Chapter One
Arabella parked her dented and rusted little Honda in the parking lot of the tattoo parlor. She checked her makeup and pushed her long blonde hair back from her face. This tattoo was the beginning step toward making a statement for herself. She was free, finally single and going to enjoy her life again. Things had been rough, but she managed yet again to pull herself up and get on with her life. L.G.’s Magical Tattoo Studio was supposed to be one of the best places around, and she had read about the owner, Lucian Giovanni, in a few tattoo magazines. She looked around at the cracked pavement with the weeds and wildflowers growing anyhow and thought of them trying to reach the sunlight against the odds, much as she was. She knew this wasn’t the best part of town, but this was where the shop was. She grabbed her hobo bag and locked the doors.As she rounded the corner to get to the shop, she saw about ten motorcycles parked in front. Shit, she thought, I forgot he was a biker. A group of mean looking bikers stood around the front of the shop and one laid on the bench in between two potted plants. Devious Jokers MC Patches were on their backs. One percenter patches too. Just her damn luck to run into bikers again.
She hadn’t expected this when she had called to make her appointment. The woman she spoke to was so friendly and said that it was very private and she had no reason to be afraid. Those ten bikers made her very nervous, she didn’t know them and prayed they’d never seen her before either. She knew all about bikers, having ditched one recently, he had decided she should give up her money to support his lazy ass plus a bunch of other shit she refused to do. The bastard never paid child support for their daughter, and she was sure he would be looking for her when he got out of jail. Hopefully, he’d never think to look for her in this area. She was living with her Aunt Helene, and he didn’t know shit about her family. Her eyes met one of the bikers who smiled at her.
“You here for an appointment or a walk-in? Cause right now I wouldn’t walk inside. Lots of yelling going on in there.”
Arabella tilted her head as she heard the arguing. “I have an appointment with Lucian; I made it weeks ago, should I come back?”
He pushed his boot up and kicked one of the bikers stretched out on the bench. “Get the hell up, Sleaze. Let the chick sit down. The sign says clients only, asshole.” The biker looked Arabella up and down before grudgingly getting up. He was huge, and tattoos ran up and down his arms in a riot of colors. The first biker opened the door and bellowed, “Lucian, your appointment is here.” He motioned to the seat, and she sat down trying not to hear the fight going on inside. She leaned her head back and shut her eyes. It had been a long night on that hot stage, but she had made good tips. They would pay for the tattoo she wanted, a lotus flower near the bottom of her back, a tramp stamp some might say, but she wanted it there. Whoever the fuck had made that stupid name up was a complete asshole because it was a perfect spot. She could show it off if she wanted to or hide it. At the sound of motorcycles roaring to life, she opened her eyes. The biker named Sleaze stood in front of her.
“Do us a favor and tell Luc we’ll be around later. Good luck with your tattoo.” He turned and got on his bike and roared away. She could hear the arguing clearly now. She shut her eyes and sat there waiting, figuring someone would let her know when it was safe to go inside. She couldn’t help but hear the voices.
“Lucian, you never fucking change. Every time you fuck up, I’m supposed to look the other way. No more, this is it; I quit, you don’t pay me enough to work for you. I’ve wasted enough time playing games with you. Your appointment is sitting on the bench; you’ll love her. From what I can see she’s just your type. I bet you’ll be trying to fuck her too, you bastard. I hope someday you get what you deserve and someone you love walks away from you.”
The door opened, and a woman came out and sat on the bench beside Arabella. Tears were flowing down her face, and she looked devastated. She had a tank top and shorts on, with nothing to wipe them away with, it seemed.
Arabella reached for her hobo patchwork bag and pulled free one of the many bandanas she had tied around the strap. Wordlessly, she handed one of her least favorites to the woman.
