“That’s it,” she says as I show her the corrections I made.“I think he’ll love it too.”
“Your new guy?The one you spent time with at the cabin?”
If she has a new guy, then maybe the pain of getting the other tattoo she asked for won’t be as harsh.
She nods.“I don’t think anyone’s ever gotten a tattoo to honor him before.He seemed to really dig the idea when I explained it to him.But it’s all still so new…”
Now she seems sad again and I don’t know what to say.So I retreat to the only place that has never disappointed me—my art—and show her the sketch I made for the other tattoo.This one is to commemorate her man that died.
It’s just his name—Reaper—but in big chunky letters that are filled with pieces of the life they lived together.There’s a bike, because she once told me he’s the one who taught her how to ride.There’s the two of them holding hands, because she loved to do that.And finally there’s her—the scared girl he found and the warrior she became.I already tattooed those two on her arms a long time ago, and I think they belong in this tattoo too.But she’s just gazing at it and not saying anything
“Do you like it?”I ask.
She clears her throat.“I love it.”
I lay the sketchbook down and stand up.
“Should we start with this one then?”
She nods.“Right over my heart.”
I lead her to my brand-new chair, turn on all the lights and get to work.I’m always amazed at her seeming immunity to pain, but it’s even more pronounced today.I go as gently as I can to honor that.
But just as the silence begins to grow heavy, and I think I hear my phone going off constantly, the whole drawer buzzing, she asks about Blade.
I love telling her about how we reconnected, but not about the rest of my not-so-great homecoming.I also don’t tell her that most of my family is dead and that I only have the one brother left.There’s already too much sorrow and regret in this room tonight.
But I do tell her that Blade’s MC is not too happy to see me back.
“I’m sure they’ll forgive you,” she says.“That’s what friends and family do.”
It’s what Blade tells me too.But my own family never forgave me, so why should my friends?It’s a question I don’t like to dwell on.
“What about Zane?”she asks.“Is he mad at you too?Seeing as he was something of a pariah too?”
I laugh while adding more ink.“Nope.Zane and I have the whole running away and betraying everyone in common.And he seems to be getting his forgiveness from the MC lately.”
“Yeah?Makes sense, since these are the guys who help right wrongs and give people a new chance at life, right?”
That’s pretty much what Rogue Angels MC does, and how I’ve described it to her the last time we spoke.But something in the way she asked makes it sound like it’s way more personal than just wanting to chat.
“Rogue, the president of Rogue Angels MC, and Zane used to be best friends once upon a time.Before Zane became Unholy, that is,” I say.“But they seem to be patching things up lately.”
“You think you could put us in touch?”she asks.
I stop tattooing and look at her.“Sure.Why?”
“I’ve been thinking I want to stop living the nomad life and put down roots somewhere.I heard that Rogue Angels can make that happen.”
“But you’re a fugitive, right?”
She cringes at hearing the word, but regains composure a second later.I don’t know a whole lot about her past, but I do know she’s wanted for murder and that the rest of the members of her MC, Forsaken Outlaws, are all in one way or another actively running from the law.
“I’m more like a wanted person, since they never caught me so I could run and become an actual fugitive.But yeah, basically.”
“Rogue Angels could help prove your innocence,” I say.“That’s what they do.”
“Problem is, I’m guilty as sin,” she says.“But so’s Zane and they’re making it possible for him to live a normal life, right?”
