Doll
“Tripp, you
son of a bitch, I’m not done talkin’ to you.”
He stops on the spot, but doesn’t turn around. Rex and Sass are standing still by their bike
watching everything as it continues to unfold.
He’s making no attempt to acknowledge me. Frustration running high, I march up behind
him. I poke him in the shoulder, in an
attempt to get him to turn around. When
that fails, I jab my finger into the top of his shoulder. Still, nothing. Walking around to face him, I’m met with a
mixture of laughter and lust in his eyes.
He’s enjoying this, the fucker.
“You just
fucking kissed me. I don’t even know
your real damn name and you kissed me!
You’ve insulted me, belittled me, taken me from my home to God knows
where, and I don’t even know your fucking name!” I say jabbing my finger in his chest. Our eyes are now locked, battling each other
in the stare downs of stare downs. My
eyes are full of fury and his full of fun, maybe. Is this turning him on?
“If you’re
running your mouth so I kiss you again, it ain’t gonna happen Doll. You’re wound up. You need to release the tension. How ‘bout we see if Jared can give you some
ink?”
“You have
lost your ever lovin’ fuckin’ mind if you think I’m going to let some friend of
yours permanently mark my body. Again, I
don’t even know your name. Yet, I’m supposed to trust some guy you know to
tattoo me? Really? I may end up with Tripp tattooed on my ass.”
He laughs at
me. Not the little ‘ha ha you’re so funny’ kind of laugh. No, Tripp folds over holding his stomach
because he’s laughing so hard at me.
“What the
fuck is so damn funny?”
Tripp stands
up. The smile now gone from his face,
replaced with his ever present serious glare, he looks directly at me.
“Get your
ass inside. Shut the fuck up for two
seconds so you can meet Jared.”
He walks
off, heading for the front door. Sass is
now beside me, as I stand here with a stupid look on my face.
“Come on,
Doll. Let’s make the best of it. I’m game for new ink. You should get that tat you’ve been wanting
with another damn bird. We’re stuck here
until the guys have rested. Jared may be
hot or have hot friends. You’re way too
bitchy, loosen up some.”
“Sass,
Delatorre had cameras in our house. How
can I relax?”
“Fuck! He had what?
Come on, let’s get inside and figure this shit out.” She says, taking me by the hand to the front
door.
Walking
inside we are surrounded by the designs on the red painted walls. Each intricate piece of work brings something
new to life for someone. Hearing the
buzzing of the tattoo gun in the back room, I’m immediately itching for a new
tattoo. I have a sparrow on my right hip
in memory of my mother and a robin on my wrist to represent the bond Sass and I
share. Maybe Sass is right, and it’s
time to get that tattoo I’ve been wanting on my left hip.
Tripp is
leaning against the counter talking to a beautiful lady. She’s probably in her fifties, but time has
treated her well. There’s vibrancy in
her eyes as she’s chatting with Tripp, her face telling the story of a strong
woman. We approach the counter.
“Doll, Sass,
this is Momma C. And Momma C, you remember Rex.
This is Doll and Sass.”
Introductions
out of the way, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. Momma C gives me a feeling of home. Being around her reminds me of being with the
ol’ ladies of the club. The level of
nurturing and compassion that is held in the depths of Momma C’s eyes washes
over me. I’m smiling and I’m comfortable
here even with all the chaos surrounding my life. Tripp was right, I’m safe here. Even without meeting Jared it’s obvious Momma
C will protect those around her.
A man with spikey hair, gaged ears, and full
sleeved tattoos emerges from the back room.
He’s followed by a man that walks over to Momma C pulling out his
wallet, making it obvious he is a client.
Immediately, the spikey hair man greets Tripp and Rex with that man half
hug, back slap shit. When he’s done, he
stares at me momentarily. He extends his
hand. When I place my hand in his, he
holds it.
“Name’s
Delilah, but everyone calls me Doll. You
must be Jared.” I say looking into his
eyes. They tell the story of a strong
man.
“Beautiful
name for a beautiful woman. Tripp’s a
lucky mother fucker.”
I laugh at
his comment. “Tripp’s not my man.”
He pulls me
into a hug and whispers in my ear, “With the death glare he’s giving me, I
think he may disagree, Doll.” He kisses
my cheek before releasing me.
He greets
Sass quickly and escorts us to the back office area. The client is done paying, raises his hand in
a slight salute wave in goodbye as he exits the building.
“Mom’s
locking up. Here’s the key to the
apartment upstairs. I’ll be here the
whole time. No one will get to you without getting through me.” Jared informs us as he’s handing Tripp a key.
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 door
frame, 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.
He says
nothing, as his muscles twitch involuntarily.
Before I can stop myself, I’m standing mere inches from him, as I reach
out and slowly trace the details of the design.
I start at the white of the eagles head, delicately I outline the
bird. As I reach his talon, Tripp
stiffens underneath me. He grabs my hand
holding it to his heart, the very place the heart of the tattoo lands. He drops his head, our faces cheek to
cheek. His hair has fallen down off his
shoulder it tickles my face as his breathing sends chills down my spine as it
hits my ear.
“My name is
Talon Ward Crews. Talon is for an
eagle’s talon as its tool and its weapon.
Ward meaning guard and protector.
The eagle guards and protects my heart.”
He whispers to me.
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