by Nicole James
“When my mom found out, she was furious. It was the ultimate betrayal in her eyes. How was she going to marry me off to another boy with Mason’s name tattooed on my skin? She dragged me down to the shop and threw a fit, screaming at the guy and causing a scene. She threatened him with everything under the sun including legal action. I don’t know that she would ever have done anything, but the guy didn’t know that. He finally offered her two hundred bucks to sign the waiver and go away. The moment he offered her money, I could see the light bulb go off above her head, and right there, in that moment, my mother’s biggest con was born.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“She got me a fake ID and sent me into place after place to get tattoos. Then she would storm back in with me in tow and threaten to have the place closed down for tattooing a minor. They’d all cave and give her a payoff to sign the consent forms. We hit place after place across seven states before I finally escaped at eighteen.”
“My God.”
“All the tattoos were complete crap, because most of the places were either seedy or just starting up; those types of shops made the best marks for a con like this because they either didn’t want trouble with the law, had violations in the past, or they had new fledging reputations at stake. And it wasn’t just the bad ink; she always had me pick shitty designs. They had to be for the con to work. Gross things no mother would want on her daughter’s skin so as to make her outrage that much more effective. After I escaped, I had them covered over, one by one. All but the one Liam had done. That was the only time I defied my mother and picked a design I wanted—something that meant something to me.”
“And his you kept.”
“Yes. He was kind to me.” She shrugged. “It meant something, and the work was beautiful.”
“And the tattoos you have now?”
“I began to offer myself as a tattoo model in exchange for getting the old ink covered. I only went to the best shops, the best artists I could find.”
“But not Brothers Ink.”
“No, not there, for obvious reasons.”
“You and Liam had some off-the-charts chemistry happening in that photo shoot.”
She looked out the window, giving no response.
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
She rubbed her palms over her upper arms several times, then nodded and turned to him. “You know I’ve been used by people my whole life. Exploited and used. Please don’t be another one of those people. Please don’t put the only thing I have left in the magazine. I told you my story. Don’t use my feelings for Liam as part of it.”
Ryan reached across the table and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “I know you don’t know me, and you don’t trust me, but I promise you, Velvet, I won’t do that. Listening to your story, I’m touched and moved by what happened to you. I promise, you’ll like the story I write.”
She pulled her hand away and reached for her water bottle, unscrewing the cap. “I didn’t want to tell this story for obvious reasons, but maybe I need to tell it. Maybe, somehow in telling it, I’ll free myself from the past and the shame. But the main reason I’m doing this is that I don’t want Brothers Ink to be damaged by exposing that they’ve inked underage minors in the past.”
“You have my word.” He studied her a long moment. “Velvet, your story is fascinating. Have you ever thought about writing a book about your life?”
She let out a huff of laughter. “It would be an interesting story, but I can’t even read.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m illiterate. My father never let me attend school. I can sign my name, and I can count money. Those were the only skills my father ever thought were important for a woman. I wouldn’t know the first thing about writing a book.”
“I could be your ghost writer. You tell me the story, and I organize it and put it down on paper.”
She stared at him.
“Think about it. If you like the article I write, we’ll talk.”
“Ryan, you want the truth?”
“Isn’t that what I’ve been getting?”
“Yes. I meant about what you just suggested. To me it sounds like just another pipe dream. You seem to be a sweet guy, and I hope you aren’t a liar. But to be honest, whether I can truly trust you remains to be seen.”
“I understand, but I still hope you keep the suggestion in mind.”
“Let’s just see how the article comes out.”
“All right.” He slid a document across the table and held out a pen. “This is a contract giving the magazine the right to print your story in exchange for this.” He handed her a check. She could read her name and the amount. It was written for one thousand dollars. She looked up from the check she held in her hands to him.
“It’s as much as I can offer you. We do the book, it will be much, much more.”
She glanced down at the contract and pen lying on top.
“I can read it to you if you want,” he offered. “Or if you want a lawyer to look it over, you’re certainly welcome to do that.”
“Read it to me.”
He did, slowly, going over each part. When he was finished, she picked up the pen and signed her name. He stood and shook her hand. “I’m glad I got to meet you, Ms. Jones. You’re a remarkable woman.”
“I don’t feel very remarkable today.”
“I hope the article, in some small way, will be the beginning of changing that. I wish you nothing but the best.”
“Thank you.”
Velvet walked out of the hotel and stood on the street. She looked down at the check in her hand and knew what she had to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Velvet stepped through the door to Brothers Ink. There was a woman behind the counter, one she hadn’t met before, and a couple of customers waiting. She approached the counter, peering farther into the shop, but she didn’t see Liam.
Maxwell, who was showing a customer a design, glanced up and froze. He excused himself and came to the counter. “Let me handle this one, Ava.”
She nodded, a questioning look on her face as she glanced between the two of them.
