by Holly Hood
I nodded, bringing my iced tea to my lips. “Hutch popped up out of nowhere.” I looked at him. He flexed his jaw, settling back in his chair.
“What the fuck did he want?”
The couple next to us shook their heads not happy to hear Slade’s foul mouth. I shushed him and continued. “He said the only way to get rid of Carlo is to kill my dad.” I looked at the couple next to us hoping they hadn’t heard that bit of information.
“What does that matter?”
“You know Hutch, he tries to get under my skin. He figured I didn’t know and wanted to scare me.” I let out a breath.
“Did it scare you?” Slade asked, watching our waitress approach.
“At first, but not anymore.” I panicked, I stressed and I just about had a nervous breakdown but I got over it. I wasn’t completely sure why. “What we did was wrong, who was I kidding to think it would turn out okay in the end?”
Slade’s jaw tightened. “We’ve been through so much already. Who’s to say we can’t get through this?” He reached for my hand.
“I agree,” I told him. I stroked his hand. “That’s why I stopped worrying about it. After everything that has happened I’m still here.”
We placed our order and talked about music and school. Slade devoured a steak the size of half a cow. I did my best not to get sauce on my dress while eating ribs. And after we stuffed ourselves he paid the bill and we took off back outside to enjoy the night together.
“That was fun,” I said.
Slade shook his head. “That wasn’t fun. It was boring. This isn’t what we do.”
I touched my hair. “What do we do?”
“We have a good time. We do whatever we want, not this cookie cutter shit.” He took my hand. “Things like this.”
I turned to look at what he was talking about. “That’s a tattoo parlor.”
Slade nodded. “I’m kind of into them if you haven’t noticed.”
I crossed my arms. “So, why are we here? Do you even have any more places to get a tattoo?” My eyes moved down the length of him.
Slade motioned me toward the doors. “Are you scared? Is this not your cup of tea?” He raised an eyebrow. “Should we go walk hand in hand down by the water?”
I rolled my eyes letting him open the door for me. “I’m a lot tougher than you give me credit for.”
Permanence
A tall guy in jeans and a leather vest waved to us. Slade closed the book of tattoos and pulled me up. “It’s time.”
I followed him back.
“Slade, long time no see,” the man said. He was older, possibly fifty.
“Hey, Chuck.” Slade climbed into the chair, letting out a sigh.
The guy, who I now knew as Chuck pulled up a stool and moved over to him. “And who is this pretty thing hanging out with the likes of you?” He smiled at me.
I smiled back taking a seat next to the door.
“No, no no.” Chuck stood up dragging another stool to the other side of Slade. “This boy is going to need your support.”
Slade shook his head. “This is Hope.”
“Is Hope something serious?” He raised an eyebrow, running a tattooed hand through his hair. “Or are you hanging around with another fan of your voice?”
Slade reached behind him and pulled his shirt off. “She’s the real deal.” He took my hand. “She’s what brought me here today.”
I looked at Slade. “What?”
Chuck nodded. “What will it be? A bleeding heart showing your undying devotion?”
Slade shook his head. “I have something else in mind.”
This was all going too fast. Slade was about to get a tattoo because of me. My palms started to sweat. I was sure he could tell.
“A brand,” Slade said.
I couldn’t believe what I heard.
Chuck scratched his head. “You know that’s serious recovery time.”
“Look at me,” Slade said. “Do you think I give a shit?”
Chuck stood up. “Well, let me get things ready. I’ll be back.”
Chuck closed the door leaving us alone. Before I could object Slade ran his knuckles across my cheek coxing me to his lips. We kissed, and broke apart but he held my eyes with his. “Tell me what you’re thinking right now.”
I stroked his face, my fingers toying with his lip ring. “I think you’re crazy.”
“Always, babe. But only for you.”
Chuck opened the door followed by an assistant. “This is the crazy son of a bitch who wants to get branded.” Chuck pulled up a seat and started assembling his tray.
The other guy shook hands with Slade. He had a bunch of tattoos and piercings but even he seemed a bit taken aback by Slade’s choice. “Nice to meet you, man.”
I flinched at the sound of a blow torch starting up. The sounds coming from it made my skin crawl.
Chuck focused on me. “Everything is completely safe. This is legal I assure you.”
I swallowed, forcing myself to nod. I focused on Slade’s gorgeous face and not on the metal tools and blue flame feet away from me.
“So what will it be?” Chuck laughed. He stood up. “I already know that answer and have everything ready.”
He snapped on black gloves and opened up a package. “Is this to your liking?”
Slade inspected the metal. “Just what I asked for. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.” Chuck nodded in agreement and took his seat.
“Let’s fire it up,” he said.
The other guy put the flame to Chuck’s metal. I couldn’t make out what it was, but Slade knew and planned for it without me even knowing.
“You knew you were coming here to brand yourself?” I asked.
He nodded. “Kidd’s not the only romantic.”
“Okay, okay love birds. I’m all fired up and ready to go,” Chuck reclined the chair back, Slade stared up at the ceiling. “Where will it be?”