The woman took it and wiped at her face. She looked at Arabella with similar green eyes, close to the color of Arabella’s eyes. “If you’re here for a tattoo, a word of advice, don’t fall for that bastard in there. He is the devil himself, and he’ll ruin you and use you, as he did me.” She stood suddenly, and her red hair tumbled down her back. They could have been cousins or sisters; they looked quite a bit alike. “Do you want this back?” She motioned to the bandana.
“No, you can have it, I’ve got plenty for my tears.” Arabella stood up. “Is there a chance I’ll be getting my tattoo today?”
“Sure honey, go inside. Nothing fazes Lucian. Certainly, not me but remember what I told you, though.” She walked away, stopped, and turned around. She stood there looking at Arabella intently. “What’s your name?”
For some odd reason, Arabella didn’t want to her to know her real name. “I’m Aries; my parents were into the zodiac.”
The woman looked at her again and shook her head as she walked to her car. She turned around once, and it looked like she was going to come back, but she decided against it and went across the street to her car.
Arabella entered the shop. She heard the tinkle of the bells on the door and walked around looking at the tattoo pictures the shop had on the walls. It was very impressive, and she wondered if he was here by himself. If so, she wondered when he’d come out of wherever he was.
Lucian stood in the doorway looking at the girl before him. She had to be of legal age, but she sure didn’t look it. The just so ripped jeans were hot on her, and she stood there so innocently. The black boots, scuffed in the right way, he liked her style from her head to her toes. He watched as she pushed her hair away from her face and stared at his drawings of Asian flowers. She moved suddenly and faced him. His heart raced faster as he looked at her. Damn, she’d make a good replacement for Lisa. He was glad she’d finally left; he’d lost interest in her a long time ago. They studied each other, her green eyes narrowing like a cat’s. It was unusual for him; women didn’t stare into his black eyes for long. He stood there, not saying a word watching her. He wouldn’t break his stare.
Arabella looked at the man in the doorway. He had angry looking red scratch marks running down his well-muscled and inked bare chest. His hair was black and long, soft waves of curls floating around his face, that he absently brushed away. He was hot, for an older man and a biker. Right now, she didn’t like men at all. All she wanted was her tattoo and to be back with her daughter at her aunt’s house. It sucked living there, but soon she’d have enough money for a small apartment.
Lucian decided she wasn’t going to break her stare. “I need a few minutes to clean up, Lisa left me some parting gifts. Could you do me a favor and grab one of those tee shirts on that shelf.” He pointed to the wall where the shop merchandise was stocked. “Extra-large should do it.” He disappeared again as Arabella grabbed the shirt and sat on the leather couch. Damn, she thought, Lisa must have been very pissed off at him. She hoped the scratch marks wouldn’t leave scars across the beautiful tattoos that adorned his chest.
Taking a chance, she walked toward the back and bumped into him coming out of what she assumed was the bathroom.
“Here,” she thrust the tee shirt at him as she backed away from him.
Lucian smiled inwardly. “Are you my appointment?”
Arabella silently cursed the man. “I’m supposed to be. Unless you’d rather not tattoo me today.”
“I’m fine, Lisa was no great loss, babe. So, what are you looking to get and where?” He studied her pale skin. She would be a delight to cover with his ink. Color would show up beautifully on her.
Biting her lip for a second, she answered, “I want a lotus, the flower that grows in murky waters and no matter how nasty the pond is, they flower anyway.”
He studied her and walked over to some albums he had. “Sit, and we can look for something you’d like.” He pulled her down next to him and moved closer to her, spreading the album across both their laps.
Arabella didn’t want to be rude and move away, so she sat next to this hot man who smelled a bit like citrus fruit, a bit of leather and smoke. It was all too appealing, and she chewed the inside of her cheek as she looked at the drawings.
“I don’t see it, not in these drawings. I don’t want any black outline. I want a soft watercolor look. With drops of ink as though you painted it on me, not tattooed me. It has to be different, like me.”
“Not drawings babe, it’s flash art. I can draw you up something. Come on back to my station and let’s see what I can magically create to make you smile.” Lucian knew she was uneasy; he understood body language well. He stood up and didn’t wait to see if she’d follow, he knew she would. He wanted to watch her get up, but he didn’t want to spook her quite yet.