Max put his palms on the counter, looked at Velvet, and announced in a low growl, “Liam’s not here. He’s taking a few days off.”
“I didn’t come in here to see Liam. I need to speak with Jameson.”
The woman beside him spoke up. “Is this Velvet, the woman I’ve heard so much about?”
Max glanced over at the woman. “Yeah. This is her.”
The pretty blonde surprised Velvet by extending her hand. “I’m Jameson’s wife, Ava. It’s nice to finally meet you, Ms. Jones.”
Confused, Velvet took her hand. “You know about me?”
She gave Max a stern look. “I’ve got this, Max. You shouldn’t keep your client waiting.”
Max’s jaw hardened, but he pushed off the counter without another word.
Ava turned back with a smile. “Sorry about that. You know how brothers are. They’re pretty protective of each other.” She paused, and her eyes swept over Velvet. “So, you’re the one.”
“The one who caused all the trouble? Yes.”
“No, the one who finally won that big bruiser’s heart,” Ava corrected.
Velvet’s jaw pulled to the side. “I’m confused. You don’t hate me like the rest of them?”
“No. At least not unless you give me a reason.”
“You don’t have a reason?”
“Come with me. Let’s talk in the break room.”
Velvet’s eyes cut to Max. He was definitely keeping one eye on her. “Are you sure?”
“Pay him no attention. Come on.”
Velvet followed Ava through the shop to a room in the back. Ava walked to the coffee maker on the counter and dug two mugs out of the cabinet above. She turned to Velvet. “How do you take it?”
“A little sugar.”
Once she’d poured them each a cup, she
carried them to a table and they both sat.
“I’m not going to judge you,” Ava said. “I don’t know what happened when you were fifteen, but if these boys had the things they’d done when they were that age held against them, not a one would be able to talk.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you.”
“I don’t know anything about your childhood or how you were raised or what kind of family you come from. What I do know is that you made Liam feel something and dare to open up to you.”
Velvet looked down and nodded.
“And that’s something he’s never done with anyone. You are the first, so there must be something special about you. So, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt.”
“I never meant to hurt him. I should have told him the truth from the very beginning.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“And now it’s too late.”
“It may be. I don’t know, but I hate to think anything is beyond hope.”
“I hurt him so badly. He was afraid to open up and take a shot with anyone for fear of being hurt. And that’s exactly what I did. Now he won’t even speak to me.”
“I think both of you are miserable right now. Perhaps that’s a good sign.” Ava studied her quietly a moment. “Do you love him?”
Velvet nodded, her eyes flooding with tears. She tried to fan them. “I promised myself I was done with crying.”
Ava chuckled. “Sweetie, we women are never done with crying. Not when it comes to men.” She reached her hand out and touched her arm. “I heard he tattooed you.”
“Yes. He’s good at what he does, and he knows it, but not in a cocky way, in a confident way.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Ava agreed.
“He can talk to me about things I know nothing of, but he does it in a way that doesn’t make me feel stupid.”
“Why would he want to make you feel stupid?”
She shrugged. “Most people aren’t so kind. In my experience, at least.”
Ava gave her a soft smile. “I’m so sorry he’s being stubborn now.”
“I know Liam doesn’t want to see me. That wasn’t why I came.”
“You said you wanted to talk to Jameson.”
“I can’t make it right with Liam, but at least I can right the wrong done to Brothers Ink and give Jameson the money my mother conned him out of.”
“I see.”
“Do you think he’ll talk to me?”
Ava stood. “Come with me.”
Velvet followed her out of the break room and up an open staircase. Ava paused at the top and put her finger to her mouth, indicating Velvet stay quiet.
The upper floor was all one open plan office. There was a huge desk at the far end set in front of a large window that looked out over the street. Jameson was sitting in a chair, his back to them, facing the window and talking on the phone.
Ava motioned her forward and tiptoed toward him. Velvet stopped in front of the desk while Ava crept around, slid her arms around her husband’s shoulders, and kissed his neck.
The chair rocked, and Velvet heard the man tell whoever was on the phone that he’d have to call them back. Then he yanked his wife around to land in his lap.
She squealed.
“Well, this is a nice surprise, baby girl.” He nuzzled behind her ear, his hand moving over her hip making a beeline toward her breast.
Ava caught his wrist, halting his progress just in time. “Um, darling, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Let ‘em wait. I’m suddenly really busy.”
“Baby, she’s standing right there.”
The chair rocked as Jameson swung his head around, and Ava scrambled off his lap.
“What are you doing here?”
“Darling, be nice,” Ava warned.
“Liam isn’t here, and if you’ve come to plead your case with me—”
Velvet laid the check on his desk. “I just wanted to give you that. I wanted to try to make things right, you know, for the money my mother conned you out of.”
Jameson glanced at Ava, and then picked up the check, scanning the front. “You’re giving this to me?”
“Yes. I signed it over to you.”
“And why is Inked Up magazine paying you a grand?”
