[Men of Inked 01.0 - 03.0] Boxed Set

by Chelle Bliss

  Standing up, Anthony replied, “I’m coming with you. I need to get out of this room for a while.”

  “We’re good,” my pop said, placing a hand on Izzy’s shoulder as she tried to stand, forcing her back in her seat.

  My sister’s face turned red and I expected to see fire come out of her nose, but she remained quiet, for once.

  ***

  I stirred the sixth packet of sugar in my ma’s coffee as Anthony paid for his drink.

  Someone poked me in the shoulder. “Mikey,” a female voice purred in my ear.

  Fucking shit. I knew that voice.

  Tammy.

  Psycho Tammy.

  Scrapbook Tammy.

  Closing my eyes, I felt the need to slap my ear like a gnat buzzed around it, annoying me.

  “Where ya been, baby?” she said, grabbing my ass.

  I jumped, and the coffee spilled, scalding my hand. “Fuck,” I said, gritting my teeth.

  I crumpled the packets in my hand and turned around. I didn’t really need her fucking bullshit right now.

  “Sorry.” She smiled as I glared at her. Her smile fell. “I’ve missed you.” She reached out, trying to touch me.

  “Tammy.” I backed away, my ass bumping into the counter.

  “Mikey, I’ve been thinking about you for days.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Why haven’t you texted me back?” She stared in my eyes, pouting.

  Anthony made faces at me as I looked to him for help. He knew all about her kind of crazy, and loved to see me miserable whenever possible.

  Dickhead.

  Grabbing her arms, I peeled her off me. “Tammy, we’re nothing. You need to get some help.”

  Her mouth gaped open as she gasped for air.

  Holding her firmly, I quietly said, “I don’t want to see you or get another text from you. Forget I ever existed.” I pushed her body away from mine.

  She glared at me. “How could you say that, Michael? We’re engaged.” Holding her hand in front of my face, she wiggled her finger. A very large diamond ring sparkled on her finger.

  She was fucking crazier than I thought.

  Shaking my head, I tried to remain calm. “I don’t know who gave that to you, but it wasn’t me. We. Are. Not. Engaged.”

  Anthony doubled over in a fit of silent laughter, his body shaking as he grabbed his chest.

  Her eyes grew wide, and she covered her mouth with her hand as she shook her head.

  “Seriously, Tammy, get some fucking help. I didn’t give that ring to you. Don’t ever say those words to anyone. We. Are. Nothing. You hear me? Nothing.” I gritted my teeth; my jaw ached as I tried to keep myself from screaming.

  She shook her head vigorously. “Don’t say such hurtful, mean things, Michael.”

  When she reached out to touch me, I grabbed her wrist and stopped her. “I got too much shit going on right now to deal with your crazy bullshit.” Releasing her wrist, I stepped back and glared at her. “Stay the hell away from me.”

  I smacked my brother on the back of the head as I walked by him and away from Tammy. I needed to get the fuck out of here.

  “But I’m having your baby!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the cafeteria.

  I stopped dead, my body stiffening as my blood turned cold.

  What the fuck did she just say?

  Bitch just played her last damn hand, and I sure as fuck wasn’t going all in.

  I turned around, pointing at her. “I have to go, Tammy. I’ll deal with your ass later. Don’t call me. I’ll call you when I’m ready.” I dropped my hand to my side. I squeezed my hands into hard fists before leaving her in the dust.

  14

  Mia

  Walking into the bathroom, I saw the nosy nurse who’d pointed out my hickey in tears. It was too late to turn around without looking like a total asshole.

  Just my fuckin’ luck.

  She leaned on her hands, bending over the sink, her tears plopping into the bowl.

  I sighed, wanting to walk away.

  I really didn’t give a shit what made her sad, but my humanity won.

  Asshole conscience.

  “Are you okay?” I asked as I approached.

  “No,” she said, sliding the back of her hand across her face, wiping the tears.

  “Sorry, I’ll leave you be.” I stepped back and reached for the door handle.

