His Mark by B.L. Brooks

1

Nina

I stepinside the little tattoo parlor that’s tucked into a spot you wouldn’t easily find unless you knew where to look. Being a girl who doesn’t really go for tattoos and hasn’t so much as pierced her ears, I didn’t have a clue this place existed until my best friend, Serena, filled me in. She texted the address over and now I’m here. Ready for my first tattoo…I think.

“Welcome to Mural,” a pink-haired woman says softly as I walk in, her friendly smile all welcoming while mine remains wobbly as I’m on the verge of tears.

I’m a little nervous to be honest...I’ve never done this kind of thing and needles freak me the heck out. But I won’t turn back and leave—I’m doing this. I want a reminder of my grandpa that I can look at every day. Some sort of…memorial, one that no one can take from me as it reminds me of my grandparents’ love. When Serena brought up a tattoo, I knew it was the move.

“Uh, hi. I don’t have an appointment or anything,” I rush out, my eyes darting around the small place, growing wide as a whole bunch of men start staring at me in the waiting area.

They’re watching me, and I feel myself curling in.

It’s like I’ve stepped into a scene that’s part of one of those mafia movies…I almost laugh taking it in, but the emotion quickly fades as all eyes remain on me.

Shifting my stare, I try ignoring the looks and keep focused on the shop. It’s not that big of a place but it looks to be squeaky clean, I’ll give it that. It smells like some kind of disinfectant, and the walls are covered in art instead of pictures of tattoos like I first expected.

The shop is nice, classy in an uncanny kind of way. The fact that it isn’t your normal tattoo set-up puts me a little more at ease…for now.

“That’s okay, honey,” the girl at the counter says, giving me a close look. “We can squeeze you in. You okay, though?” she asks in a way that proves my emotions are on blast. I’m a mess. “Oh, would you idiots get a life already? Mikey, why don’t you take all your goons and go grab a coffee or something!”

I smile as she comes to my defense, causing the men waiting around to grumble beneath their breaths as they look away. Though one of the guys is sure to smile at me, giving me a wink that reminds me to keep my focus on the pink-haired lady.

“I’m just nervous,” I admit, swallowing down and trying to smile at her as she nods knowingly.

“Totally get it. Don’t like needles, right?”

“Not even a little,” I mumble, laughing at myself as she grins and steps out from behind the counter.

“I get it. It’s not uncommon. Before I got my first ink, I was scared shitless. I only got it on a dare and once I knew it was nothing to fear, it was on. Now look at me.”

My eyes take in her tight gray jeans, thin strapped tank-top, and tattoos covering any available flesh on display. She’s sporting a tiny hoop in her bottom lip and a stud in her nose, coupled with the row of earrings in her right ear. I’ll admit…she looks cool.

I could never look or even pretend to be that cool.

I just turned eighteen, ready now to face the shark tank also called the adult life. I thought I’d have gramps by my side when it happened, that he’d always be here to give me advice after a bombed interview or a bad day at work…but instead, he fell to the constant illness that’s plagued him since grams passed away just a little over a week ago.

And now, they’re both gone. Leaving me the mess I am…

“You look great,” I tell her softly, and meaning it.

“Thanks, honey. Now, what was it you were thinking for your first tat? I’m Jade, by the way.”

“Nina.” I smile, leaning over the counter as she moves behind it, grabbing a book out and opening the cover as I take a look inside.

I’m immediately bombarded by art. Maybe not the same kind of art you’d see on a museum wall, but art nevertheless. Everything is colorful, intricate and beautiful…I’m wide-eyed from it all and as Jade pages through slowly, she gives me time to take the shades in.

We end on a page with a full back tattoo that almost makes me want to turn around, never to come back.

“Er, I was thinking smaller...a lot smaller,” I say lowly, causing her to sputter, quickly followed by a peal of laughter.

“Nina, cutie, you should see your face. I didn’t mean something this big.”

Oh, good…because based on the prices I see, for something that big, I wouldn’t have anywhere near enough money for those line of tattoos. All I have is the small portion of life insurance money I ended up receiving when my grandparents passed.

