by Marni Mann
I sat on the stool beside Huck, and I watched Steve outline the snake in black. Then, he filled in each dark line and switched to orange to color in those blocks. When he was done, he held it up for me to look at.
“I love it,” I told him.
“Good,” Huck said. “Me, too.”
Steve rubbed some medicine over the tattoo and wrapped it in plastic.
Just as he finished, a man walked up to us. “You Arin?” the man asked. He had on black-rimmed glasses that I liked a whole lot.
“Yes,” I said.
He stuck out his hand for me to shake. “I’m Nix. I’ll be doing your tattoo today. If you guys are done here, you can follow me.”
I held Huck’s other hand, and we walked to a station on the opposite side of the shop. Nix sat down in a stool next to the table that I was now lying on top of.
He picked up a stencil off his desk, and he said, “I took what you emailed me, and I put my own spin on it. I’m going to place it in the spot you want it, and then you can tell me if you’d like anything changed.”
I almost laughed.
“No need,” I told him. “I’m sure it’s perfect. Just go ahead and start tattooing.”
He crumpled up the stencil. “I’m going to do it freehand then. It shouldn’t take me too long.”
I know.
“Okay,” I said.
He dipped the gun into the black ink and held my hand low and covered it, so only he and I could see it.
Each time Nix moved, he sent me some of his smell.
It was the spiciest scent.
A scent I’d tried to find on my passport, but the envelope had rubbed it away.
“Bring that chair over here,” I said to Huck, pointing at the one that was in front of Nix’s station.
Huck brought it over and sat on the other side of me. “How’s it feel?”
In the taxi on the way here, I’d told him I was a little anxious.
He thought it was because it was my first tattoo, and I was unsure about the process and how much it would hurt.
He was wrong to assume that.
“It doesn’t hurt at all,” I told him.
“My tough girl.”
I set my hand on my stomach, and I rubbed it in a circle as I listened to the humming of the machine. I’d never been to this shop, so I looked all around Nix’s station at the different animals he’d painted that were framed on his walls and of the pictures of the ones he’d tattooed.
Something on the floor caught my attention.
It was a purse. A large one with two round handles at the top and a body that could hold at least a few notebooks.
It was the kind of purse that was used by someone who had lots of tasks to complete and lots of things to carry around with her.
It was one I’d needed in my prior life.
Life before Bangkok, I liked to think of it as.
Sticking out the top of the bag were several sheets of white paper.
I knew what was written on them.
They were the letters I hadn’t sent.
And I knew what name I’d signed at the bottom.
Anonymous.
I loved that Nix had brought my bag for me. I was sure that, if I opened the inside pocket, the ring would be in there. And I would once we were all done here.
Nix took a paper towel and wiped my skin, removing all the excess ink.
He’d done hundreds of these over the years.
I was sure mine would be the best.
As Nix continued to clean and treat the tattoo, he said, “Have you named the baby yet?”
“We still haven’t decided on one,” Huck said. “I have a favorite, my girl here has a favorite, and we can’t seem to agree.”
“What are you having?” Nix asked.
“It’s a girl,” Huck answered.
Nix looked at me. “What’s your pick?”
“I’d like to name her Mina.” I gazed up at my husband and then back to Nix. “Huck doesn’t like that name because it reminds him of someone his mother didn’t like, but I think it would be perfect.”
“It’s a beautiful name,” Nix said with a wink. He pulled the paper towel away and released my hand, not before giving it a small squeeze. “You can check it out now.”
A warmth passed through me as I lifted my hand in the air to show Huck.
He stared at the piece and said, “Why did you get that?”
He was confused.
He didn’t understand.
I guessed I couldn’t blame him.
After all, it was a design that had been on his mother’s hand, and now, it was on mine.
But mine was a little different. Through the top of the piece was a snake. It was all yellow with a thin red stripe down the center. The snake was weaved underneath the deer skull that sat between my knuckles, and it slithered out the bottom.
“The snake is for us,” I told him. “It’s the first one I saw in your guest room, the one I know you loved so much, the one that was killed when Jack died.”
It was also the same one I’d killed, but Huck would never know that.
I’d had to start somewhere, and Jack had been the easiest one to find.
“What about the deer skull?” Huck asked me. He grabbed my hand and pulled it closer to him. “It’s just like my mom’s.” He gazed at me. “Why, Arin?”
I chewed the corner of my lip while I circled my stomach, recalling every step it had taken for me to get us here.
“I saw the picture of your mom that hangs in our living room, and I wanted to honor her in some way, especially after everything that happened with Shank. I don’t want to name our baby after her; that just feels weird. But putting a mark on my hand was something I could do.” I clung my fingers around his. “Now, I have a part of you and Jack and your mom, all combined into one.”