  “No, don’t go,” she said, turning toward me. “Everyone leaves me,” she wailed, her body almost collapsing against the counter.

  “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as I rushed to her side.

  How in the hell do I get involved in these situations?

  “I’m here. What can I do?” I asked, sounding thoughtful, surprising myself.

  “There’s nothing anyone can do.” She hiccupped as she cried.

  “Everything is fixable.” I patted her back and stared at the ceiling. “I only have another moment between patients. I’m sorry.”

  “My fiancé left me and I’m pregnant.” She choked on her words, starting to fall forward again.

  I held her, pulling her upright. “That’s terrible,” I said, trying to be horrified.

  “How could he be so mean? He acted like we never meant anything to each other.”

  I had the words on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it instead. “Maybe he’ll change his mind.”

  If the man had any sense, he’d run for the hills or go into witness protection.

  “I have to win him back.” Standing up, she looked into my eyes. “He needs to understand all he’s giving up by walking out on us.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he has no idea.” I knew I sounded snarky, but whatever.

  “I can do it, you’re right.” She blotted her cheeks with her fingers and smiled. “Thank you so much.” Her tears vanished.

  Cuckoo.

  Wrapping her arms around me, she squeezed so hard I thought my ribs were going to crack.

  “I have to go,” I said, pulling away.

  “Oh, sorry,” she said with a half-smile. Mascara had smeared down her cheeks and her eyes were red and swollen. “You helped me more than you’ll ever know.” Her smile grew wider.

  “Don’t give up the fight,” I said, walking out the door.

  “I won’t,” she yelled, as the door swung shut.

  I shook my head and wondered what the hell happened to my normal stressful day at the hospital. Today had been one for the record books.

  ***

  The night had been relatively calm compared to the nutty nurse and thinking Michael had been seriously hurt.

  His brother was in ICU for the night post-surgery. When I’d looked at his chart earlier, it stated that he would be moved to a regular room tomorrow if he did well through the night.

  The ICU was quiet and the lights were dim as the sounds of the ventilators, heart monitors, and other machines filled the hallway. I wanted to check in on him and see if he needed anything.

  Michael’s brother crouched in the hall outside his room, leaning against the wall, typing on his phone. Looking up at me, he smiled. “Hey,” he said, trying to stand, but he fell over, catching himself on the wall. “Fuck,” he mumbled.

  Rushing to his side, I reached for him. “Hey, are you all right?” I asked.

  Waving me off, he said, “Yeah, just exhausted. This has been a day from hell.” His shoulders slumped as he sighed.

  “Why don’t you try and catch a couple hours sleep in the visitor’s lounge? He wouldn’t want you to make yourself sick.”

  “I will soon. You looking for Mikey?” He grinned, making the bags under his eyes more pronounced.

  Laughing at the nickname, I replied, “Yeah, is he still here?” I looked around.

  “He’s inside, but he was asleep when I came out here,” he said, pointing to the room behind him.

  “I’ll just text him. Everyone may be sleeping and I don’t want to disturb anyone.”

  He laughed. “My family is the disturbance. They’re loud and
obnoxious in the most loving way, but I don’t blaming you for not wanting to go into the lion’s den.” He shook his head. “At least not armed.”

  I barely knew any of them, but I wanted to. They seemed loving and playful, just my kind of people. The funny smartass personality must be hereditary.

  “You make them sound horrible.” I said, shaking my head, laughing.

  “Nah, just Italian.”

  “Don’t wake him. Just tell him I stopped by and have him text me in the morning. I’m going to try and get some rest while the ER is slow.”

  “Okay, doc. I hope to see you again soon.” The sides of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at me.

  I nodded and walked away, leaving Michael to sleep. I wanted to catch a few minutes’ rest in the doctor’s lounge while I still could. I thought about the Gallo boys as I made my way down the corridors. They were all handsome, but Michael was heart-stopping.

  I flipped off the light in the lounge before I collapsed on the couch. My head began to spin from exhaustion when I closed my eyes. Lying on the lumpy couch, I covered my face with my arm and thought about Michael.

