Piece By Piece (The Ink Nation Series Book 1)

by Jennah Thornhill

  “Fuck yes.”

  He starts singing the lyrics loudly and when it gets to the chorus, he changes the words to, “Let’s get, let’s get fucked.”

  I can tell by the mischievous wink he gives me; he means figuratively and literally. Levi air punches the empty space above his head, agreeing with him eagerly.

  I can see this being a night I’m going to end up regretting.

  Fuck me.

  I knew it, I just fucking knew it.

  I haven’t even opened my eyes yet and I know from the soft snores next me that I can hear, I’m going to want to chew my own fucking arm off.

  Damn you Zak.

  I never bring my random hook-ups to my place, no matter how fucked up I get. It’s one of my rules for various reasons. It’s when I finally peel one eye open, I realize I’m not at mine. Wherever it is I am, has fucking big, bright, yellow daisies on the curtains. It makes my gut churn to the point where I feel sick. It’s like I’m being given a small dose of karma.

  Fuck me, this just gets worse.

  I never stay over at their place either, we fuck, and I get out. It’s just easier that way. I must’ve been I’ve beyond wasted, that I passed out. Slowly opening both of my eyes fully, I move my head slowly to my right and away from the unfamiliar window and the curtains that I’ve been fixated on. I see nothing but black hair, that looks like birds could live in it. As I look further down, I see my bed companion is sprawled out across the bed, with my arm tucked underneath her. The sheets have crumpled, so they’re pooled at her waist, showing me the pale skin of her back.

  I need to get out of here.

  With slow precision, I start to pull my arm back from beneath her, trying my absolute best not to wake her up. I really don’t want the awkward morning after, talk.

  When I finally get my arm free, I could scream with happiness, she’s not stirred once. Rolling over onto my side, I swing my legs out of the bed and my head protests at the movement, so I sit up slowly. It feels like Central Parks, brass band has set up camp in there. Trying my best to ignore the booming pain in my head, I stand and look around the room for my clothes. Naked as the day I was born, I spot my black jeans and Ramones t-shirt strewn across the floor. I gather them up as quickly and as quietly as possible and make my escape out of the bedroom. The door creaks and I freeze, looking over to the bed to make sure I haven’t woken the woman occupying it. Seeing that she hasn’t even moved an inch, I slip out. As I head for the door, I dress quickly and find my boots just as I pass the lounge. Checking my phone, keys and wallet are in the pocket of my jeans, I sigh in relief that they’re still there and leave quickly.

  Closing the door behind me with a quiet click, I look around for an elevator but come up empty, as I make my way down the dingy hallway. Spotting a fire exit, I push open the door and make my way down the stairs quicker than my feet can carry me. Pushing on the door when I reach the bottom, another sigh of relief leaves me that I made it out unscathed.

  Quickly noticing I have no idea where I am. Standing in the alley that the fire exit leads me to, doesn’t exactly give me any clues. I turn right where I see people walking up and down on the sidewalk. Coming to a stop at the entrance of the alley, I take in my surroundings. I still don’t know where I am. All I know it’s a fucking rough area and I need to get out of here quick time. Stepping forward, I stand on the curb and flag a cab down, maybe the driver can help me. Getting into the cab when one pulls up, I give him my address before asking.

  “Do you mind telling me where I am? I kinda don’t remember getting here.”

  He chuckles before answering me.

  “You’re in the Bronx, man.”

  Well fuck me. How the fuck did I end up here?

  I thank him then pull out my phone from my pocket, luckily the battery hasn’t died. Zak is gonna pay for this shit.

  Dialing his number, I wait for him to pick up. The second he does; I don’t give him time to say anything before I go into it with him.

  “The Bronx? The fucking Bronx? You, douchebag. Why the fuck did you let me get with that girl? I’m gonna do more than threaten your masculinity when I get back?”

  “Good morning to you too sunshine, have a good night, did you?”

