We go upstairs to the tiny apartment and settle in. Tripp’s in the shower. I update Sass on what I now know on Delatorre. Sass and I are restless, so we head back down to the tattoo shop. Finding Jared at a desk drawing, I smile at his focus. He seems like he’s good people, and maybe I shouldn’t have doubted Tripp. I need to learn to trust him.

“You need somethin’ Doll, Sass?” Jared asks looking up from his design to both of us.

“I’d like a new tattoo.”

“Sure thing, whatcha thinkin’ of getting?”

“I want an eagle on my left hip, stretching out in flight. Not overly big, but in its talon, I want it holding a very girly heart, not a lifelike heart, a feminine heart and a shield.”

He pauses, as a strange look comes across his face. “Doll, why do you want this specific tattoo?”

“An eagle represents the freedom of the motorcycle club world I live in. It’s talon holding my heart and a shield for protection. All my life I’ve been guarded and loved by all of the Hellions, not just my dad.”

“You’re sure you want an eagle and not the Hellions insignia?”

Irritation consumes me. Why is he questioning me? This is his job. I’ll pay for the damn tat. Cocking my hand on my hip, I glare at Jared. “It’s not my place to wear the insignia. Look, if you don’t want to do the tat that’s fine just say so, enough with the bullshit.” Looking over at Sass for some sort of comfort as my frustration builds, she shrugs her shoulders like this is no big deal.

Hearing a noise behind me, I turn to see Tripp in the doorway. His hair down and wet. With his arms over his head gripping the doorframe, and his jeans slung low on his hips, I can clearly see the toned ‘v’ of his lower abdomen peeking out from his shirt. The tattoos on his arms on display, as usual. Holy hell, he’s hot.

“What bullshit?” Tripp asks looking back and forth between Jared and me.

“Nothin’. I wanted ink, but Jared’s asking eighteen hundred questions like I’m trying to get married or some shit.”

“Hold the fuck up, princess. Tripp may be interested to know the exact tattoo you’re talkin’ about marking your body with.” Jared pipes up. Sass backs away from me, leaving me inching closer to Tripp.

“I wanted an eagle with an outstretched talon holding a heart and shield. It’s whatever now, you guys seem to know better. I’ll get my fucking ink elsewhere. I’m going to bed.” As I start to move to the doorway, Tripp moves his arms off the frame. Great, he’s going to block my exit. Then, I watch as he removes his shirt. The ink adorning his body is all on display. I see the tats of his forearms go all the way up his shoulders and he has a dragon that peeks on both sides, maybe it wraps across his back. What has my attention though, is the large eagle over his left shoulder blade is coming down with an extended talon holding a lifelike heart and a shield.