard sleeper. Working his brain all the time tires him out, and then the walk and everything tonight just added to it. He’ll probably sleep all night.”
Ink tucked that information away. He might finally get some time alone with her.
Part of him worried he might be pushing her, but the impatient part of him reminded him he was running out of time.
If one more thing happened, he wouldn’t be able to keep her here.
Or, worse, if the trial were moved up and she were called to testify earlier than planned, he’d lose her before he had the chance to convince her to stay with him.
He couldn’t let that happen.
“Thanks for the walk, Ink. It … it definitely helped.” She gave him a soft, almost shy smile. “And thank you for being so patient with Asher. I know that being around a toddler can be a lot sometimes.”
He leaned against the kitchen counter, ready to get comfortable. “He’s no trouble at all. I like kids. They’re innocent and don’t look at me like I’m a freak because I’m covered in tattoos. They find joy in the little things.”
She traced his exposed arms and up along his neck with her eyes. Each second felt like a physical touch, but he forced himself to stay still. When her eyes finally connected with his, she asked, “Why did you start tattooing? Did you always want to?”
“Not always. I was always good at art in school, and a few teachers tried to push me to pursue an art degree, but school wasn’t my thing.
I got decent grades, but I was a class clown most of the time.
I didn’t take things too seriously. My mom was a single mom, working hard to keep a roof over our heads, and I planned to help her as soon as I was old enough to get a job.
Not that she’d let me.” He shook his head, exasperated all over again by the memory.
“She was your parent, and that was her responsibility, right?” she asked, a knowing look in her eyes.
“Yeah, pretty much. I was supposed to get an education and not worry about her. The only thing she wanted was for me to be happy and not go without. I mean, I didn’t have the newest stuff, but she made sure I had everything I needed for school.
She scrimped and saved to buy me a phone so I wouldn’t be left out.
It was a shitty old one, but I loved it because she gave it to me. ”
Naomi’s smile was soft. “She sounds like a great mom.”
“The best. I lost her to a drunk driver when I was twenty-four. She was coming home from a late shift when they ran a red light. They hit her so hard she flipped and rolled a couple of times, killing her instantly.” Even now, the anger burned deep, but he refused to let it show.
“I was devastated when I found out. We had just talked that morning. She was going to call me when she got home so we could plan something for her birthday the next month. I had started tattooing then, and I was making a name for myself, which meant more money. I wanted to buy her something really nice.”
“I’m so sorry, Ink. That must have been horrible.”
“I spiraled for a while. Drank a lot, picked fights, and let the career I was building tank. It was a dark few months, but then I met Savage’s father, who was the club’s President at the time. He was stern and told me to get my life together because my mother would be ashamed of me.
“I didn’t know it then, but one of the jobs she used to have was cleaning the clubhouse and shop.
She wasn’t a club girl or anything, but she wanted work, and they gave it to her.
What he said hit a nerve. I tried to punch him.
Bastard laid me flat pretty damn quick.” He let out a rough laugh.
“But then he picked me back up and offered me the chance to be a prospect. I took it and never looked back.”
“And they let you learn to tattoo through here? Is that how you got your shop?”
“Nah, it was a hard couple of years. I had to balance my job with the club, but he gave me some leeway because he saw my talent. Especially after he realized how much money he and the rest of the guys at the time could save if they had their own tattoo artist in the club.”
“So even though you lost your mother, you found a family?”
He’d never thought about it that way. His lips quirked.
“Yeah, I did. Over time, as more and more joined, I realized this was my spot. It was … easy, and I figured that even if my mother might not fully approve of my choice, I think she’d be happy I found a place where I felt comfortable and had people watching out for me. ”
“I think you’re right. That’s all I want for Asher. Being in that mansion … it was horrible. Lonely, and I always had to try to keep him quiet. The worst part was that he seemed to know it, even as an infant.”
She looked away, shame covering her face.
“I hate that I went along with it for so long. That I didn’t fight harder.
I was too scared, and then when I was forced to get pregnant with Asher, I …
I didn’t know what else to do. I was going to be responsible for a baby, and I was too scared of what they would do if I tried to run. ”
Unable to stay away from her, he risked her anger and gripped her wrists, yanking her to him. She stiffened when he let go of her wrists and wrapped her in his arms, then placed her hands on his chest.