  “What?” I asked as someone touched my shoulder. “My eyes were closed for only two seconds. Jesus,” I mumbled.

  “It’s been an hour, doctor, and someone is at the desk asking for you.”

  “I’m coming,” I said, rubbing my eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the harsh fluorescent lighting. I grabbed the Visine from my pocket, dropping the liquid in the hope of alleviate the stinging.

  I prayed I didn’t look like the walking dead. I sure as hell felt like it.

  Walking like a zombie, my mind clouded, eyes blurry, I made my way to the reception area. Michael stood there looking exactly how I felt. Fidgeting with his hands, he leaned against the desk and looked around.

  I touched his back lightly, trying not to startle him. “Michael, everything all right?”

  He rubbed his hands across his face as he turned to me. “Yeah, Anth told me you came by while I was asleep. Thought I’d find you down here.”

  “I decided to sleep a bit too,” I said, a yawn breaking free as I quickly covered it.

  “Shit, I’m sorry I woke you.” He frowned. The lack of sleep and stress had dulled his eyes’ luster.

  “I’m fine. I needed to wake up anyway,” I said, wiping my eyes. “How’s your brother?”

  The huge smile on his face said it all. “He woke up for a bit and mumbled some nonsense,” he said, laughing.

  “Anesthesia can do funny things to a person’s brain.”

  “I thought about messing with his head, but my ma would’ve beat me. He seems okay, but he’s pretty fucked up. The surgeon said it’s going to be a long recovery. They had to put a metal rod in his leg and there’s pins sticking out and shit. His hand is in a cast and his fingers are swollen. Yeah, he’s fucked for now.” He shrugged. “At least he’s alive.”

  Touching his hand, I caressed the rough skin on his palm near his fingers. “It’s going to be tough on him, but your family will help him through it. How are your parents holding up?” Stepping closer, I leaned against him.

  He stared at my fingers as I stroked them. “They’re doing okay. Worried, naturally, but better now that he’s out of the woods. They need sleep. I keep telling them to go home and rest, but they’re hard-headed.”

  He wrapped his arm around me and feathered a kiss against my forehead.

  “Seems to be a family trait,” I said, laughing and gripping his shirt. I closed my eyes, inhaling his musky cologne.

  “Code blue, room two,” a voice blared through the hallway.

  Damn. I wanted more than a minute against his warm, hard body.

  “I have to go.” I frowned, resting my head against his chest. “Go home and rest, Mikey, and I’ll see you tomorrow or today…whatever it is,” I said, pushing off him and starting to walk away.

  Grabbing me around the waist, he brought his lips to my ear and whispered, “It’s Michael, doc. I don’t remember hearing you moan Mikey as you came on my cock.”

  The vibration of his voice and his breath in my ear made me shiver.

  “I have to go. You’re a naughty boy, Mikey,” I said as I pushed away from his body, freeing myself from his grip.

  I could hear his deep laughter as I ran toward room two and the patient in cardiac arrest.

  15

  Michael

  I kept a vigil at my brother’s bedside with the rest of my family throughout the night. On the verge of collapse, I found a quiet spot to close my eyes. Pulling up a chair, I stretched my legs out, and rested my head against the wall. I wanted to wait for Mia to finish her shift.

  I tried to quiet my mind, but all I could think about was Tammy. I didn’t believe for a moment that she was pregnant, let alone with my child.

  I knew sure as shit we weren’t engaged, so why would I even remotely believe her bullshit? The woman was clearly delusional, and I needed to find a way to set her ass straight, and quick, before it blew up in my face.

  Using the front of one shoe, I pried the other one off my foot before repeating the process with my toes. I grabbed my shirt, brought it to my nose, and sniffed. Didn’t smell as bad as I thought it would after being at the hospital so long.

  Rubbing my face, I yawned and crossed my arms, resting them on my chest.

  What the fuck was I going to do about Tammy?

  Batshit crazy Tammy.