“That’s not important.”
Jameson’s brows rose. “Yeah, I think it is.”
Velvet sucked her lips into her mouth. She was so hesitant to tell him this part, but knew he wouldn’t let it go. “Ryan Kelly paid me for my story.”
“Your story?” Jameson tossed the check on the desk. “And what story is that? How you walked in here an underage minor and got ink?”
She shook her head. “No. He swore that would never be revealed. That was part of the deal.”
“Deal?”
“If I gave him my life story, he promised not to include it in the article about Brothers Ink.”
Jameson’s jaw tightened. “You just keep comin’ back around like a bad penny, don’t you?” He jerked his chin toward the check. “You think this makes everything okay?”
“I know it doesn’t. Nothing can make it all okay, but I have to try to make things right, to make amends. Maybe that amount of money doesn’t mean as much to you now as it did back when you were first starting out, but it’s a lot of money to me, and I need for you to take it. For me, if not for you.”
“Jameson—” Ava started, but Jameson raised his hand, stopping her.
“You’re right. It was a lot of money back then. Damn near broke this place.”
“I’m so sorry. Please—”
“All right! Fine. I’ll take your money. We’re square. Now we’re done here.”
Velvet looked from him to Ava, who stayed quiet, but did it with a sympathetic expression on her face. Velvet nodded and backed away from the desk. She wanted to run, to dash down the stairs and flee toward the front door, but she forced herself to hold her chin high and walk out with all the grace she could muster.
***
When she was gone, Jameson ran a hand over his jaw. “Nothin’ worse than a liar. I hate what she did to Liam.”
“I know you do.”
He pulled Ava onto his lap again. “And I hate that she ruined the good mood I was in five minutes ago.”
Ava ran her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. She had a way of being able to calm the beast in him. It was one of the many things he loved about her. “Umm. That feels good.”
“She loves him, baby.”
“I don’t want to talk about her, Ava.”
“Liam should give her a chance to explain.”
“Liam should run his own life, and you and I should stay out of it.”
“Jamie—”
“Ava, I mean it. Don’t go getting involved.”
She stopped massaging his head and lay her head on his shoulder, breathing out a sigh. “I hate when love doesn’t work out.”
He cupped her head and played with her curls. “And I hate that my brother is devastated.”
“I know. That’s why we should try to get them back together.”
“No, it’s not.” He tilted her face up to his. “I mean it, Ava. Liam’s a big boy. He’ll get past this. He’ll find someone else.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think he will. You didn’t see him, Jamie.”
He frowned. “And when did you see him?”
“I went over there before we opened up. There was a nearly empty bottle of Jack on the coffee table, and he looked like hell.”
Jameson lifted his chin toward the stairs that Velvet had gone down. “And she did that to him, Ava. Why would you want him back with her?”
“Because they love each other.”
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “They work it out, then fine, they work it out, and I’ll accept that fact, but I’ll be damned if I’m helping that along. No, ma’am.”
“Jamie…”
“How about you stop concentrating on your brother
-in-law and give your husband some attention?”
***
Velvet walked back to House of Ink. On the way, she made a decision. With things over between her and Liam, she no longer had a reason to remain in Grand Junction. Leaving would require money, and she’d just given most of everything she had to Jameson.
She would need more, and she knew exactly where she was going to get it. Vano owed her money, but she knew hell would freeze over before he ever gave it to her. He wouldn’t want her to leave again, and he’d make sure she didn’t have the means to go.
So, that left her one option. She’d take it, either from the register or from the safe.
The O’Rourke’s obviously didn’t want her in town anymore, and she wanted to get away from Vano, his illegal activity, and his creepy cohorts. In actuality, Liam was the main reason she’d stayed as long as she had. She knew all the reasons for leaving made sense, but still, somehow it felt like she was running. And that was a feeling she absolutely hated. It seemed like her whole life, as far back as she could remember, her family had been running from town to town, keeping one step ahead of the law.
She wished she could put a stop to Vano’s con game against the seniors. Turning him into the police crossed her mind, but her whole life she’d been brought up that gypsies didn’t rat on each other, and they stayed away from the law.
She’d have to figure that part out when she was safely away from Vano. For now she needed to concentrate on getting the cash and leaving.
Vano had two guys working for him slinging ink; an old guy named Cooter, and a young punk named Finn. Neither of them were very good, but they had one quality Velvet was grateful for today. They minded their own business and left her alone.
When she walked in the shop, both had customers and barely gave her a look, except for Cooter’s offhanded remark.
“You’re late, Vee.”
“Sorry. Is Vano here?”
“He’s in the back.”
Velvet’s eyes strayed toward the hallway. He must be in the office, down the hall past the supply closet, the piercing room, and the bathroom. She moved behind the front counter and over to the register. Glancing surreptitiously over her shoulder, she saw both men had returned to what they were doing, paying her no mind.