  “Don’t give me that shit, asshole. I’m never going out with you again; I could have been murdered.”

  “Get a grip, dickhead. You got your dick wet, didn’t you? Stop complaining and get your ass to work, someone’s here waiting for you and I’m pretty certain you want to see her.”

  Looking down at my watch I notice it’s almost mid-morning, the studio opens at nine, which means I’m late. The fact that he’s just indicated that Daisy is there waiting for me, makes me feel even worse, when it registers that she will have heard him talk about what I did last night.

  “Tell her I’ll be there in twenty, I just need to go home and change.”

  Ending our conversation, I get a whiff of myself and I cringe, but I don’t have time for a shower now. I’m curious as to what Daisy wants to see me for. I’m secretly hoping she’s come to accept my offer.

  I finally arrive at my apartment and quicker than I’ve ever changed before, I kick my boots off, find some clean jeans and t-shirt in my bedroom. I spray my entire body with the contents of my deodorant and I’m back out the door sprinting to the studio.

  “Oh, look who’s finally decided to grace us with his presence.”

  Zak greets me as I walk through the door. I go to the counter and slam my hands down onto it.

  “You’re lucky Daisy is here, or you’d be eating your own dick right about now, pretty boy.”

  The fucker just smirks at me, before pointing his head in the direction of our waiting area.

  “She was here before me, dude. I don’t know what you’ve said to her, but she looks a nervous fucking wreck.”

  I turn on my boots and face the open plan seating area and there she is. She’s wringing her hands together and her knee is constantly jiggling up and down.

  “I offered her a job.” I tell him, before I walk away from him and go over to her.

  Chapter Ten

  Daisy

  I thought I could do this.

  I thought that agreeing to work here would help me, but since I agreed with Zoe, that I would take the job, my nerves have been shot to shit more than ever. Being in here with just men, men I didn’t know, was starting to get the better of me.

  When I arrived, I thought I could come in, tell Trey I’d take the job and leave, but he wasn’t here. I’ve been sitting here waiting for him for what feels like forever. From what I overheard Zak saying on the phone, he was with a woman.

  When the door opens to the studio, I know it’s Trey that’s walked in, because I can hear him giving Zak shit. That’s when my nerves go up a notch. I start wringing my hands together and dig my nails into my palms to try and ground me.

  “I didn’t think I would see you so soon.” I hear Trey say to me as he approaches me.

  With me sitting and him standing, I find it very intimidating and that’s when I start to panic. I need to leave.

  “I… I’m so sorry. I can’t do this.”

  I quickly stand, rush past him and straight out of the door. I start to run in the direction of my apartment, when I hear my name being shouted.

  “Daisy. Wait up, will you.”

  I carry on running but my lungs start to protest, and Trey catches up with me, stopping me from going any further. My breaths come in short, quick pants and a sheen of sweat is coating my body, as I stand there shaking. He places his hands on the top of my shoulders and I take a step back from him. I can’t have him touching me. When a man touches me, it usually means they only want one thing from me, even if I don’t want to give it to them. Looking up at him, I can see the confusion written all over his face.

  That’s right, I’m a fucking nut job.

  “Trey, just let me go, please?” I plead with him.
/>   “Not a chance, what was that Daisy? I thought you were coming to tell me you were accepting my offer. Not to just say ‘Hi’ and leave.”

  I can feel his eyes on me, assessing me.

  “For fuck sake, you’re shaking. Let’s go get you some coffee.”

  I let him lead me to Starbucks, unable to stop myself from going with him after he came after me. I’m still on edge, I don’t trust that he won’t try something. From what my therapist has been trying to tell me over the years, not all men are the same. That doesn’t stop me from being scared and on high alert, whenever I’m around them. I can see out of the corner of my eye that he doesn’t know what to do. I can notice his arm twitching up and down, as if he wants to wrap his arm around me to comfort me, but he daren’t. In the end, we carry on walking down the block and puts his hands into his jean's pockets. We walk the rest of the way in silence, the only words spoken are from me. “Thank you,” when he opens the door to Starbucks for me. Going over to the counter, he turns to me slightly.

