Broken But Breathing (Jinx Tattoos Book 2)

by Colt, Shyla

  “You got a minute?” Data asked.

  “Yeah, brother, what’s up?” Snake shifted gears as he glanced down at the lanky blond who didn’t look like he belonged to the club, sans his cut. The white-blond streaks covered half his round baby face, making his green eyes seem even larger. He looked sixteen instead of his twenty-six.

  “I think it’s better if I show you.”

  The tone made his hackles rise. Is this the moment I’ve been waiting years for?

  “All right, brother, lead the way,” Snake said.

  He followed him through the club to a table away from the noise. Data sat down in front of the laptop.

  “Okay, so I’ve been following the KKK Facebook pages, and websites, and groups with a dummy account since you put me on the case. Nothing’s stood out during my weekly sweeps, until now.” He tapped a post.

  Snake skimmed over the words. It was from his old town.

  You have to get serious about cleansing. Burn homes to the ground. Raise a ruckus. Show them why they’re inferior. Passivity has led to the ruination of our country.

  “What the fuck?” Snake said.

  “Sounds like more than the angry rantings of a coward. This man has done some extreme things in the name of his beliefs. I don’t think where he’s from is a coincidence. There’s a slight chance he could be alluding to what happened to make himself look like a big shot.”

  “Then he fucked up. Can you get his personal information?” Snake asked.

  “Already did it. I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do,” Data replied.

  “I want to have a Q &A session with our friend.”

  Data glanced back at him. “I can track him down.”

  “Do it.” Snake balled his fists, relishing the crackle of bones. He’d been waiting years to find those bastards, and get his revenge. He could only imagine Jade and Jocelyn were stuck in some fucked up limbo waiting for him to avenge them. A warrior always got even. He’d been a sheep before his life with the Wild Ones—quiet, docile, and ready to go with the flow in most things. Now he was a beast who stood up for what he believed and took when others would never give. The world was a dark pace. The strong survived and thrived. The weak were overrun. He’d never be the one on the bottom again. His phone buzzed in his cut pocket, and he thought of Es. Right now she was out there vulnerable, hurting, and alone. He needed to soothe his anger before he exploded. She did that without trying, eased the burning rage he kept buried deep below the surface.

  He pulled out his phone.

  How’s my support doing? ~Es

  Not good. Time to meet up? ~ Snake

  He’d punched in the words before he could take them back. She’d slipped beneath his barriers and become a part of his circle.

  Yes, could use your opinion on a few things. ~ Es

  Game play? ~Snake

  The video arcade? ~ Es

  Yeah, games, food, and non-romantic patrons? ~ Snake

  Lol! Did you really just say patron? ~Es

  I know words, woman. ~ Snake

  I’m in. What time? ~ Es

  30 minutes. ~ Snake

  Done. See you there, be ready to get trumped. ;) ~ Es

  He needed to proceed with care and methodical thinking. Rushing in would make the waiting for nothing.

  “Data, I’ll get with you tomorrow on this, and we’ll rough out a plan.”

  “Got it, VP.”

  Snake pounded his fist lightly on Data’s shoulder, and left the clubhouse.

  §

  As he made his way into the small arcade, he felt like he was returning to his youth. The older video games were lined up in the center and around the outside walls were pinball. A concession stand was open, and the prices were right for the continuous play. The place was crowded with teenagers engrossed in their epic battles with the games. It made him smile. He’d been them once. Out of habit, he walked the perimeter after paying for two entries. There was no danger here. He could take any of these people with his eyes closed. His phone buzzed. He moved out the front door. She stepped out of her car and waved.

  “I’ve never been here before.”

  “Then you don’t know what you’re missing, Es. It’s my goal to broaden your horizons.”

  “Oh yeah?” she said with a small laugh.

  “I take this support gig very seriously,” he said as she rolled her eyes.

  “And I’m chopped liver?”

  Snake wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I wouldn’t say that. You play a mean game of darts and pool.”

  She shoved him away playfully. “Sore loser. Let’s go in so I can continue to dominate you.”

  “Oh, is that the way you like to do things?” he asked.

  She gasped. “What? No.” Her cheeks turned pink.

  He liked the look. Despite everything she’d been through a pureness remained.

  “Don’t worry, Es, your secret is safe with me. I already paid for your ticket by the way.” He gave her a wink as they walked inside.

  “Thanks.” She paused once she entered and a huge smile spread across her lips. “I would’ve lived here when I was a teen.”

  “Right?” he agreed. “Did you see the giant gumball machine in the corner? I can’t remember the last time I saw anything like that.”

  Es grinned. “Ha, the mall in the eighties.”

  “Since I invited you here, the first game is your pick.”

  “Pac-Man,” she said without hesitation.

  “Game on, then,” he replied.

  Thirty minutes later with scores too tight to declare anyone the winner, they broke for a refreshment break.

  “I’ll spring for the eats, since you bought the ticket.”

  “Look at you being so sweet to me on Valentine’s Day,” Snake teased.

