Prologue
“Close door one, open door two.” Colton could hear the cold voice over the loudspeaker as he watched the doors open in order, knowing it was leading to his freedom.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, he walked through the metal gate into the parking lot of “The Grange” where several cars were waiting to pick up the newly released prisoners. The maximum-security prison, where he had served his punishment decreed by the court, held hardened criminals. Serving three of his five-year sentence had been hard, but now it was over.
Colton took another deep breath, catching sight of the car waiting for him. King had said he would have someone waiting, however only a sadistic son of a bitch would send the same woman responsible for his incarceration. Tessa stood in her shorts and tank top, leaning against her car. If she didn’t get back in the car, one of the other men being released would be going back in before he truly had his freedom back.
“Get in the car, Tessa, you’re showing enough ass to get yourself in trouble,” Colton ordered.
Tessa made a face before sliding back inside the mustang. Colton opened the car door, ignoring Hank-the-Yank giving him the thumbs up, his greedy eyes still trying to gaze at Tessa through the car windows.
“Why are you here?” Colton asked through gritted teeth while getting into the car.
“Now is that any way to say hello after all this time, Colton? I missed you. When King said you needed a ride, I volunteered.” Tessa’s overly cheerful voice grated on his nerves.
“I don’t need any favors from you.” Colton stared out the window, watching the scenery as it passed by. He wanted out of the tight confines of the car with her cloying perfume filling his senses.
Three years without a woman underneath him had been torture. However Tessa sitting next to him had no effect other than making him want to put down the window. King was smart; he had every intention of luring Colton into working for him. Sending Tessa was his reminder that Colton owed him a favor.
This time King’s manipulations wouldn’t work. Prison had taught him a hard lesson. You had two choices; clean up your shit or keep going down that never-ending road until you were a lifer and died behind those walls.
Colton had learned his lesson. He had no intention of going back.
“You look good. You clean?”
Tessa heard the question in his voice. “I am. Been clean since rehab.” Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I told you I would get clean and I have.”
Colton nodded his head, not saying anything more. He had given her a chance; it was good to know she had been smart enough to use it.
“I never got the paperwork,” Colton said coldly.
“I thought we would wait and see how we felt after you got out. I don’t want a divorce,” Tessa said softly, looking at him from the corner of her eye.
“I told you to take care of it, you didn’t, so now I’ll take care of it myself,” Colton informed her.
“Colton, give it some time. Let’s—” Tessa started to protest.
“Tessa, our marriage was over when I found out you were selling pussy to feed that habit of yours. You almost destroyed my business and you put me in prison. I think our marriage is pretty much in the shitter.” Colton’s voice left no doubt he hadn’t forgiven her during his time in prison.
“The business is good, Colton. Reverend has been doing the ink. I’ve gotten pretty good at giving tats and piercings. We even pierce cock now.” She took her eyes off the road to grin at him, ignoring his harsh words.
“Yeah? That’s one job I won’t be taking off your hands.” Colton’s eyes returned to gazing out the window.
Tessa laughed. “Now that we have you back, Green Dragon Tats will rake in even more cash. No one has your skill.”
Colton hadn’t missed Tessa during his incarceration, but he had missed his shop. He had begun learning how to tattoo when he had picked up the ink machine for the first time at sixteen. His natural talent for drawing had found a useful tool and had unfolded, merging with the ink machine until he had become known for the work he did. He had scraped enough cash together to open a small shop. It wasn’t in the greatest area of town, yet he was where he needed to be to get the customers that wanted his tats.
It was the best choice he ever made and the worst. The clients and money had come in a steady supply, providing him with large sums of money for the first time in his life. It had also given Tessa access to those who would supply her with coke for her ever-increasing need. Colton had tried to put a stop to it when he found out, but was too late.
He found himself in prison after King had managed to warn him in time that a drug bust was going down. Colton had succeeded in getting there just in time to pretend the buy was for him, which had earned Tessa a stint in rehab and him a five-year prison sentence. He would still be there if his parole hadn’t been approved.
Technically, he owed King a favor, and unfortunately, King was not a man you wanted to owe favors to. Colton wouldn’t feel truly free until the favor had been repaid.
The drive took over an hour and, by the time Tessa pulled up in front of the apartment King had rented for him, he felt like he was going to pull his hair out. Colton could only marvel at his stupidity for marrying Tessa; her voice was grating on his nerves so badly he wanted to yell at her to shut the fuck up.
Tessa started to get out of the car after pulling into an empty parking spot.
“Give me the key.” Colton held out his hand for the keys to the apartment.
“I was...” Her voice turned seductive. It was obvious what she thought was going to transpire. It wasn’t going to happen, though.
“Just tell me where the apartment is and I’ll take it from here. I don’t need you to hold my hand.” Colton put an end to her maneuvering.
Tessa’s lips tightened, but she still reached into her purse. “We have business to discuss.”
“Nothing that we can’t talk about in the morning when I show up at the shop,” Colton said grimly, holding out his hand. Tessa placed two sets of keys and a cell phone in the palm of his hand.
“Apartment 3G.” She pointed towards a large building. “Your bike is over there on the end. King had one of his boys bring it over this morning.”
Colton didn’t give her another word as he stepped out of the car. He was about to close the door when she told him what he already knew.
“King said rest a couple of hours then come and see him.” She couldn’t even meet his eyes now.
Colton slammed the car door, not bothering to go up to the empty apartment. Instead, he went to his bike. Climbing on, he turned on the motor and listened for several seconds before backing it out of the parking space and turning his bike in the direction of King’s bar. He was going to see King and get it out of the way. Once he found out what King wanted, he could put the mess of his life back in order.