  “Go grab a table and I’ll get these, what would you like?”

  I quickly mumble to him what I want and go in search of a table. I’m grateful when I find an empty one in the middle of all the others and not up a corner somewhere. I don’t think the anxiety that’s filling me, could handle that. Taking the seat that faces the counter, I practice what my therapist taught me, with deep, slow breaths. In through my nose and out through my mouth. I finally start to calm down just as Trey comes over with our drinks.

  “There you go, one medium, caramel latte with extra sugar.” He says as he places mine in front of me. Earning him a small smile and a thank you from me.

  “So, Pink. Are you gonna tell me why you came to see me, or should I just pretend that I didn’t offer you a job? That you’re going to shatter my hopes and reject my offer?”

  Pink? That’s the second time he’s called me that and that’s the part I concentrate on first, the rest I’m not ready to answer yet.

  “That’s the second time you’ve called me that. Why?” I ask him as I fiddle with the handle on my latte cup, that’s in front of me.

  Unexpectedly, his hand covers mine that’s playing with the cup handle. Instantly, I freeze, every instinct telling me to pull away from him, but I don’t. His skin is warm against mine and with a few deep and steady breaths, the panic attack I could slowly feel creeping in, fades.

  “Daisy, look at me.”

  It’s not a question, it’s an order but not one that frightens me, like I thought it would. His voice is stern but gentle at the same time. Not angry and frightening, like what I associate a man's voice with. With a gentle squeeze to my hand from him, I finally start to raise my eyes from where they’ve been staring at my glass cup, for far too long in my opinion.

  “Daisy, when I talk to you, I want to talk to you and not the top of your head.”

  Giving him a nervous smile, we both glance to where his hand is still on top of mine.

  “Sorry.” he whispers as he removes it. “To answer your question, the pink comment is me referring to your hair. It suits you; something tells me being blonde or brunette wouldn’t be the real you.”

  Not wanting to think about how he would react to the real me, I answer with.

  “I just like to be different.”

  “Different is good, there’s already too many fake people in the world. At least you’re true to who you are.”

  Stunned at how he’s got so much from me after only seeing me for a grand total of three times, I raise my brow and shrug my shoulders as a response. Before taking a careful sip of my hot coffee.

  Despite my fears, I’m starting to once again think about accepting his offer. That’s if he still wants me working for him after my dramatics, that lead us to where we are now.

  Chapter Eleven

  Trey

  What in the ever lovin’ fuck am I doing?

  One; I never chase a woman.

  Two; I never reassure them. Their issues are their own to work out, not mine.

  Three; I never spout the shit that’s just come out of my mouth, to anyone. Let alone a woman, who’s clearly more fucked up than I am.

  Yet, with her, something in my gut is telling me that she needed what I just gave her.

  The fear and nervousness I saw in her when I approached her back in the studio, made me nervous. I’ve never seen a woman react like she did when I started speaking to her. It was ten times worse than when I spoke to her yesterday. There was no way I was leaving her on her own when she rushed out the door and tried to run from me.

  I don’t even know her, and I’ve already broken some of my rules where women are concerned. I can’t help it though, with her, something in my gut is telling me that I have to peel back the layers and get to the core of her to figure her out. I’m finding myself listening to my gut instinct and putting in the effort to do just that.

  “Daisy…” I trail off, not knowing what to say to her.

  “I know, I’m weird and I’ve probably freaked you the fuck out?”

  Well that’s one way of putting it.

  “It’s hard for me to t… trust people. Men mainly. I won’t go into it, it’s not something I should subject another human being to. Just talking to you now is a big step for me.”

  For a guy who normally has a lot to say, right now I’m actually speechless. I want to analyze what she’s just told me. The urge I suddenly get to beat the crap out of whoever hurt her, sends my mind spiraling out of control. I can see the panic that she thinks she’s said too much return to her face, so I quickly hurry to try and reassure her.