Arabella wondered if she should follow him, he was a bit too hot for what she had expected a tattoo artist to look like in her mind. All he’d see was her back, and she’d worn a halter top for that reason. Slowly she followed him and took the stool he motioned her to sit on. He looked at her a few times and went back to drawing. It was very still in the shop, all you could hear were his pens scratching on the paper. She sat up straight as she watched him draw. He wasn’t asking for her opinion, so she didn’t bother to give it. If she didn’t like it, she’d find another artist to do her tattoo. Finally, after a bit of swearing, he located some colored markers, and within minutes he was handing her the paper.
“I know you said no black, but you need a fine line, so it defines the flower. I promise it will look beautiful, I’ll shade colors in exactly like that, or if you want it differently, I’ll change it. And for having to wait and hear all the bullshit with Lisa, this one is free, on the house. I treat my clients well, and that was not very professional, hearing us fight. Where do you want the tattoo?” He planned to lure her in as she sat on the stool looking intently at his work.
“I want it on my lower back, a bit higher then what is called a tramp stamp. I don’t really give a fuck about what people say anyway.” Her voice was soft, and it soothed his head.
“I hate that fucking term; it’s a perfect place for a tat and people are assholes. I didn’t get your name, babe, you know I’m Lucian.” His eyes were glancing over her beautiful body, admiring it subtly as if she was a piece of art. Suddenly he winked at her, and she giggled.
“How rude of me, I’m Arabella.” Her voice sounded like music to his ears.
Lucian frowned, the lines in his forehead turned down, “What kind of a name is that? Kinda old fashioned isn’t it, not that my name is great.”
Arabella fully smiled for the first time, and his heart beat a bit faster. She had pouty lips, and dimples. He was a sucker for dimples.
“I dance under Aries; I don’t use Bella ever, anymore. Never Arabella either. I hate that name.” She pushed the hair that was in her eyes away.
He got up and walked to the counter in the middle of the store, and she followed him, ready to prove who she was.
Lucian studied her and asked her for her license. As Arabella went into her bag and handed it to him, a whiff of coconut suntan lotion hit his nose.
“You have suntan lotion on?” His eyebrow went up.
“No, my daughter got into it, spilled it on my bag. I like the smell, so I don’t mind. Does it bother you?”
“No, but if you had it on, I’d have offered you my shower.” His voice was low and raspy. “So, what do you want to be called? Ara, Aries, anything, but Arabella or Bella, right?”
She twirled her hair with her fingers as she watched him fill out forms. “I guess Aries. Do you need me to sign that form?”
Lucian was amazed she was twenty-one. She looked about sixteen if that and he wasn’t sure if she was playing with him, looking all innocent and twirling her hair like that. He was the game player in relationships. His head jerked up, relationship…. the girl was here for a tattoo, and he was thinking with his cock again. He pushed the form to her to sign. He looked again at her license, Arabella Saint James. The last name rang a bell, but he couldn’t place it, but he would. He’d never seen the girl around here; he’d have remembered her if he’d seen her. He left it on the counter and walked back to his tattoo station.
Arabella signed the form and left it on the counter and walked slowly back to where Lucian waited. She sucked on her bottom lip and wondered if it was wise to go back there. The man apparently was flirting with her and willing to give her a free tattoo. Damn, that was hard to pass up. She watched him from the doorway, looking at the tats on his arms. She slid into the room and looked at his face while he drew more. He had teardrops on his face by his eyes and a black heart tattooed high on his cheekbone, and he looked intense as he finished his drawing. He held it out for her approval. The lotus she had imagined was in front of her and beautiful. Her lips formed a beautiful smile as she studied it.
“Oh Lucian, it’s perfect, exactly what I thought it should be.” Her voice was excited and happy.
