Thorne Princess(119)

Tell me you’re a goddamn psycho without telling me you’re a goddamn psycho, Hallie giggles in my head.

But Thorne just chuckled some more, sounding thoroughly amused.

“Yes. I would love to hear all those things. I happen to think my daughter is a fantastic catch and share the sentiment that she is too good for you.” He paused. “And too young for you, too.”

I groaned, “Let’s cut to the chase.”

“That’s no way to talk to your president,” he mused.

“You’re no longer my president.”

“I’ll throw you a bone.”

“Make sure there’s some meat on it.” I bared my teeth.

“I won’t give you her address, but I can tell you where she works.”

She worked? I would’ve fallen flat on my ass if I wasn’t seated.

“Hit me with it.”

“Misfits and Shadows.”

“Please tell me it’s not a sex dungeon,” I grumbled, already typing out the name on my laptop.

Thorne roared out a laugh. “Who knew you could crack a joke, Lockwood? No. It’s a tattoo shop.”

“Will she be working today?”

“I’m her father, not her secretary.”

“Thanks for the clarification. The pencil skirt threw me off.”

He laughed again. “Go get her, son.”

“I intend to, sir.”





It was pissing rain by the time I landed in Los Angeles. I couldn’t remember the last time it had rained in this godforsaken hellhole. But of course, for me, it did.

A taxi was waiting outside the small airport. I slipped inside, giving the man behind the wheel the Misfits and Shadows address.

Hallie seemed to have found her path, her independence, and a way back to her family. I was happy for her, but also worried. Worried I had nothing to offer her anymore. She was done.

She’d pulled through. She didn’t need me anymore.

The taxi pulled up at the Sunset Boulevard joint. I got out, feeling like an idiot without an umbrella. It was still pissing wet, the rain falling from fat gray clouds like needles.

I jogged my way to the front door, pushing it open and shaking raindrops off myself like a dog. A girl with an array of piercings and tattoos at the counter stared at me blankly.

“Do you have an appointment?”

Glancing around me, I noticed the place was jam-packed.

“No.” I approached her, dumping my paws onto the counter between us. “I’m not here to get a tattoo.”

“Oh.” She yawned. “No soliciting, bro.”

“I’m here for Hallie Thorne.”

“And you are?” She cocked her head sideways.

Her nightmare.

“Her…friend.” Overstatement of the fucking century.

“Your name?”

“Ransom.”

“Cool name.”

I smiled cordially. “Can you tell her I’m here?”

“Oh, yeah. She isn’t here, Ransom.”

Now she was telling me this?

“When will she be here?”

She shrugged, pushing her bottom lip out. “No clue.”

I looked around me, calculating my next move. The place was crowded, the humidity rising.

“Will she be here today at all?” I tried again.

“Oh, yeah!” she said brightly, smiling up at me. “For sure, for sure. I just don’t know when she’ll be in.”

“I’ll wait, then.” I turned around to look for a seat, but there weren’t any available.

“That’s a good idea, but you’ll have to do it outside. Company rules.”

“Company?” I whirled around to sneer at her. “It’s a goddamn tattoo parlor, not JPMorgan.”

“Yeah, well, my boss doesn’t allow loitering. You’ll have to wait outside.”

“It’s raining sheets.” I gestured to the window, in case she hadn’t noticed.

“Sorry, dude.”

Karma was in the mood to fuck me real slow to candlelight today. I trudged outside, slamming the door on my way out. There was no knowing when Hallie would be here, and I didn’t want to scare her off by calling and asking.

To make matters worse, I couldn’t wait nearby. All the bars and restaurants around were still closed—it was too early—and there wasn’t a Starbucks in sight.

Pathetically, I found myself standing and waiting in the rain. I had no idea when she’d show up. If she’d show up. I just knew I had to try. I couldn’t continue existing meaninglessly. It was excruciating.

I also hadn’t fucked anyone in over seven months, and was pretty sure my balls were about to fall off.

I paced the street, back and forth. A new feeling I had yet to experience trickled into me as the hours ticked by: doubt.

It’s been too long.

It’s too soon to start trying.

She’s moved on.

This was unchartered territory for me, as I was usually sure of everything I did, down to my meals for the next month or two.

By hour four, I started getting really pissed off. The idiot kid at the reception must’ve been wrong. It was close to late afternoon and still no Hallie.

I marched back into the parlor, slapping my palms over her counter again. This time, I created two small ponds of water. I was soaking wet, to the fucking bone.