  “Look, Daisy. We all have issues, believe me, I have them in spades. Trust me, when I say you aren’t the only one fighting your demons.”

  Without thinking about what I’m doing, I take her small hand in mine again and rub my thumb over her knuckles.

  “I’m not going to pressure you, but the job is still yours if you want it. Take your time and come back...”

  “I’ll take it.” she blurts out, shocking me. “I’m sorry.”

  She pulls her hand away and looks genuinely freaked out by her outburst.

  “No need to be sorry.” I’m quick to tell her. “I want you to take the job, I wouldn’t have offered it to you if I didn’t.”

  Taking a small sip of her coffee, I watch how her tongue pokes out around the rim and licks the foam. Me being a man, my mind goes straight to the gutter, but I know I can’t act on my thoughts with her.

  She’s too fragile.

  She’s too broken.

  Pulling my thoughts away from where I would like her to put her tongue, I look at her and give her a small one-sided smile.

  “Why don’t you come by tomorrow and I’ll introduce you to the guys. Don’t worry, they’re all assholes, but not a single one of them would hurt you. They’re my family and I trust them with my life.”

  When I finish speaking, I see her sigh in relief.

  “Well, okay then. I… I… I’ll call by tomorrow.”

  In a flash, she’s up and out of her seat before I can even stop her. Something has me flying out of my seat and charging for the coffee shop door, that’s she’s just fled through and chasing after her, again. Quickly looking left, then right, I spot her speed walking down Fifth on Madison. Before I can think about what I’m doing, I’m running after her.

  “Daisy.” I shout. “Hold on, I wasn’t finished talking to you.”

  Catching up with her, she looks startled that I’ve come after her.

  “Oh, really? I thought we were done.”

  I want to tell her that we are far from done, but I don’t want to freak her out.

  “I was going to suggest that you come by the studio now. I don’t have any appointments in until late evening. So, I was going to take the opportunity to give you the tour and introduce you to the guys. Maybe go over what you are and aren’t willing to work.”

  Normally, if someone
was working for me, they would have set hours and days, but I don’t want to push her too far and have her running again. At this point I’m willing to give her the goddamn studio or any fucking stupid demands she wants, just so she’ll work for me.

  “Oh, okay. Now?”

  “No time like the present.” I tell her with a smile.

  “Then lead the way.”

  She gives me a small smile back and I find myself wishing she would smile more than she does.

  Baby steps, Trey. Baby steps.

  Chapter Twelve

  Daisy

  Curling a short piece of my chin length hair around my finger, as I wrap my other arm around my middle. I follow Trey back to the tattoo studio. Nerves once again take up residence in my stomach at meeting the rest of the guys. I’m still not one hundred percent comfortable with Trey yet, but I can tell that he isn’t a bad guy. I’ve just got to learn to grow and trust that all men aren’t the same, as I’ve been told on multiple occasions.

  I can feel Trey’s eyes on me as we walk down the block, but I keep my mouth shut. I’ve already made a complete fool of myself today, I’m actually surprised he still wants me to work for him. The second he offered me the job again, I jumped at the chance and got out of there sharpish, before he could change his mind.

  “The pink hair really does suit you. If I had to hazard a guess. Underneath all that armor, you shield yourself with, there’s a personality to go with it, that’s just bursting to break free.”

  My head whips up to look at him and I can see he’s deadly serious. Thing is, I don’t have a personality. I’ve been dead on the inside for so long, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to just be me. In fact, I don’t even know what kind of person I am anymore. All I know is that I love to draw and drink coffee. For the best part of my life, I’ve been trying my hardest to keep my head above water and not give into the thoughts of ending my life. Even though I have let them win on more than one occasion.

  “Erm, thanks. I think.” I say to him, not knowing what else to say, but not wanting to say nothing at all.