He touched his chest. “Right here.” He looked at me. “This is to show you how much you mean to me.”
I squeezed his hand. “I already know.”
“I want to be reminded for the rest of my life how much I love you,” he told me. He closed his eyes, gripping my hand tighter.
Chuck went for it, pressing the hot metal to Slade’s chest.
Hope and Slade forever
An infinity sign along with my name was now a permanent fixture on Slade’s chest. It was the most horrific yet romantic thing anyone ever did for me.
And I didn’t know what to do. Did I offer to brand myself to show I loved him just as much? The thought of someone pressing hot metal into my flesh scared me to death.
“Maybe I could get a tattoo,” I offered at the counter while Slade went over aftercare instructions with Chuck.
Chuck smirked, folding the paperwork in half. “I’ll be back.”
“I don’t want you scarring yourself for me,” he said. “That’s not what this was about.” He grabbed my arm, touching my heart tattoo. “You already have a tattoo. That’s all you need.”
“You have my name on your chest for the rest of your life. I need to do something.” I felt guilty. “I’m just not sure what could be as good as burning the flesh off of my body.” I sighed.
“You want to be a dancer.” Slade pointed out. “Tattoos are not the way to go. I am in a rock band, it’s totally acceptable. I already know you love me.”
We kissed. “How come you couldn’t have used some spell to do that?” I asked, referring to the painful burn.
“Because the easy way is for losers,” he told me.
***
“So he took you to dinner and then to a tattoo parlor where he got branded with your name?” Karsen asked from her spot on the couch next to Kidd.
Kidd shook his head. “That asshole.”
“What?” Karsen said. “Don’t tell me you’re mad you didn’t do it first.”
Kidd smirked. “That’s more romantic than a proposal. The man’s a fucking genius.” Kars
en slapped him in the arm and they tackled each other and started making out.
That was my cue to leave. I found Slade in his bedroom sleeping after such a traumatic experience. His shirt was off and his hands were behind his head.
He looked so peaceful. I carefully crawled up the bed and worked myself in beside him careful not to touch his bandage. I kissed his chest and closed my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered.
“I thought you were asleep.” I rested my head on his chest.
“I’ve been dozing in and out,” he said. “Waiting for you.”
A little bit lucky
I was home, washing laundry, cleaning out the refrigerator. The house was empty, Dad was at work and the boys were somewhere away from me.
He still hadn’t said more than two words to me and it was hard to stomach.
I threw the last of the laundry into the dryer and shut off the lights. I needed to get out of there. It depressed me being in a home that felt so empty. Not to mention nobody in it wanted to be around me.
I walked along the beach, staring at half washed away sand castles and seagulls diving for food. Little kids ran along the shore giggling and screaming.
The waves crashed against my feet. I was glad I changed into shorts before I came outside.
“What a beautiful dog,” someone said.
I turned, silently hating myself when I saw who was sunbathing. It was Eve. She sat up, taking her sunglasses off and set them beside her.
“Thanks.” I looked at Blue. I didn’t get to see him much anymore. And he loved the beach so I decided to take him for a walk with me. He was perfect company because he didn’t have anything to say.
“My grandparents had a great dane when we were kids,” she told me.
I looked away. “We’ve always had a great dane. Sort of a family tradition.”
She smiled. And I found it odd. As odd as her still being in California but I didn’t mention it.
“My brother Marcus was in love with our grandparent’s great dane. He tried so hard to convince my parents to let him have her. But they never would.” She smiled, staring off at the water.
My ears perked up at the name. I still had callouses from scrubbing and painting my dad’s wall. “You have a brother named Marcus?”
“Had.” She nodded. “It’s a long story.”
I tightened my grip on Blue’s leash. “Is he dead?”
She raised an eyebrow and nodded again. “Yes. He died when I was still in high school.”
I bit down on my lip afraid to awake the monster but I needed to say something. “When we came home, my dad had this episode and wrote that name all over his bedroom walls.” I searched her eyes.
“Did he say anything about it?”
I shook my head. “He hasn’t been the same ever since. He says he sees people all the time and that they want things. He thinks he’s going crazy. It’s one big mess.”
Before she could answer me I interrupted her. “Why are you still here?”
“He won’t leave,” she admitted. “So I figure lying out on the beach is better than hearing my husband drive himself crazy over this mess.”
I swallowed. “It’s a big mess.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think?”
The scent of the ocean drifted past my nose. “There wasn’t much we could do.”
“I know,” she said. It surprised me to hear her say that. “I know Kenny and how he works. He’s good at being bad.”
“You got that right.” I bit down on my lip. She patted the spot next to her. I sat down, and watched her pet Blue.
“I’m not surprised your father saw Marcus. He used to visit me all the time, and then it stopped.” She sighed. “After all these years I still miss him.”
“I can imagine,” I said.
I dug my toes in the sand and went for it. “What do you think could fix this?”
“Nothing good. Evan says witches are a complicated situation.” She looked at me and looked away, and I knew why.