He still said nothing.
“Do you hate it?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m just surprised you’d do that for us.”
I smiled.
I’d done a whole lot more than that.
And Huck had done something for me in Venezuela.
He didn’t know that either.
My smile grew, and I felt myself blush. “Come kiss me.”
He got up from his chair, leaned down, and pressed his lips against mine. His scent wasn’t anything like the spice I’d smelled while I got my tattoo, but Huck’s was one I’d grown to love.
When our mouths finally separated, I hugged him.
I closed my eyes.
I saw the snake that I had shot, and I heard the words that had been screamed at me and the expression on that man’s face and all the silence that had followed.
I’d come full circle.
But, God, I still hated silence.
I hated when people were taken from me.
I didn’t have to worry because that would never happen again.
Huck loved me way too much, and he wouldn’t allow it.
I opened my eyes, and I noticed Nix standing several feet behind Huck. He stood in that spot, so I was able to see him.
I moved my lips out of Huck’s neck. I smiled one last time, and I mouthed, I’ve missed you, Daddy.
Jovana Shirley, you never cease to amaze me. You blow me away every time we work together and this book is no exception. Thank you for being so good to me and for making my words shine. I appreciate you so, so much.
Nina Grinstead, you’re not just the best publicist in the world, you’re also a dear friend who always has my back. Thanks for believing in me, for talking me off every ledge, for being the best partner-in-crime. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you. xo
Judy Zweifel, you’re amazing to work with and I completely adore you. Thanks for giving my books so much love.
Letitia Hasser, thank you for always understanding my vision and giving my babies the most stunning face.
Kimmi Street, you’re the most amazing person I have ever met. You love so deep and so hard and I’m so lucky to have
you as a friend. I don’t know what I would do without you, babe. We’re in this together. Always. Love you.
Crystal Radaker, I love you to death, lady, and I treasure your brain. I can never thank you enough for everything you do for me, for letting me vent, appreciating my crazy thoughts, and sharing my love for rats. Hehe. ♥
Donna Cooksley Sanderson, another one down, my friend. Thanks for being a part of this ride and for all of your support. You’re such an amazing friend to me. xx
Gia Riley, my book wife, thank you for the encouragement, the virtual hugs, the words of advice, the shoulder I tend to lean on hourly, the laughs, the smiles, the most epic IM chats. I love you.
Extra special love goes to Stacey Jacovina, Carol Nevarez, Julie Healey-Vaden, Elizabeth Kelley, Betsy Dillon, my group of Sarasota bloggers and readers who I love more than anything, Jesse James, Jennifer Porpora, Melissa Mann, Katie Amanatidis, my COPA ladies, and Kathi Goldwyn. I’m so grateful for all of you.
Mom and Dad, thanks for your unwavering belief in me and your constant encouragement. It means more than you’ll ever know.
Brian, my words could never dent the amount of love you give me. Trust me when I say, I love you more.
My Midnighters, you are such a supportive, loving, motivating group. Thanks for being such an inspiration, for holding my hand when I need it, and for always begging for more words. I love you all.
To all the bloggers who read, review, share, post, tweet, Instagram—Thank you, thank you, thank you, will never be enough. You do so much for our writing community, and we’re so appreciative.
To my readers, I cherish each and every one of you. I’m so grateful for all the love you show my books, for taking the time to reach out to me, for your passion and enthusiasm. I love, love, love you.
Reviews mean the world to authors, and they are the most powerful way to help other readers learn about my work. If you enjoyed Monster, I would absolutely love it if you left an honest review. Even if it’s short, as little as a few sentences, it can still help so much.
Getting to know my readers is one of my favorite parts about being an author. In Marni’s Midnighters, my private Facebook group, we chat about steamy books, sexy taboo toys, and sensual book boyfriends. Team members also qualify for exclusive giveaways and are the first to receive sneak peeks of the projects I’m currently working on. To join Marni’s Midnighters, click HERE.
Best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their two dogs. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.
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ALSO BY MARNI MANN
STAND-ALONE NOVELS
Prisoned (Dark Erotic Thriller)
Wild Aces (Erotic Romance)
The Unblocked Collection (Erotic Romance)
Pulled Beneath (New Adult)
Pulled Within (New Adult)
SERIES
Animal - Book One (Dark Erotic Thriller)
Seductive Shadows - Book One (Erotica)
Seductive Secrecy - Book Two (Erotica)
Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales - Book One (Dark Fiction)
Scars from a Memoir - Book Two (Dark Fiction)
CO-WRITTEN NOVELS WITH GIA RILEY
Lover (Erotic Romance)
Drowning (Contemporary Romance)
