53. Kiera
KIERA
Gesturing to the chair, Spencer made room for me to climb into the black leather seat. The scent of florals and clean laundry wafted off of her, calming my nervous system as I got settled in the chair.
C.J. swiveled in her stool to get closer to me. “Feeling better now?”
“I think so.” Keeping my eyes on Spencer and Leo, I tried to not let the hooting and hollering coming from the lobby distract me.
Whether I liked it or not, there was no turning back at this point. I’d already sworn myself to these three. And clearly Spencer had sworn herself to me, my name permanently etched into her skin.
My eyes flicked to Dom, standing against the wall with her arms crossed.
In blood and time.
After everything I’d learned, I didn’t think I could walk away from any of them now. Even Dom, we were clearly tied together whether we liked it or not. I needed to get to The Oracle, whoever the fuck they were, and get answers about my father’s death.
I still wasn’t sure how I played into their grand plan. Despite my concerns about the viability of whatever it was, they’d been planning it since I was a child which meant it must be at least thought out.
And I was certain that if they could have found someone else to help them, they would have by now.
They needed my help to take down Zeus.
C.J. grabbed the stencil from her tray. “So, where are we thinking?”
Meeting Dom’s gaze, I pointed to my forearm. “How about here?”
“That’s a good spot.” C.J. winked as she peeled the stencil and began to place it along the lines of my muscles.
From her spot in the corner, Dom shook her head. She knew what I was doing — putting my mark somewhere she’d be unable to look away from it. A constant reminder of our tie to each other.
Hers was hidden on her back, covering up some scars. It had taken me almost two months to even see it. But mine, I refused to hide it. Not after everything I’d learned.
My phone dinged from my hand, a text from my mom lighting up my skin.
I’m seriously worried now. This isn’t a joke. Gabriel is going to give up on you.
Mom
That was the hope. I was starting to pray she’d give up too. She’d known what kind of man Isaac was, let herself be so absorbed in chasing cash that she’d put me in danger. A danger only Dom managed to save me from.
C.J. met my eyes after she dipped the needles in ink. “Ready to go?”
My three captors were the only people who’d managed to protect me. And I was starting to think that hitching my wagon to them was my best bet at safety. And vengeance.
“Let’s do it.” I nodded.
There was a sharp sting as the hum of the tattoo gun began to puncture my skin. I wrapped my fingers around the arm of the black leather chair, gripping the fabric as I tried to be strong.
I’d felt worse, but that didn’t change how strong the burn was. The skin of my forearm was soft, a good thing according to C.J.
Leo confirmed. “Tattoos make me regret all this muscle. Shit hurts.”
Without looking up from her work, C.J. shrugged. “You love the pain, don’t you, Dr. Callahan?”
My eyes traveled down her muscular figure, her pecks puffed out as she perched on the arm of the large sofa at the edge of the room. After what we’d done in the woods, I was starting to see the truth in the accusation.
Leo carried a darkness deep inside her, something she’d tried very hard to bury. But I wasn’t going to let her, I’d let her exercise her demons on me as long as she allowed me to.
The time flew by, the piece not taking more than an hour under C.J.’s deft hands. I’d asked her which tattoo was the hardest to do, whose mark was the most interesting. She complained about Leo and Dom’s each of theirs taking multiple sessions and dozens of hours.
Apparently a few favors had been owed for the service. And knowing what my saviors got up to, I was certain that the cost was bloody.
C.J. pulled away from her work, taking a soap-soaked wipe and cleaning the surface. “I think we’re all set, Ms. Kiera.”
Spinning my chair, she spun me to look in the full length mirror across the room.
I stood from my seat as Spencer and Leo moved closer to get a look at my new mark. Looking at it through the glass felt odd, like it wasn’t really on my skin. Like someone had photoshopped a fake tattoo onto my arms.
Even when I lifted my arm to my chest, peering down at the black ink with my own eyes, it felt like a dream. Despite my roguish lifestyle before meeting my mysterious masked bikers, I’d never taken the plunge on a tattoo.
I was indecisive, unsure what style I’d want, or where would be a good spot.
But the sword and wings now burned into my skin had been made easy.
Holding her spot across the room, I caught Dom’s gaze in the mirror. There was her usual scowl, but something deeper in those blue eyes. Something softer, cloudy in them.
My tattoo had stirred something in her, a thought she’d never share.
I thanked C.J. as she gave me care instructions, told me to actually follow them — a pointed look to Spencer telling me exactly who to ignore.
Leo and Spencer led the way out of the back room, but Dom, sulky as ever, lingered by the door. As I walked past her, I leaned closer to her ear, whispering so only she could hear.
“You’re stuck with me for good now. But you already knew that.”