by Skyla Madi
He steps out from behind a group of people and I freeze on the spot. Can he tell Skull wants me to betray him? Do I look different? More importantly, do I tell him? My legs feel weak. My hands still tremble and I do nothing but stare at him as he watches me. Briefly, his eyes flick to the ledge above the cage and his brows draw closer. I don’t have to look to know Skull is watching, and it’s enough to force my legs back into action. I move towards Jai, every step making me feel weaker and weaker. A foot away, Jai opens his arms and I dive into them, throwing my hands around his neck. My chest is heavy. I want to cry, throw up and scream all at once. Jai’s manly scent flows in through my nostrils and I breathe in the familiarity of it. Then his cheekbones brush against mine.
“You okay?”
If I open my mouth I think I’m going to cry, so I just shake my head instead. Not wanting Skull to see me like this, I pull back and straighten my shirt. Jai analyzes my face and I can see it in his eyes. He knows I don’t want to talk about it. So, to save face, he beams widely at me and claps me on the shoulder before tucking me under his arm and pulling me in the direction of our little nook.
Chapter Sixteen
Confession
We step into our space, and immediately, I shrug out from underneath Jai’s arm and sit on my bed. Jai lowers himself onto his own cot and our knees graze, but he doesn’t say anything. He sits and waits patiently, like he has all the time in the world. I see it on his face, though. He’s dying to know what went on behind that door, but I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to talk about Skull and what he wants from me. He called me Kitten and on my collarbone, he gave me a skull tattoo. He wants me to report anything Jai does that I find out of the ordinary. Everything, all of it—it’s too much pressure, and I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire.
“You did well,” Jai says after a few quiet minutes.
I look at him, surprised he wants to start with my fight, and not with Skull.
He sits with his elbows on his knees, his fingers nervously fiddling with each other. His dark blue eyes reflect the sympathy he feels deep down and it even manages to manifest on his lips too. For some reason, I feel better knowing we’re both unhappy. Sure, we won our first round of fights, but this is only the beginning and I can’t shake the feeling our real fights haven’t started yet.
“That doesn’t mean anything to me. She wasn’t feeling one hundred percent...my win was a freak accident.”
“It takes a lot to—”
“Kick someone when they’re down?” I cut in. “Yeah. So I’ve been told.”
I tug at my hair band and let my hair fall around my face like a messy curtain. It sticks to the sweat on the back of my neck and I hate it, but I don’t have the energy to do anything about it.
“I don’t know what was wrong with her...maybe she drank too much last night, or maybe she ate some bad food.”
“Maybe.”
I frown, unsure of the tone he’s used. For someone who cares if I win or lose, he certainly isn’t counting what happened this morning as a miracle. My first opponent falls ill the day we’re meant to fight and not once has he called me ‘lucky’. It doesn’t sit right with me.
“You’re not shocked?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
“What do you want me to say? She got sick. Shit happens.”
No. I’m not buying it. “You know something, don’t you?”
He opens his mouth and I gasp, fitting all of the pieces together. I feel sick...I feel...I don’t know how I feel. My brain is unable to comprehend the act I’m about to accuse Jai of.
“You did something, didn’t you?”
Jai leans back on his hands, completely unfazed by my accusation. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”
I push off my bed and my organs finally decide to implode from all of the stress. I rake my fingers through my hair as tears gush from my eyes and I sob. I sob so fucking hard. I can’t handle this. I can’t live this life—the fighting, the cheating, the killing—it’s too much.
“That poor woman,” I cry, pulling at my hair as I pace the small area. “I cheated her. I cheated her out of her money, out of her spot here.”
Jai rises to his feet. “You didn’t cheat her out of anything. You played the game and you won.”
I snap my head in his direction and point a sharp finger. “You played the game for me! I never would’ve hurt someone for my own personal gain. Not ever!”
His jaw tightens and his blue eyes flare. “That’s why I did it for you. I knew your conscience couldn’t handle it. There are things we need to do here, Kitten, and I need your help.” His attention flicks to my tattoo before coming back to my face. “You’re in with Skull now. You’re in the perfect position to help me.”
I shake my head, sniffling, and trying to slow down the tears. “I don’t give a shit about Skull or your plan.”
I stuff my hand into my back pocket and pull out the dense roll of cash Skull gave me for winning my fight. I’ve never had money I didn’t want before. Or at least, I didn’t until now. It feels too heavy in my hands. It doesn’t feel like it should. As I look at it, the tears stop.
“How’d you do it?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the money. “How’d you incapacitate the woman?”
“I told you. Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers—”
“How?” I demand, squeezing the cash in my hand.
“I bought some Tramadol off Marcus and I crushed it up and poured it into her water.”
Tramadol. All of the stuff I learned on the narcotic springs to mine. It’s a narcotic-like pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s used for around the clock treatment, not ‘as needed’.