  She laughed. The sound was a form of therapy.

  “You know me, big spender who loves to lavish,” she said, grabbing a pack of Twizzlers and adding it to their stash. “I needed that more than I realized.”

  “You said you had a rough day?” he asked cautiously.

  She nodded. “Yeah, had a come to Jesus meeting not of my own making. He and I have been on the outs since this whole thing happened.”

  “I can imagine,” he said.

  “I went to the park where we used to run a lot. I was proud of myself. I’ve been avoiding that place for two years now.”

  “You should be. That’s a huge deal,” he said.

  “Hmm.” She smiled at the cashier as she paid for their things and they took a seat in the tables and chairs set up. He studied her face; her lips were turned down at the corners, and her eyes had lost a bit of their sparkle. “I was doing fine until I saw her. She couldn’t have been more than three or four with giant blonde spiral curls and rosy cheeks. She was everything my daughter might’ve been. But I was holding it together. Then I heard her name… Emma.” She shook her head and focused all of her attention on opening the yellow packet of chocolate covered peanut goodness.

  “Was that your baby’s name?” he questioned.

  She nodded. “I lost it after that.”

  “I think it was warranted. Ghosts have a way of creeping up on us and knocking us on our ass.”

  “You too?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Wasn’t expecting it today of all days. The past can be a cancer that refuses to leave your cells. The what ifs eat at you until the present happiness becomes a fleeting memory.” He’d revealed more than he meant to, but she had a way of getting him to let his guard down. Maybe because she was open.

  “Good thing we have support then, huh?” She placed a soft hand over his and squeezed.

  He peered up at her and nodded. “I think so. What was it you wanted my advice on?”

  “My classes will be ending soon. I need to figure out my job
situation. My sister-in-law, Jolene, is expecting me to work for a restaurant.”

  “And you don’t want that?” he guessed.

  “Not at all.”

  “Then don’t. Pleasing other people will turn you bitter.”

  She sighed. “I know. I just… I owe her so much. She carried me on the days I couldn’t do for myself.”

  “You’re there for her, too, right?”

  “Yeah. At least, I try to be.”

  “Then you’re even. Friendship isn’t about keeping a tally. It’s who’s there when it matters the most. What is it you want to do?”

  “I want to work in a bar. I like the atmosphere, and being able to talk to people of all walks of life. I want to work the evening shift and break away from this monotonous existence I’ve allowed myself to fall into.”

  He could hear the longing for change in her voice.

  “So do that. Right now you’re allowed to be selfish. Listen, I work at a nightclub. Managing with a bit of bouncing when necessary. You want to come onto the payroll with me?”

  “You wouldn’t mind?” she asked.

  He found the thought of being able to keep an eye on her appealing.

  “Nope. I can talk to my boss,” he said.

  “Talk to him and then get back to me. It’ll give me time to figure things out.”

  Seeing her stress level go back up, he deftly changed the topic. “Done. Better eat up. I’m about to challenge you to a pinball duel in a minute.”

  “That’s not a real thing.”

  “Of course it is. We choose two machines side-by-side, and the first one to lose all their balls loses.”

  They swept the sadness back beneath the surface and immersed themselves in the light-hearted experience. He had dark days ahead. He’d soak up all the light and joy he could get to keep him from crossing over a line he couldn’t return from. There lay the path of the nomad.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Snake

  He studied his face in the mirror, knowing today everything would change. For years, he’d sat on his anger, and bloodlust, biding his time until they caught the scent of the bastards who’d ruined his life. He clutched the side of the porcelain basin. Once he walked out of his dorm and found Data, he’d be ripping a wound he’d worked so hard to heal wide open. Bowing his head, he said a small prayer to whoever was willing to listen to a man who’d sinned as much as he had. Allow me my vengeance, so I can move forward. Es had shown him what the future could be like. He wanted it. With her. The woman had become a regular part of his life. He didn’t see any upcoming plans without her. They worked well together. He couldn’t remember ever having a female best friend he wasn’t banging, but this tiny blonde seemed to like to defy the odds.

  He pushed away from the sink and ran his hands through his damp hair. It’s time. He walked out of the room and snickered. Couples littered the couches in various states of dress. A few of his brothers sat at the bar with mugs of coffee. He spotted Data among them.

  “You got time for me?” Snake asked.

  “Yeah, I have everything ready to go in my room,” Data said.

  “Let’s do this.”

  His footsteps seemed to echo on the floor as he walked down the hall just behind Data. They stepped into his room and Snake leaned against the door.

  “What did you find, kid?”

  “His name is Hiram Soutter. Born and bred in the town. He and his entire family aren’t ashamed of showing their rebel pride. I have his address and job. He works at the local hardware store. I can’t connect him to anyone other than his cousins, but maybe you can get him to crack.”

  “Oh, I can get him to spill his guts, believe that.” Snake clenched his fists. “Can you get me his work schedule?”

  “Believe it or not, the place isn’t digital. They still do everything by hand. So we’ll need to scout.”