“Someone told me my dad is the answer to the entire mess.” I waited for an answer.
“Witches are complicated,” she rattled off again like clockwork. “That’s what he keeps telling me. He may be capable of taking people’s lives but it’s not so easy when supernaturals are involved.”
“But if we do nothing than this man could destroy everyone?”
She nodded. “That’s what he’s good at, making everyone else miserable. He’s a powerful man, the beginning of everything and who controls the end.”
“If there is anything we can do, I’ll try and help,” I said. “Sometimes there are ways around things if you look hard enough.”
“I don’t know. There is no getting around Carlo.” She frowned. “He gets what he wants. The only thing I don’t get is why he was willing to give it up so easily in the first place.”
I stood up, I wasn’t going to sit there and listen to her entire dysfunctional story. The man gave me the creeps and I only seen him when he almost crashed into me at the strip club. The more I heard about him the more I wished I could go back and change what happened.
“I got to go,” I told her. She settled back onto her towel. “If you need anything you guys know where Slade lives.”
The moments
Those little moments that make you panic. That’s what I was going through. I couldn’t concentrate on anything.
I was close to breaking down I could feel it.
I tapped my feet to the music lying in the middle of Slade and Kidd’s area rug in the living room with Karsen. The guys were outside practicing for a gig and we were inside eating ice cream and doing nothing more or less.
“I feel bloated.” Karsen dropped her spoon into the carton. “I ate too much.”
I counted the tiny flecks of leftover paint on the ceiling.
“I think we need to hit the gym.” Karsen kept right on talking. “But instead of gtl we will just do g.”
My eyes moved to the door. I thought about using magic to force the door shut. Karsen tapped me on the arm.
“Did you hear anything I said?” She raised an eyebrow.
“You said you were looking forward to tonight.” I took a stab in the dark.
“No. I did not.” She sat up. “What is wrong with you?”
“I always thought you were more popular in school,” I said. “Everyone always wanted to hang out with you.”
“Where is this coming from?”
I sighed, blowing out a breath. “These are my insecurities rearing their ugly heads right now I suppose.”
“Well get over it. High school is over. We have bigger problems,” Karsen said. “Like groupies thinking they can hang all over our men.”
She always thought about the stupidest things at the wrong moments. “Are you really going to be jealous? Kidd loves you more than life.”
Karsen shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I like seeing girls put their hands on him. He’s mine. I don’t like sharing my shoes let alone my boyfriend. And if this band gets bigger I can imagine how much worse everything is going to get.”
I didn’t realize Karsen was so insecure about Kidd’s career. Maybe I was too busy worrying about Kenny and what he could do to all of us. I needed to act like a friend.
I touched her arm. “Karsen, no matter what Kidd will only have eyes for you.”
She was quiet. The music died down and then cranked right back up again. “Do you ever feel like something is wrong? But you don’t know what it is?”
“All the time,” I said without hesitation. I leaned into her, she wrapped an arm around me. “But we got this far, how much worse could anything get?”
Kidd and Slade came in the door.
“Yeah, how much worse?” Kidd teased, grabbing his prize—Karsen. She was more than a prize she was his everything. And it was so sweet.
Karsen brushed his bottom lip with her thumb staring into his eyes. “I’m being silly.”
“You’re right.” He kissed her on the lips. “Everything is going to be fine. And if anyone even looks at me I will be sure to remind the world there is only one girl I love.” He slapped her on the ass. “And that’s you, sex kitten.”
I laughed, watching Slade standing in the doorway. He gave a small smile and approached. “You’re not dressed.”
I looked down at my shorts and t-shirt. “Are you saying you don’t like my outfit?”
“I like you in anything you wear,” he said. “But tonight I want you in black and front and center.”
I nodded. “And you promise it’s not too revealing?”
Karsen pried her lips from Kidd’s to offer a reply. “Your boyfriend is about to sing in front of some big names tonight. His band, along with my fiancé might become the next big thing. If he asked you to come naked you should.”
Everyone laughed except for me. I still had other things weighing on my mind. Slade grasped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Nothing is going to happen tonight. They’re backing off. I think the talk you had with Eve helped out a lot.”
I held my breath, I wasn’t so confident. “It’s out of their control.”
“That’s right. Because it’s in ours.” He kissed me. His kiss was demanding and urgent. His hands found my behind and he squeezed. “Get dressed, we have less than an hour.”
***
I had the sneaking suspicion the guy behind me had a nice view of my ass cheeks. Because you couldn’t wear regular underwear with a dress like the one I had on.
I sipped my coke and tapped my fingers against the glass watching them tune their instruments from my seat at the pub table. I had front row. And the place was packed, more than ever before.
“That’s them,” Karsen shouted over the roar of the crowd. Between all the talking and the guitars strumming it was hard to hear anything.
My eyes moved from the big bouncer standing outside of the exit to the scantily clad waitress weaving around the tables. An older guy sat at one of the tables in a dark suit. He didn’t fit in and it was obvious he was the man who could make Evil Kings dreams come true.