“You like it, babe? I aim to please, but my stomach is growling. You eat yet? I got leftover shrimp scampi. Made it last night.” He looked at her with a convincing smile. “I’m not the big bad wolf, ya know. I figured you might be hungry and I don’t wanna eat in front of you. I’m a good cook, too.”
Aries was suddenly starving. “I’m kind of hungry, but I don’t want to take your lunch.”
“Nah, when I cook, I cook a lot, for my boys and me, you know? We can slip upstairs, and I’ll warm it up.” He grabbed her hand suddenly before she could say a word and was pulling her toward a door and a stairway.
The apartment upstairs was beautiful. A balcony ran across the back and hanging pots overflowed with flowers. Aries stood looking at them and wondered if this was all him or his ex’s decorating. He stood in front of the stove, stirring the scampi. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice as he came up beside her.
“Lisa never lived here if you’re thinking that. She worked for me, and we had a kind of relationship, mainly for sex. If you wanna call her drama bullshit and her jealousy, a relationship. I’m a tat artist, chicks like me. Can’t help it but it’s the truth, and I love beautiful women.” He was honest and didn’t seem to care about telling her the truth.
Aries nodded, not quite sure what to say to this man beside her.
“Hard to believe you’ve got a kid, I like rugrats, how old?” He questioned her.
“Juliette is four, but she’s a good little kid. My aunt took us in after I had some issues...” She stopped. Why the hell was she letting this man know her business?
“Yeah? Her dad a deadbeat jerk off? You aren’t from here, are you?”
Aries figured she might as well tell him, “No, I’m not, came from a small town in Pennsylvania. He’s a biker, and we had to leave. All he wanted was my money and as soon as he went to jail. I ran away as fast as I could.”
Lucian looked at her with interest. “What club?”
“I’m not saying, I left that life behind me and there’s no property tattoo on me. He wasn’t there when my baby was born, and he only came around when he found out I was dancing. I was a lot dumber back then, and I hope I’ve become wiser. Maybe not since I’m up here with you, though.” Her green eyes burned into him.
“Ah, I’m not the big bad wolf, Aries. I told you that before, I could make an excellent friend. I can help you if you need it. They looking for you yet?” He wondered which MC she had been hanging around. Beautiful young thing like her, they’d be looking for her no doubt about it. “I bet they’re looking and they’ll find you. You were smart to run, but you didn’t run far enough.”
Aries swallowed hard. He was correct, and she knew it. “He’s in Devil’s Grime MC. My name has been changed so maybe he won’t find me. I was adopted, and I recently found my birth father and aunt. The first thing my aunt did was get my last name changed, and my daughter’s too. She has treated us like family, but I don’t think I fit into the Saint James family. My dad isn’t too happy about me being around his perfect family. I was the mistake that was supposed to have stayed away, I guess. My adoptive parents are religious and are very opinionated.” She blew at a wisp of hair that drifted into her face before continuing. “Getting pregnant was a big no-no, and I wouldn’t give my baby up for adoption. They gave me what little information they had on my birth parents, but just my dad. They wanted us to leave as soon as we could. I can’t find my mother; they didn’t seem to know very much about her. I never thought I’d look him up but what could I do? I found my aunt first thankfully, and she took us right in. She is a bit odd, and she still runs the show as far as the family business goes. I’m trying to get a small apartment before she gets too clingy and wants to manage my life. I love her, but I need to be free.”
Lucian nodded. Devil’s Grime MC was not on his list of favored clubs, he hated the bastards and thought of what they’d do to this girl if they caught up with her. “Let’s eat. You like white wine?”
She nodded, and they went to the bar that stretched across the kitchen. There were plenty of stools, and she took the second to the last. She watched as he put a plate of food in front of her, the shrimp were huge, and it smelled delicious. He placed a glass of wine down by her hand and went to fix his plate. She sipped the wine as she waited for Lucian, he was surprised she had waited for him to join her before eating. Beautiful and classy, he thought. “Mangia!” He began to eat, and she placed a napkin on her lap as she joined him.
