Chapter Twenty-Three
Melina
Celina throws a punch to my head, which I block. “Getting better there, sweetheart,” she says while trying again with a left hook. Even sweaty, Celina is a knockout. Her ponytail makes her look badass. Her designer workout gear is black with a turquoise stripe slashing across the front. I want to hate her just for being perfect, which is impossible because she’s so damn nice.
I block the next punch too. “I’m a quick learner and besides, you hit like a girl.” Yeah I’m on my ass after that remark, but it feels good. I like knowing I will eventually be able to defend myself. It’s thirty minutes before dinner. If I’m not showered and looking respectable, Gabriella will kick me out of the dining room. Celina and I are in the same boat and conclude our workout to keep the wrath of Gabriella off our backs.
Getting the shit beat out of me is a good way to keep Austin out of my mind. Too bad it doesn’t work for more than a few minutes after I leave the gym. I head to my room and grab a quick shower. I dry off and head to the dresser for clothes. I’ve just put on panties, when there’s a short knock on the door, and Celina pokes her head in.
“Oops sorry, I wanted you to know dinner will be 30 minutes late. I guess Mak’s dog caused a problem in the kitchen. You—” she stops talking for two seconds. “Nice ink.”
My back is to her and I feel a blush heat my cheeks. “Courtesy of California’s crime lord,” I tell her self-consciously.
“And you agreed to this?”
“No, anything but.”
“Asshole. Alex will take care of him. I’m putting that creep on my personal hit list, which means he’ll be on Alex’s too.” I give her a tight smile and feel my lips tremble. “Hey,” she says. “None of that.”
“Is it hideous?” I ask nervously.
“You haven’t seen it?”
“I can see the front and my ass, but I haven’t seen the rest. I’m too afraid to look.”
She steps completely into the room and closes the door behind her. “If you like ink, it’s incredible. There’s so much going on it’s hard to imagine the time it took to do it.”
I make a small humorless sound. “I spent every day chained down in a basement. Believe me, it took forever.” I should have told her this before, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m still not. Thoughts of Austin are too raw.
Her hand comes out and she runs a finger down my back. “What does it all signify?” she whispers.
“How so?”
“There’s a lot going on. There are words, names, animals…”
I cringe. “Animals?” All I can picture are the dead carcasses my brother collects. Hell, he doesn’t even kill them himself, just pays exorbitant amounts for their dead carcasses.
“There’s a baby elephant with its mother. So beautiful.” Her finger moves higher. “And here’s a small dog. There’s a ribbon under it that says Feather.”
“What?” Her words jar me to the core.
“Bobby is another name. Do you know a Bobby?”
My stories. He’s put them on my back. “I need to see,” I say as I walk into the bathroom shakily.
“I can’t believe you haven’t looked. This took serious talent. The colors and lines are amazing. Take a breath before you look, though, because the biggest word might not set well with you.”
I don’t take her advice and turn quickly to the mirror after turning on the light. I don’t see a big word, my gaze catches the image of Feather. His features are perfect with unbelievable detail. I finally look at Celina in the mirror, my eyes filling with tears. I glance back at the mirror and try to make out the big word she’s talking about. Slowly, I see it. The script weaves into the design and looking in the mirror turns it backward.
M I N E
Everything inside me deflates. How could he mark me that way and send me back to my brother to die? I huff out a breath. He did it to piss off my brother more, the asshole.
“Hey, I’m sorry this is upsetting you.”
I wipe my eyes. “What else do you see?” I turn around slightly so she has a better view.
Her finger trails my skin again. “There’s a sign for the zoo and a red bow over here.”
The red hair bow my mother gave me before she died. I don’t remember telling Austin that story but I must have. I don’t know what to think or what the hell to do. He inked my life onto my skin. As far as I can tell, it’s only the good memories. What kind of man does that?
“A man who loves you,” Celina replies. I didn’t realize I spoke out loud.
“He kidnapped me, mutilated me, and sent me back to my brother to die. A man in love doesn’t do that. I don’t think Austin has feelings for anyone. I don’t think he’s capable.”
“Then you’re lying to yourself. He drew his feelings on your skin. He’s put skeletal arms on your breast and ass to show you’re his. There’s no other explanation.”
Celina grabs a robe from the back of the door, slips it over my shoulders, and then pulls me close for a hug. My tears fall unheeded. “You don’t understand what he did to me. I told him my brother would kill me and he sent me back anyway.”
“I didn’t say he wasn’t an asshole, just that he loves you.”
A giggle escapes. Austin is an asshole.
“Do you love him or do you want him dead? Alex can take care of the killing part very quickly.”
I lean back and look into her smiling face. How did I ever get lucky enough to end up here with Mak and Celina? The eye candy attached to them isn’t bad either. I’ve never been free in my entire life. Even though I know danger lurks outside Moon’s home and the escort service, I’ve never felt this unrestricted. “If you could hold off killing him for a little longer I’d appreciate it.”
Celina’s smile beams. “That man had better claim you quickly or there will be hell to pay. Don’t give in too fast, though. He deserves to suffer.”
“He does,” I say with a return smile. “But what if he doesn’t come?”
“Oh, girlfriend, he’ll come. I promise.”