“Do you know how strong Tramadol is?” I ask, curious.
I mean, it’s not hardcore like morphine, but it’s a hell of a lot stronger than Tylenol.
Jai shakes his head. “You’re the nurse, not me.”
“They specifically ask you not to crush, break, or open an extended-release pill to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal dose.” I rub my forehead. “You don’t know her medical history. There’s a long list of things that need to be ticked off before a doctor even prescribes it to a patient. It’s dangerous.”
From what I can recall, weak or shallow breathing, fever, fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination and a few other symptoms are all warnings of an overdose. In the cage, her body wasn’t handling it well.
“She could be dead,” I announce, my eyes widening.
“She’s a little beat up, but that’s the extent of it. I watched her leave. She’s otherwise okay, Emily.”
But that’s not the point, is it? It’s the principle. Both Skull and Jai are using me to further their plans. Both of them do things without my permission—without my knowledge. It’s not okay. I step forward and shove my money at Jai’s large chest. He looks down at it, but refuses to take it from me.
“I told you I don’t want the money.”
Our eyes lock.
“You think I do?” I nudge him with it. “Either you take it or I throw it over the ledge.”
Reluctantly, he takes the money and I turn away from him.
“Where are you going?” he calls after me, but I ignore him.
If I’m going to survive here, I’ll do it on my own terms.
I’ll find my own room.
I’ll train myself.
I’ll avoid Skull and Jai at all costs.
Both of them are twisted and both of them are master manipulators. Neither can be trusted. I am the only person I can trust. I want excitement and I want to experience the unknown, but not at the cost Jai and Skull are asking for.
I don’t know much, but there’s one thing I know for certain. Win or lose, I’m getting out of here when I’m finished with round two.
Bonus!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SKYLA MADI is an Australian writer from Brisbane, Queensland.
Skyla started her writing career fresh out of high school and at 21 she is a giver of both real and fictional life.
She is an aquarian, lover of the written word and author of the #1 BESTSELLING Consumed trilogy.
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Forever With You
Misfit Tattoo: Book One
By Jennifer LaBelle
“It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all its tainted glory and still to love it.”
~Oscar Wilde~
Chapter One
~A misfit refers to a person who doesn’t quite fit into the social classes of today. They’re a strong-minded bunch of introverts who have few friends and tend to be misunderstood.~
Toby
Change sucked balls. He knew that first hand, and he had no choice in the matter. His life was a mess of old scars, distractions, and work. His old shop, Blank Canvas, was now Misfit Tattoo, thanks to that fucking fire that destroyed his life and his love. The one night that was supposed to be one of the happiest in his life was now nothing but a nightmare he’d never, ever forget. God only knew he’d tried time and time again. If only he could go back, get a do-over.
Toby James stood outside in the empty car lot beside the new and improved version of the shop he owned and ran his fingers through his hair as the memories came crashing back to him once more.
Eighteen months earlier…
As soon as she entered the shop, Toby began to serenade her with Christmas songs. He was in such a good mood and couldn’t wait to get their night started.
“Okay, okay, just please stop.” Carley giggled. “And please, for the love of God, don’t quit your day job.”
His beautiful girlfriend had shown up at Blank Canvas afterhours as he’d instructed her to do to finally get the piercings she kept talking about but never had the guts to go through with.
Tonight, she’d be leaving with two brand new nipple piercings to go along with her nose ring and eyebrow ring.
Most importantly, she was also there to receive the surprise he refused to give her any hint about, and if all went according to plan, it’d be fucking epic.
She approached the back door and knocked, only to be pulled in right away and twirled around in his embrace, as he sang to her. It was the type of pussy romance shit he teased the guys about all the time, but he couldn’t care less. She was his world.
“Come on, Carley, where’s your spirit?” Toby asked.
“You’re adorable.” She smiled.
“Uh-huh. Before the night is through, we’ll have five golden rings on you. Are you ready?”
“As much as I’ll ever be, and I’m pretty sure you meant to say four.”
“I know what I said.” Toby stood back, slipped his hands from around her waist, and held her hand as he led the way to the front of the store. The curtains were drawn, the closed sign was flipped on the door, and it smelled a little like antiseptic. His home sweet home, away from home.
He led her to her very own chair and stepped between her legs as she sat. Cupping the sides of her face tenderly, he bent over to capture her mouth against his. His soft, plump lips coaxed Carley’s own to open. His teeth nipped at her bottom lip and sucked on it before his tongue sought entry, and it made her moan and squirm for him.
Her hands slid up his chest to the nape of his neck, her fingers slid through his soft, silky hair, and she tilted her head to the side even more to enjoy the wet, silky warmth of his tongue as it moved against her own. His cock swelled and pressed up against her chest, rock hard and aching, and his hips instinctively moved, allowing her to feel how she affected him. Toby moaned; he couldn’t get enough of her. This chick did things to him that no other could or ever would. They clicked. Two kindred spirits joined, but there was a job to do. He pulled back from the kiss, pressed his forehead against hers, and groaned. “As much as I want to continue—” He rubbed his lower half against her again. “We should get these piercings done before it gets too late. I’ve got plans for the two of us. Rain check on the make-out session?”