The shrimp were lemony and garlicky, and it was the best shrimp scampi she had ever tasted. The pasta was perfect, and she wondered about this man that sat across from her. He was so sweet, that wasn’t good. However, he was right; she needed friends. She decided to let him make the next move, as she drank her wine. She was very sure he would because he was sneaking looks at her. All of this could become fascinating.
After drinking more wine, Aries was relaxed enough to show pictures of Juliette to Lucian.
He seemed to be genuinely interested in her daughter, and she liked that.
“She is a jewel; you should call her that. She looks just like you, too.” He stared at the last picture of them both on the beach for a long time.
“Thanks, I knew I couldn’t give her up, so I danced as soon as I could after she was born. I wasn’t taking welfare. Fuck those government bastards. I’ve found some good places to dance here, but I don’t know the area, yet. My aunt would like me to get a job in the family business, but it’s causing issues, and I didn’t come here to live off them.” She had a proud look on her face.
Lucian looked straight into her eyes, “No, I can see you wouldn’t, your kind of determined to make it on your own.” He ran his hand over his chin thinking.
“I’ve had to count on myself. I knew when I was younger that life wasn’t going to be easy. Even before I had the baby, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I never really knew what I wanted to be, you know? It was like college was the perfect answer in life. I wasn’t ready to go into debt for school when I had no idea of what I’d be when I was in high school. I went a little wild, met Gunner, and it went bad after that. I don’t regret anything, though.” She reached for the last sip of wine in her glass.
Lucian mentally stored the name of her ex, Gunner, in his mind. “I didn’t know what I wanted to be either. I get ya. Now do you wanna hang out or get tatted?” He was hoping she’d say she wanted to stick around and party with him.
“Lucian, I want to get tatted, I have to do it while I have a few days off. I wish I could hang out; my aunt is always telling me I have no life. Not that she’d approve of you, though.” She sounded wistful.
“What would you say if I said I knew your aunt? Would that shock you?” He was grinning at her. He had figured out the connection to her last name as soon as she mentioned her aunt was a bit odd. Her aunt had to be Helene Saint James.
Aries’ laugh tinkled, “I’d say you were full of shit.”
Lucian looked at her and smirked. “I own most of this block and Helene, and I are working on getting the abandoned lot you parked in, turned into a park with benches. I have a parking lot across the street. Charming lady, your aunt is. As determined as you are too, I think.” Let her toss that around in her head.
“Does my aunt have any tattoos yet?” She joked.
“Not that I’ve done, but you never know. Women older than your aunt get them. Let’s get going on your tat. I’m riding later with my boys, if you wanna come out and see my bar, maybe you’d like to dance there. I’ll take you. Why don’t you call your aunt and see if you have a babysitter?” His voice was luring her into wanting to go.
“I’m in a halter top; I’d have to go back home to get a jacket.” She was making excuses, but she did want to go out with him. She hadn’t had much fun lately and if she could see his bar, maybe working there was a possibility.
“If you call and get her to babysit, we have hoodies, and I’ll give you one. You want to go; I can see it in your eyes, babe.”
“I’ll call her, Juliette loves being with her. My aunt is watching her now. Can I use this phone?” He nodded, and she dialed her aunt’s number. “Hi, I wondered if you would mind keeping Juliette a while longer for me? I ran into a couple of girls I know, and they asked me to go out tonight.” She lied smoothly. “I know Aunt Helene, but they’re the only girls I know. Is Juliette behaving?” She listened to her aunt speak.
Lucian scribbled on a piece of paper, tell her your spending the night with one of them, we’ll have a great night, and you can crash here. I promise I will be a gentleman.
Maybe it was the wine… maybe it was him… but she did it.
“I’ll just stay at Lisa’s house tonight if that is alright? I don’t want to drink and drive.” She watched him grin at the name Lisa. “Thank you, and I promise to be careful. Love you.” She looked at him trustingly and hung up the phone as he smiled into her eyes.