SAWYER

1.

I told Jessica to hang tight for a few minutes. I figured it was a good time for her to catch her breath and get ready for the shading of the rose.

Tate didn’t want to shake my hand, which was no shock.

He walked to the back door and punched it open and walked right out.

That’s when I saw River again.

“Ratted me out?” I asked.

He didn’t say a word.

Maddox stood next to him.

I saw Prick with his arms folded, leaning against the doorway to his room. I hadn’t become too familiar with Prick since we hired him right before I split town. There were other people there, none of them I had met. But I had heard of them. Zayne was some kind of wild rebel guy who was new. And then Cass, a former rock star who turned into a tattoo artist.

What an amazing crew of guys.

I walked out back and saw Tate pacing like a caged tiger.

I stood there and waited.

Tate finally stopped, a few feet from me. He turned and swung, clocking me right in the jaw. My head snapped so hard I thought it was going to go all the way around. I kept my footing and didn’t go down.

I stretched my jaw and tasted blood inside my mouth.

“Feel better?” I asked.

“No,” Tate said.

He brought another fist back.

I jumped at him, not willing to give him a second free punch. This one he was going to have to earn.

We pushed each other a little before Maddox and River got between us.

“Jesus Christ,” Maddox growled. “We have a shop full of people. Not now. Not here.”

“Then get him out of here,” Tate roared.

“Easy now, brother,” I said. “I own half this place.”

“Fuck you,” Tate said. “You left this place.”

“I didn’t give it up. I just went for a ride.”

“For how many years?” Tate asked.

“A few. Maybe more.” I grinned.

Tate pushed at River and knocked him out of the way.

“No,” River said, letting me go and grabbing at Tate’s shirt.

I backed up a little and showed my hand. “Hey, I’m in the middle of a session. We can talk about this stuff later, Tate.”

“Later? You’re out of here, Sawyer. You’re not welcome here. Get the fuck out of this shop and this town.”

“Can’t do that,” I said. “You know why I’m here.”

“Hell no,” Tate said. He grabbed River’s wrist. “Don’t try and stop me again.”

Now everyone let us be.

We got close but nobody threw a punch. Yet.

“Don’t come here for that,” Tate said.

“For what? For what’s mine?”

“You left everything that was yours.”

“And you conveniently just stepped right in to be the hero, didn’t you?”

Tate curled his lip. “Don’t fuck with me, Sawyer. I’ve hung low for a long time. I didn’t fight you on anything. I took the shop and moved it forward. You get your damn check every month…”

“And now I’m here again,” I said. “And I’m not going anywhere. No, wait, that’s a lie. Right now, I’m going to finish that tattoo on that woman. It’s her first. You believe that, Tate? My first day back and I get to give someone their first tattoo. Amazing how life works.”

Tate’s chest puffed out. “This isn’t over, Sawyer. Not by a long shot.”

“I know that, brother,” I said. “That’s why I’m here.”

I turned and walked toward the door. I paused and looked to the guys standing out back.

“River, good to see you again. Maddox, you too.” I walked toward Prick. “Prick, not sure we really got to know each other before I left.”

“Yeah, right,” Prick said.

“Cold shoulder. I like it.” I looked at Zayne. “You’re the outlaw, huh?”

“You’re the asshole, huh?” Zayne asked.

“You can call me Sawyer. Or Saint. I am an asshole, yeah. But St. Asshole in neon lights doesn’t have the same look.”

I moved down to Cass and put up my fist. He raised an eyebrow and slowly bumped his fist to mine.

“You’re a great guitarist, brother,” I said. “I remember you from past days. Old life. Glad you took root here.”

There were still others I needed to meet, but Jessica needed me first.

I opened the door and gave one last look back. Right at Tate.

He looked ready to charge at me and keep the fight going. We would get to that later.

“Tate… when I’m done here, I’m going to get Kate back.”