“There is not a fucking thing wrong with what you did, Naomi,” he said, quiet but firm. “You survived, and there is no shame in that. Especially considering how well-adjusted Asher is. He’s a smart kid, and he wouldn’t be that way without you. Without your sacrifices.
“And how many women would risk themselves by doing what you did? What you’re about to do?
It might scare the shit out of you now, but you’re about to change your lives.
Asher will grow up without looking over his shoulder, and you will be able to live your life the way you want to.
” With me, he wanted to add, but it was too soon and too fast.
“I couldn’t stay there anymore,” she whispered, staring up at him, her eyes clouded with memories he wished he could erase for her.
He caressed her lower back, trying to offer her comfort.
“Knowing what they were going to do to Asher? To me again and again? I couldn’t.
If they got me pregnant again, I would never get away.
One kid out was possible; two or more wasn’t.
Not without help, and no one was going to help me. ”
“They wanted to get you pregnant again soon?” The very idea made him want to find them all, burn their bodies, give them a taste of hell, and send them to the devil himself. Sick fuckers.
“They were giving me until Asher was two or weaned. He only just turned two a month ago. I breastfed him as long as possible, hoping to extend it. They wanted to get me pregnant again as soon as their doctor gave me the all clear, but I read articles about how much safer it would be to wait, and one of them happened to be a doctor they admired. It bought me time.”
“You never have to worry about that again, Naomi. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You’re not invincible, Ink. You can’t take on an entire cartel alone.”
His lips curled into a tight smile. “Baby, I already have. We took on the cartel when they came after Esme, and we won. We didn’t know the Devil’s Predators existed then. We did that all on our own. With them added, they don’t stand a chance.”
She didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t argue.
“I know you don’t want to believe me, but I’ll keep saying it until you do.
” He cupped her cheek, making her still, and wariness flashed in her gaze.
Progress. “Do you know what I want most, Naomi? I want you to feel safe. I want you to laugh, smile, and feel carefree. Have the moments you didn’t get to have under those fuckers’ thumbs.
I want you to know that if something happens, you aren’t alone.
You have not only me and my brothers, but also every single one of the women around here.
They’ll drop everything to stand behind you. ”
“I would never ask that of them. They have their own children to worry about.”
Ink let out a sharp scoff. “Baby, try telling them that and see how far you get. Not only will they tell you to fuck off, but they’ll also force you behind them, guns at the ready.
Sure, a few of them might have to be the ones in charge of the kids, but the others won’t be cowering.
And we won’t even talk about the twins. Rogue already has a total fit whenever we mention it. ”
She smirked. “Yeah, I got that vibe. But I don’t want any of this, Ink. And I don’t want you to put yourself in front of me either. If it comes down to it, the only one you protect is Asher. I can take care of myself, but he needs to be protected at all costs.”
“We have provisions in case any of the children are ever targeted, including a secure vault and bunker that everyone will go into. No one’s getting in there, and we’ll have people with them just in case. But never ask me to step aside and let someone take you, Naomi. It’s never going to happen.”
He needed her to believe that.
She sighed and eased back. He dropped his hand but didn’t release her.
“Ink, we really need to talk about this idea that we’re going to be anything.
I’m not going to be a backup plan because your first choice didn’t work out.
Or, worse, have you resenting me because you think I’ve trapped you somehow. ”
“You are not a backup plan, Naomi. Do you really think I’d be spending all this time with you if I thought that way?
That I would spend my nights watching over you outside?
And bugging the shit out of Karissa, Glitch, and Taz for updates while I’m at the shop because I want to know you’re all right? ”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Baby, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone or anything.
I don’t get what I want; I get over it and walk away.
I don’t get pissed if a woman rejects me.
And I certainly don’t see her as a challenge.
That’s reserved for only you alone. Because there’s something about you that draws me in. ”
Wanting her eyes on him, he ran a hand up her back and into her hair, cupping the back of her head, needing her to understand.
“And that something is exactly why I can’t walk away from you. You make me want things I have been telling everyone for years I don’t want. You, Naomi, make me see everything differently, and for once, it’s not sending me into an utter panic. I want you, Naomi. No one else.”
Unable to help himself, he lowered his mouth to hers, needing another taste of her, and hoped she wouldn’t reject him.