  “Get a cage, take Stealth, and scout for me. I want to know his comings and goings. I’m going to talk to Prez and sketch out a plan.”

  “I’ll pack and get him up and be on the road in a few hours.”

  Snake nodded and slipped from the room struggling to hold it together as his emotions flared. Clearing his throat, be blinked to keep the moisture swimming in his eyes at bay. Soon he could settle the score and lay his loves to rest properly. The thought of a proper burial for Jocelyn had his heart fit to burst. Swallowing everything down, like a bitter pill, he smoothed out his features and called Mike.

  “Someone better be dead,” Mike croaked.

  “Come on, Boss, it’s after ten o’clock.”

  “Didn’t go to sleep until six, you little shit,” Mike said.

  Snake shook his head. For a man in his mid-forties, he partied harder than some of the twenty-one-year-olds in their crew. “This is important.”

  “Shit, what happened?” Mike asked.

  “Data found something.”

  “What do you need from me, brother?”

  “Permission to send a scout and then go grab this fuck, once I have all the information I need. I want him and anyone else who had something to do with it to disappear.”

  “Might draw a lot of attention,” Mike said.

  “I can wait and spread it out if I need to.”

  Mike sighed. “You deserve your revenge, brother, but act with care. Last thing we need is this coming back on us.”

  “I understand. I’ll make sure we’re not targeted. I figure men like this have made a lot of enemies over the years,” Snake stated, wondering how many lives they’d ruined. I’ll make them pay for every one of those lives.

  “Then you have my blessing. Take as many people as you need when the time comes. We’re good here for now. Things are quiet and relationships are friendly with everyone,” Mike said.

  “I’m going to get to work on setting things up so I can get out of here. I’ll make sure Kali knows she’s in charge. The nightclub will run smoothly while I’m gone with her in charge.”

  Mike snickered. “Yeah. She came out the womb bossy as hell,” he replied, referring to his baby sister.

  “I bet she’d say the same thing about you.”

  “I’m six years older, I’m supposed to be running things.”

  Snake laughed. If women were allowed into the club, she’d be the perfect prospect. Instead, she’d become a den mother of sorts. “Hey, what do you think of Es?” he asked, turning his thoughts to something that would help him wait out the time.

  “What? The little blonde you been bringing around?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She seems all right, why?”

  “She’s graduating from Bartending School. I want to offer her a job at Rain.”

  “Hey, man, that’s your spot. You own the deed on it.”

  “But I want your blessing,” Snake said.

  “You think she can be trusted if she happens to see something?” Mike asked.

  “Yeah, man, she’s loyal as hell.”

  “Then go ahead and put her on. But have Kali watch her, make sure she’s up for it. We get a wild bunch in there and she’ll need to keep her mouth shut. It might be a good idea to figure out where you stand with her if you plan on having her stick around.”

  “She’s not going anywhere,” Snake stated.

  “Careful there, you’re starting to sound like you care,” Mike said.

  “I do, more than I should,” Snake murmured.

  “Make sure you don’t get so caught up you lose your focus, brother. You could be walking into a minefield.”

  “I got my head on straight,” Snake promised.

  “Keep it that way,” Mike said before the dial tone sounded in his ear.

  He made another call to Es.

  “Hey, you’re calling early,” she said. Her voice was light and airy and he could imagine the bright s
mile on her face. When she was happy, she had the power to light up an entire room.

  “I’ll be heading out of town for a business trip soon and I wanted to get a few things set up first. I talked to my boss at Rain. He’d like to put you on a trial basis. You’ll have ninety days to see if the club and you are a good fit.”

  “Are you serious?” she asked breathlessly.

  He laughed. “Yeah, I take it you’re still interested?” He forced himself to keep his tone neutral not wanting to sway her one way of the other. This was her decision to make.

  “Yes, of course I am.”

  “Good. I’m going to set up a meeting this week for you and my co-manager, Kali, if you’re up for it. I don’t want to leave and have you waiting on me.”

  “I’m game. Wow. I can’t thank you enough, Xavier.”

  The sound of his given name on her lips warmed him.

  “Hey, it was no problem. Do you think you can come by the club tonight if I can set it up?”

  “Tell me the time and place and I’ll be there,” she said.

  “How about tonight at four-thirty? The bar will be going through the opening procedures, but the doors don’t open until six o’clock.”

  “That works.”

  “Listen, I don’t want you to feel obligated. Come down, meet with Kali, feel the place out, and then make your decision.”

  “Will you be there?”

  “You want me to be?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll be there,” he said, determined to be there if she needed him. He wouldn’t trade the newfound peace he found for his thirst for revenge. He could balance them both.

  §

  “So who’s this tart you’re sending in here for me to train?” Kali asked, taking a sip of her energy drink as he leaned against the heavy oak desk in the office.

  “She’s not a tart,” he snarled. He knew the types of girls some of the brothers brought around. He wouldn’t have Kali thinking she was an easy lay looking for a good time.

  “Oh ho, this is serious indeed,” Kali said with a wicked cackle.