Rory
Eleven
Iupdated my Instagram page with a few more tattoos I’d done recently, and answered some DMs. One thing I despised was marketing my work, but at the same time, I had the Vipers and word of mouth, too. It was working, because I had someone from New York come to Georgia to get a tattoo from me.
Tattooing was a form of escapism for me.
After my attempt, I tried to find things that kept my mind busy.
Reading was boring, and I couldn't stay still long enough to do it.
I did enjoy sketching designs on the spines of books, though.
I started scribbling designs on my legs, and Cinder let me add things to her tattoos.
Then she decided to buy me a tattooing kit for Christmas.
After that, I started doing little things and falling in love with it, and that was all she wrote.
After I changed into a Motionless in White cropped band tee and a pair of tight blue jeans, I was ready to go to Reject’s for a little while to tease Vesper.
I faltered when I saw a singular light pink carnation on the seat of my Ducati, along with a note.
I hesitated for a second, shifting on my feet as I grabbed the flower.
It was my favorite type and color of flower.
Only someone who knew me would know this.
I reached for the note, but there wasn’t anything written except for a pink heart.
I found it odd, but I wondered if it was from Vesper.
She knew a lot of things about me, and so did Widow, but it would be a cold day in hell if Widow did anything like this.
I glanced around the area. My tattoo shop wasn’t far from Reject’s Paradise or the clubhouse, but the Vipers would let me know if they were here or my camera would alert me.
It was Friday, which meant Vesper would be at the bar. I didn’t want to deal with any other Viper right now, and Vesper was my favorite. One, she was hotter than sin, and two, she kept my secrets from Cinder. She was the perfect woman—my perfect woman. The universe had a cruel sense of humor.
Vesper was cleaning tables, getting ready to open as I skipped inside. Being the little sister of the owner entitled me to certain things, and one of those included lounging around and laying on the bar. I skipped past the glare Vesper shot at me and jumped onto the counter.
“You know people eat there, mariposa?”
I smirked. “You could eat me here.”
She glowered at me. “You love teasing me, don’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Cin’s going to be here in a few minutes, so if you’re avoiding her, you failed.”
“I’m not avoiding anyone,” I fibbed.
Vesper arched her brow. “Mmhmm, so you’ll stay when she gets here and talk to your sister?”
“Sure will.” God, I hated Vesper sometimes. “Also, did you leave a flower on my bike?”
She looked at me with a cautious brow. “No? I’ve been here most of the day getting ready for tonight.”
“Hmm, maybe Rob left it.” He didn’t, but I didn’t want her to worry. A flower meant nothing.
I had cameras outside my shop that I would check to see if someone was outside while I did Rob’s tattoo.
It wasn’t something I needed to draw concern to unless I knew for sure something would happen.
Hell, it might have been someone leaving me a gift as a thank you for the tattoo. It could be a lot of things.
Cinder walked into the bar with a stern look on her face. It faltered slightly when she saw me laying across the bar top. “What are you doing?”
“I got bored.”
She arched her brow. “Bored, huh? Why are you wearing sleeves?” I grimaced. Why did I think I could avoid this topic? I lived in corsets and tube tops.
“I’m trying to get used to sleeves. The fabric is thin so it’s not as bad.”
She gave me a questioning look, but didn’t push. “Okay. How do you feel?”
“Peachy. If anything was wrong, you know I’d tell you.” Liar. Vesper looked at me with an arched brow, and I glared at her. Cinder didn't catch it—thank God—and turned to look at her friend. I leaped on the edge of the bar, watching them talk.
“The Devils attacked the docks.” I sat up slightly. Shit, did they know about my extracurricular activities? I didn’t care for the nitty gritty of the Vipers, and Cinder hated the Devils.
“Why?” Vesper asked, glancing at me.
“I’m not sure. It wasn’t a big attack, more so a warning shot. Widow is busy, so we can deal with it when you two are done. She needs you at the warehouse.”
That was code for: Widow had a body that Vesper needed to get rid of.
Vesper liked oddities and weird stuff. So did I, but she took it to a new level.
She got a fancy forensic degree and knew how to properly dispose of or preserve a body, how to get blood perfectly out of clothes and fabrics without leaving a trace, and how to dispose of teeth and bones.
It was another layer of Vesper that I was helplessly intrigued with.
Vesper was an enforcer at the club, and was also the cleaner for obvious reasons.
Widow was the sergeant at arms who helped keep order in the club.
Her job was to make sure the members followed the rules, help with security when needed, and handle conflicts.
If it was my choice, Widow wouldn’t have a job where conflict needed to be dealt with.
She kinda sucked at it. She was great at protecting people and dealing with other Vipers and issues.
Vesper was a woman of many talents, because she also worked on the bikes and cars at the club house. I swear the first time I saw Vesper in a white tank top covered in grease, I had another sexual awakening.
“Are you okay?” Cinder asked.
I fidgeted with the sleeve, annoyed with the reminisces of the road rash on my shoulder. Guilt gnawed at me seeing her concerned, but I also knew what would happen if I told her I was ran off the road or hurt. “Yeah. I’m okay. I love you.”
“I love you too, firefly.”
I smiled at the nickname. I used to think it was cheesy, but then Cinder explained it to me. In darkness, fireflies shine. My darkness didn’t dim my light. “What do you have planned today?”
“I’m meeting Melisa in a little while to talk business. Why?”
I cocked my brow with a smirk. “Business huh? We need to plan a sister day sometime. Even if it’s just lunch.” I might have avoided my sister most times when I was running the streets, but I loved her nonetheless.
“Okay. We can do it in a couple days?” I didn’t miss how she deflected the subtle accusation.
I beamed. “I’ll bust into your office with bags of street tacos and a smile unless you want margaritas?”
“I’ll take a smile. Are you joinin’ us tonight?” Friday nights, the Vipers normally got together at Reject’s Paradise to drink and dance. With my injury, I didn’t want to be in a crowd and I wouldn’t be able to dress how I wanted.
I hopped off the bar. “I’m not gonna come tonight, but maybe next week. I think Babs will be here, so we’ll come together.”
And then I slipped out of the bar before Cinder could question me anymore.