Chapter 30
Thirty
MATEO
I’m really fucking pissed that I have to go to LA tonight, but Julian asked for an assist, and he rarely does that. Before I head to the airport to board Julian’s plane, though, I want to see Violet.
I haven’t seen her in twelve hours, and I’m twitchy.
Her scent, her skin, her gorgeous eyes, all of her is a goddamn drug.
Bobby sent me their location, so before we head to LA, I instruct Diego to drive me over to the place where she’s having new ink added so I can kiss her goodbye.
Diego parks next to my other SUV, and I step out of the vehicle.
“Wait here,” I tell him. “I won’t be long.”
He nods, and I close the door, then step inside the studio.
It’s small, and I can see where Violet is lying on her stomach on a table, her head turned away from me.
Some asshole almost as big as I am crouches over her, his machine buzzing away as he works on her back, and this is not fucking acceptable.
Her back is bare, her bra gone, and I can see the side of her perfect breast where she lies with it smashed on the table. I’m about to tell this fucker to get his hands off my girl when he says, “Remember that time we snuck back in the break room and fucked against the door?”
My eyes narrow.
My blood turns to ice.
And I don’t say a fucking word.
“Mm-hmm” is all that comes out of Violet.
“Good fucking times,” he says. He still hasn’t noticed that I’m here, because his back is to me.
He’s stupid as fuck to not have more situational awareness. It’s going to get him killed.
In about six seconds.
“Okay, this chain is done,” he says, and then he’s cleaning her back off.
Her whole fucking back, and I don’t like that he’s got his hands on my Savage.
After he applies ointment and the bandage, he pushes his rolling stool away.
“You can go in the restroom to put your shirt on and look in the mirror to make sure you don’t want anything touched up or changed. ”
He turns and sees me, and his eyebrows climb.
“Oh, hi. Sorry, didn’t see you there. Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
Violet has just pushed off the table, holding her T-shirt to her chest, and at the sound of my voice, her head whips around and she smiles brightly.
“Hey! Oh my God, I didn’t know you were here. Of course, I almost fall asleep on the table every single time and don’t hear anything around me. Do you want to see—”
“No, I don’t want to fucking see.”
Her smile falls, and then she frowns. “What? Why not?”
I shake my head and turn to leave. Lucky and Bobby are wise to stay quiet, but Violet rushes over to me.
“Just let me go to the restroom to put my shirt on, and I’ll—”
“Don’t bother.”
“Hey. HEY!” She yells in my face, and now Bobby and Lucky both shift uncomfortably. “What’s wrong? Why are you mad at me?”
“Do whatever you need to do, Violet. I’ll see you when I get back.”
“The fuck is your problem? You knew I was coming here. I have my guards with me. How did I mess up now?”
I can’t make words come out of my mouth. I’m so fucking pissed off that I’ll say or do something I’ll regret, so I turn to walk away, but she grabs my arm, and I simply stare down at her hand until she takes it away.
“So, you’re just going to give me the silent treatment like you’re twelve? Use your words, Mateo.”
“Stop, Violet,” Bobby mutters, shaking his head mournfully.
“No. I’m not one of your men, I’m—”
“Later,” I interrupt her and walk out of the shop to where Diego waits for me. “Change of plans.”
“Boss?”
“We’re not going to LA. We’re going to Rapture.”