  A pregnancy test would show her for the bullshitter she was and put her lies to rest in a hurry, but how?

  We didn’t have sex more than a couple times in the last six weeks, and I always wore a condom.

  I didn’t want a baby—at least not yet, and certainly not with a woman like her.

  Could someone even know that they were pregnant in that time? I had a dick, and the female reproductive system mystified me.

  I tried to force Tammy out of my mind. Just the thought of her pissed me off, making my blood pressure rise.

  I thought of Mia, trying to calm my nerves. There was something different about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. There was a natural ease I felt when she was at my side.

  What if they knew each other? Fuck, I never thought of that.

  My heart pounded as my eyes flew open. My palms grew sweaty as I thought about the possibility of my worlds colliding in one giant clusterfuck.

  I couldn’t make myself crazy.

  I pushed the thought of Tammy out of my mind and thought of Mia—the feel of her skin, her brilliant smile, and her infectious laugh.

  My head fell to the side, scaring the living shit out of myself. I needed my bed, solid sleep, and a good ass-kicking in the gym to set my body and mind right. I felt stiff after sleeping for three hours in an unnatural position.

  I cracked my neck, gaining my bearings as I walked back to Joe’s room. I needed to check on him.

  My parents, Izzy, and Anthony had disappeared while I was gone. Suzy had crawled in bed and carefully placed her body around him. He watched her as she slept in his arms.

  I cleared my throat to get his attention.

  Holding his finger to his lips, he motioned for me to sit.

  “You scared the shit out of us, Joe.” I grabbed the chair, setting it down on the opposite side of the bed that Suzy lay on.

  “I wouldn’t go out like that, brother. I have too much to live for to leave this world,” he whispered, looking down at Suzy. “I feel like shit, though.”

  “You look like shit too.” I smiled.

  I would’ve never been the same without him in my life.

  He laughed, wincing as his body shook. “Everything fucking hurts. I’m going to be out of commission for a while—a long while.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Just get better, man.”

  “At least I didn’t fuck up my tattooing hand, but I’m not going to be walking anytime soon.” He flexed his good hand, balling it into a fist.

  “I’ll wheel your ass in every day if I have to. Maybe yo
u can get one of those scooters all the old bastards use.” I smirked.

  Fucking old people drove him nuts.

  “Shut the fuck up, asshole,” he whispered, glaring at me.

  “Well, at least the accident didn’t ruin your ability to use such eloquent language.” I laughed. The joy I felt with the simple conversation was unexplainable.

  “Since when does your ass say eloquent?”

  “You aren’t the only one with a college education, Joe. Listen, man, some shit went down in the last twelve hours—more shit than just your accident. I need your advice, but I’ll wait until your mind is clear.”

  “My mind’s clear as a whistle.”

  I shook my head. “Nah, your shit got scrambled, and I need it at its best to help me figure out the shit storm that’s about to rain down on me.” I rubbed my eyes and raked my hands down my face.

  “No, fuck? I gotta know now.”

  “Why me?” I laid my head on his bed, wishing it all away.

  The bed moved slightly as the sound of his laughter rang in my ears.

  It was the best damn sound in the world.

  “You’re going to laugh your ass off when you hear about the clusterfuck,” I said, sitting up to face him.

  Suzy stirred as her eyes opened, a small smile on her lips. “Mikey,” she said, her voice sounding sleepy.

  “Hey, Suz. I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry, sweetheart,” I said, watching her body melt against him.

  “Don’t worry. I want to be up. You need anything, babe?” she asked, staring up at Joe.

  She looked relieved. Yesterday I thought she was going to have a meltdown and lose it completely.

  They had a love that I hoped to find someday. I wanted someone to be my world.

  Fuck, I sounded like a pussy.

  I needed to sleep and get my head right.

  “Nah, sugar. I’m fine just how we are right now.” He pulled her tighter against his body and kissed her head.

  I watched them with a dumb, jealous grin on my face. I touched my dick to make sure it was still there.

  “Did the doctor come in while I slept?” she asked, nuzzling her face into his chest.