Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 72(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 72(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
“She does like to throw a little wrench in the works doesn’t she?” Colonel said, coming up a few seconds later.
“You heard the advice I was getting?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
“She had a point.”
“No, she didn’t.”
Colonel laughed. “You’ve always been a stubborn asshole. Why not think about how it feels to be around Charlotte? I’ve seen you with her these past few days, and it’s the first time in years you’ve actually looked happy. Honest-to-God happy. Like you couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but with her.”
“I don’t love her. It’s just sex.”
“Okay, fine. So, you don’t mind leaving her behind. Thinking of that man—Calum, is it?—wearing her down until he gets her as his own personal fuck toy.”
“Stop it,” Ape said.
“You feel that anger, that rage. The need to go and pummel the shit out of that asshole, or better yet, to go and grab your woman and mark her so everyone in the world knows who she belongs to. That’s important, Ape. It’s not to be ashamed of. We’re leaving in a couple of days and we’re never stepping foot back here again. Make sure you can walk away and not regret it.”
Colonel turned on his heel and got a few steps before Ape called out to him.
“How did you know with Piper?”
“Know what?”
“This would work with her. That you could give her this life.”
“Damn, you’re even more fucking clueless than I thought.” Colonel laughed, shaking his head. “I didn’t know this would work. I didn’t think about the future, Ape. What I knew was I didn’t want no other man touching what belonged to me, and Piper, she’s mine. Everything else didn’t matter. I couldn’t leave her behind. If you can walk away from Charlotte, imagine her with another man, and you don’t care, then leave her be. If it kills you and you want to go and murder the bastard, then you’ve got a choice to make. I’m not making it for you. So, tell me, Ape. What are you feeling right now, imagining that guy or any guy, making her smile, touching her, being with her?”
“Fuck off,” Ape said.
“Then that’s your answer and it’s up to you to see what you do about it.” Colonel followed after Piper and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what those two would be doing. It wasn’t like they needed a bed to do it either.
Sitting back against his bike, he thought about Charlotte. The jealousy that filled him at imagining that asshole taking her, he didn’t like it.
She was his and there was no way Ape was going to walk away from it.
****
Charlotte glanced at the time to see Ape would be picking her up in thirty minutes. The last of her clients had already left, and she was alone, packing up the rest of the shop. She’d already packed up the equipment and phoned ahead to cancel any other appointments. The sign had been removed outside and she was slowly packing up a time in her life that hadn’t exactly filled her with happiness.
Seeing her clients happy with the artwork and displaying her pieces for customers to see, and for them to pick to have permanently marked on their skin, that was an achievement. Those were the few moments she’d miss more than anything.
She could still draw and practice. Running fingers through her hair, she gave a turn around and rather than be sad with her decision, she was happy she’d made it.
Moving behind the desk, she bent down to grab her bag as the doorbell rang, letting her know someone had entered the shop.
She stood with a smile but it dropped when she caught sight of Calum.
“I’m closed.”
“I can see that. What is going on? Refurbishment?”
“Nope,” she said. She folded her arms beneath her breasts, waiting for whatever snide comment he had to make. “What do you want?”
“I came to see why the sign was gone. All your artwork.”
She laughed. “You’re kidding, right? You’ve been trying to get me to move my ass out of here and now you want to know why I’m doing exactly that.”
“Our last meeting, you told me to get fucked and that you weren’t going anywhere.”
“Oh, times change. I decided that I don’t need to stay here. I’m moving on. The lease for this place is up. There’s no way in hell I’m going to pay twice as much for the same space. Also, while we’re at it, the lease on my apartment is also up. I will be a problem you won’t ever have to face again.” She smiled, happy, exhilarated.
“What about your mom?”
“My mom wanted me to get out town, long before now. I just kept sticking to the same norm.”
“Look, if there’s money you need, I can give it to you.”
“Hell, no. I’d like you to get out. Until Friday, this place is still mine, and I don’t want any cheating scum setting foot on my property. So, off you go, leave.” She didn’t want him anywhere near her, and the further away he got, the better she would be.