Dead Man’s Deal. Jocelynn Drake

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СКАЧАТЬ home tonight,” I said after the last client left the shop.

      “So you said yesterday,” Bronx grumbled. He set up his station with his usual meticulousness, checking to make sure that he had all the supplies he had put aside the previous night.

      Trixie flit across the room and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, laying her head on top of his. “How are you feeling?”

      “I’m fine,” Bronx said, patting one of Trixie’s hands.

      “I knew that Gage would be trouble. I don’t think you should hang out with that bad influence any longer,” Trixie continued in her best doting-mother voice.

      At that, Bronx finally smiled. “Yes, Mother, but he’s my only friend.”

      “No, dear, you’ll always have your mummy,” she said, earning a bark of laughter from me. Trixie kissed Bronx’s cheek and then walked over to where I was lying back in the tattooing chair in my station. She put a knee between my legs, a little too close for comfort. “What are you laughing at? I’m old enough to be a great-great-great-grandmother to both of you. Sometimes I think I need to take you over my knee, spank some sense into you.”

      I placed my hands on her hips and tried to pull her closer, but she grabbed the top of the chair, halting her descent. “I could be up for that.”

      “Good grief,” Bronx muttered under his breath with no small amount of disgust. I laughed. For the most part, when Bronx was in the shop with us, Trixie and I maintained a somewhat professional atmosphere. Well, as professional as it ever was before we started dating. Every once in a while I let something slip to make Bronx shake his head.

      The chime for the front door sang through the lobby as someone walked in. “Saved by the bell,” I said, starting to push Trixie back.

      “So it would seem,” she said with a glare before easing into a smile. “Stay. I’ll get it.”

      I nodded and then watched her walk toward the front. Turning, I found Bronx relaxing on his stool, his back leaning against the counter behind him. He looked tired, both physically and maybe even a little emotionally. I opened my mouth, but he held up his hand, stopping me.

      “Apologize again and I’ll hit you.”

      “I can’t help it.”

      “If you hadn’t done something, I would have and I’d be feeling worse if not dead right now.”

      My eyes hardened on his face while my hands clenched the arms of the chair I was sitting in. “I’ll get you out of this.”

      “You’ll get us both out,” Bronx corrected, his eyes drifting closed. “I’m not leaving you alone with Reave. Both or none at all.”

      I nodded in a sharp, jerky motion as Trixie’s heels thudded across the floor toward me. I looked up and forced a smile on my face. She’d talk to Bronx after I left for the night and then again to me when we met up after her shift. There was no hiding the Reave business from her now, but I didn’t want to worry her while we were in the shop.

      Trixie motioned toward the front with her head. “He’s asking for the owner.”

      “Problem?”

      “I don’t think so. Doesn’t seem angry. I don’t remember ever seeing him before, so I don’t think we’ve tattooed him.”

      “Got it.” I pushed to my feet and gave her hand a quick squeeze as I stepped around her and walked to the lobby. I hadn’t heard any of her conversation with the customer because my attention had been on Bronx. I hadn’t heard his voice, but I wished I had.

      Stepping behind the counter, I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach, forcing all the air out of my lungs. The blood drained from my face as I stared at the man. He was older than I remembered, but it had been more than ten years since I had last seen him. His blondish-brown hair was longer, brushing against his shoulders, but it was the same brown eyes.

      “Shit! Robby?” I gasped when I found my voice.

      The man’s brows snapped together as he stared warily at me. He even backed up a step. “Yeah, it’s Robert. Robert Grant,” he said slowly. He looked like he was about to bolt for the door, but he paused, squinting at me. “Ja—”

      “Yeah, it’s me,” I said, cutting him off. “Baby brother.”

      “Holy fuck!” Robert shouted as I came around the counter. He pulled me into a rough hug, thumping hard on my back several times. I hugged him back, laughing. I hadn’t seen my older brother in a decade. What were the insane odds that he’d walk into my shop? I didn’t care. I had my brother back; didn’t matter if it was for an hour or for the rest of our lives.

      Robert pulled away, holding me by the shoulders as he looked me over. We were about the same height. I was leaner in build, while Robert had become stockier, with a thick chest and neck. There was a small scar on his chin that hadn’t been there when I last saw him and more worry lines stretched around his eyes, but he was the same.

      “You’ve changed,” he said, seeming to talk mostly to himself. I smiled, running one hand through my hair. When last he had seen me, it had been longer, stretching past my shoulders. And pale blond. “You dyed it?”

      I shook my head, my smile changing to a cocky smirk. “Tattoo.”

      “Then you’re not wearing contacts either?”

      I shook my head again. Stepping from his grasp, I turned and pulled up my T-shirt to reveal the tiger tattoo that stretched across my back. It was my only tattoo and it had taken three months to complete. Woven throughout it were a series of potions that tweaked my appearance and the way people remembered me. It was as much for their protection as my own. “The tattoo permanently changed my hair and eye color to brown.”

      “Must be easier than having to dye your hair once a month,” Robert joked as I pulled my T-shirt back into place. I turned to face him and he clapped me on the side of the head, pulling me close so he could press his forehead to mine. “Doesn’t matter. You’re still the same old Ja—”

      Again, I had to stop him. “It’s Gage now.” I pulled back so I could see his smile fading and sadness enter his eyes. The Ivory Towers had come between us. He was trying so hard to bridge that gap, but it was crumbling under his feet. First, I no longer looked like the brother he had known, and now my name. There were other things, I had no doubt, but I wasn’t going to let him slip away. Grabbing one shoulder, I thumped him hard on the chest, right over his heart, with my fist. “I’m the same in here. They couldn’t change that. They didn’t take that away.”

      “Yeah,” he said, then continued, his voice gaining strength. “Yeah! My brother. Gage?”

      “Gage Powell,” I said with a smile as I released him.

      He nodded. “Gage Powell. I guess it’ll do. I can’t believe this. How long have you been in Low Town?”

      “Ten years.” I shrugged. “It’s where I ended up after leaving Mom and Dad’s. It seemed far enough away. Big enough to get lost in, small enough to avoid notice.”

      Robert chuckled. “You think like Dad.”

      “What СКАЧАТЬ