“That depends. Do these plans include continuing what you just started?” She pouted. “I’m aching over here.” Her hands left him to trail along her chest. She cupped each breast and trailed one of her hands lower again. Teasing him, she spread her legs while he stood there captivated and drooling and rubbed herself in between them.
“Fuck! Take off your shirt.” Toby growled, “Bra too, babe.” He turned away from her momentarily to set up and calm himself down. There was a time and place for everything, and as much as he’d like to slide into that warm tight pussy right then and there, he had a couple of piercings to do and some things to get off his chest first. Then he’d be glad to give her anything she desired. He loved tasting her, exploring her body, and fucking her. Hell, if all went according to plan, he’d be able to do so for a lifetime.
“Yes, sir!” He smirked when she saluted him.
They’d met three years earlier in the very same spot she was in right then. Only she’d come in to get her very first tattoo at the time. She’d been too chicken shit to get anything large and opted for a small, blue butterfly on her left shoulder. There was an instant attraction, and she was so easy to be around that when he asked her out, her answer was an instant yes, and the rest was history.
“Now what?” Carley bit her lip, and he could instantly tell she was nervous about the procedure.
“Now it’s showtime.” Toby slowly applied an alcohol swab against each nipple and smiled when they hardened for him. Next, he grabbed a marker to mark the spot where the hole was going to go so the entry and exit holes aligned properly at the base of the nipple.
“Um, what the heck is that?” She stiffened as he reached over to grab the tool he was about to pierce her with. It sort of resembled a clamp.
“Relax, baby. It’s just a device we use to hold the tissue firmly together. We’ve got to line up the two dots I just marked on you as closely together as possible. It should only be another minute, and we’ll move on to the next one.” He winked. “You good?”
She nodded and continued to bite her lip while eyeing the needle closely.
Before she knew it, the clamp was being removed, the needle went through, the loop was in, and her eyes shot wide. She hissed when it went through. There was a slight discomfort, but she took it like a champ. What took mere seconds felt like minutes, and he started on the second one.
“It stung for a minute, but these are actually quite nice.” She took a few minutes to compose herself when both breasts were done and then stood in front of the floor-length mirror to have a look at her new body bling.
Toby watched her admire his work, stepped up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her midsection. “They’re looking hot, babe. Then again, your tits were always pretty spectacular.”
She leaned back and giggled as he dipped his head down to press his lips at the side of her neck before slowly moving them back up against her earlobe to whisper, “They’ll be sore for a few days, but after that, I can’t wait to show you how good they’ll feel. I love that you came to me for this.” He sucked her lobe inside of his mouth and looked up again to admire her. “Make sure your hands are clean when you handle the piercings and apply a good amount of soap on your nipples and on the jewelry, washing them off with warm water a few times a day to keep the area clean.”
“Will do.” She smiled and finally turned into his arms to face him directly. “Now, I believe you were saying you had plans for the two of us tonight. Please tell me we don’t have to go far because, sore
or not, I still want to continue what we started earlier, and I want to keep my shirt off for a while.”
“Now that I can oblige.” He laughed. “Follow me.” Toby led her into his office.
It was show time.
He walked ahead to his desk, took a deep breath, and pulled the ring out of the top drawer. This was it, the official start to their forever. He walked back around the desk to a speechless Carley and lowered himself on bended knee before her. The room was dimly lit by candles he had sparked just before she arrived, and it was about as romantic as it was going to get, simple but sweet. He gulped nervously, and she surprised him by singing out, “Five golden ri—inngs,” with a smile. It made the moment that much more perfect, that much more memorable.
He got up to stand in front of her instead because fuck tradition and lightly touched each ring, starting with her eyebrow, her nose, and then lightly caressing each nipple piercing. He then held up the last one reserved for her finger. “Carley, I love you, baby. Will you please marry me?”
“Yes,” she cried as she jumped into his arms with delight. “I love you so much.”
“Me, too. Merry Christmas, honey,” Toby whispered, and he slipped the ring on her finger.
Lifting her into his arms, he carried her over to his very comfortable sofa and fulfilled his earlier promise to show her how much she was loved by making love.
The images burned into his mind like an instant replay. Every pleasure-filled moment now etched into one painful memory, because what was supposed to be the beginning of a happy life with the one person who made him feel whole turned out to be the end of it all.
His perfect fucking night became an introduction to his own personal hell. It made him wonder why he had to light those stupid candles instead of keeping the lights on? And why was he batshit enough to fall asleep before making sure they were all blown out first? But, most of all, why had he survived, and she hadn’t?