The insurance wasn’t all that big, but certainly enough to keep a roof over my head for three months—if I’m frugal.

I just need to find a job. I need to make sure I don’t end up homeless because as of now, I have no one.

Gram and gramps were my only two pieces of family after my mom split town and forgot I ever existed. When gram passed on, I thought gramps could stick it out at least a little while longer…but I can’t blame him for wanting to be reunited with his one true love.

It’s just hard accepting I’m all alone now. I know I have Serena, and she’s a pretty okay friend. We’ve been able to stand each other since freshman year so that says something.

“Yeah, sorry,” I mumble, my cheeks heating up. “It’s just, I was thinking something smaller. Maybe like a bird right here?” I pull my sleeve back, exposing my wrist as her eyes take it in.

I want to be able to look down and see the tattoo as often as I can. Maybe if I do, I won’t feel so alone…

Just thinking of last week makes me want to bawl again. I swallow, blinking fast as I hold back the tears. I can’t just lose my mind in this place and expect people to deal with it. Not today, Nina.

“Okay, cutie. Let me go see who has a seat available so you don’t have to hang around with these goons,” she tells me, glancing over at the group of men and then turning back to me. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here,” I say softly, scared of leaving my spot.

A buzz sound is ringing in the air as it sounds like a bunch of machines going off. Leaning around the counter, I find a man bent over some guy’s back, his left hand expertly moving with what I believe to be the tattoo gun.

The art itself is magnificent, but what’s catching and holding my attention is the man himself. I take a breath as I look him over, admiring him from the front of the shop.

He can’t be any older than forty, maybe thirty-seven?

Though, the man doesn’t look old whatsoever. If anything, he looks like a man with experience.

His arms, which are just thick slabs of lean muscle, are covered in colorful tattoos that I can’t get a clear view of from here. But what I can tell is his shoulders are wide, muscled as he looks like a monster…a beautiful one I want to get a closer look at.

My body tingles as I take him in, and as I get to his head that’s covered in a black beanie that slouches ever so slightly in the back, my eyes widen as I know he’s…perfect.

Black hair, I at least think in this light. But even if it isn’t, it’s dark as hell and silky. His brows are furrowed, and his eyes resemble a deep dark blue. The man carries that stubbled, day-old growth of beard look and I sigh as I see his mouth and think of how soft those full pillows look...

Nina! My inner prude gasps in shock. I can’t blame her for the way I’m staring at this guy isn’t decent, but I can’t seem to help myself until my natural shyness rears its head in, demanding I look away. I do reluctantly, with my heart pounding and my mind going a thousand directions as I can’t understand what the heck just happened.

“You ready, cutie?” I hear, bringing my eyes up to find Jade strolling back in with a smile on her face. “Vic is free for the next hour and since your piece is small and simple, he’s willing to squeeze you in.”

“Perfect,” I murmur, trying to sound excited although it’s hard now that it’s becoming all so real.

I think I’m having second thoughts…

I hate needles. Oh God, what was I thinking? My ears aren’t even pierced for crying out loud and yet here I am trying to get my very first tattoo, and on a whim.

“You sure? You’re looking a little pale there.”

“No, no. I’m fine, I swear. I can do this. I want this,” I tell her, truly meaning it.

I’m not going back to that little two-bedroom apartment my grandparent’s raised me in without doing what I came here to do.

Last night was terrible. All I did was lay awake for hours, crying silently and staring out the window in hopes of easier days ahead.

“Alright, let’s do this then. All we need to do is quickly sign a few documents and just like that, we’ll be ready to rock and roll,” she says with a grin.

I follow along, barely reading the words on the waiver as Jade hands me page after page. Once I’m finished, she smiles and nods her head.

“Well, let’s go get you inked, cutie.”

I swallow, giving her a nod back as the time is here. Let’s do this.

Following Jade to the back space of the shop, we move into a roped off area. As we keep walking, we pass the beautiful man I couldn’t help but stare at just a few minutes ago. A shiver passes through as I force myself to look ahead, ignoring the temptation to look his way.

Though as we keep going, I swear I can feel eyes burning a hole in my back. And it’s clear to me it’s no longer from the crew of goons waiting around…