Nash (Marked Men #4)(92)

He pushed open the door to the shop that he had named after me and I followed him into our future. I didn’t need to look back anymore, to hold on to hurtful and damaging memories. I had Nash to always move toward, and more importantly I now had myself and all the things about me that made me who I was to hold on to. I loved a good man, a nice man, but more than that, I loved myself, and that fulfilled me in a way nothing else could because I knew I deserved the best and Nash Donovan was the best thing for me … ever.

EPILOGUE

“So what’s the verdict?”

Cora sent her gaze dancing between me and Rule like I was an idiot for even asking the question.

“I think that if you two boneheads don’t hire her, I might just murder you both.”

I snickered and Rule looked up from the little pink bundle he was holding in his tattooed hands with a frown.

“I’m the favorite uncle, you can’t murder me.” The baby cooed like she was totally in agreement with that statement even if Rule was her only uncle.

I didn’t tell either of them that I was going to hire her regardless of her qualifications because Phil had asked me to. He had some kind of plan and he had only been gone a few weeks, so I was still feeling the resonating loss and paying forward his crazy scheme seemed necessary.

The “she” in question had quite frankly knocked all three of us on our collective asses. I mean, I knew she was probably going to be easy on the eyes being a pinup model and all, but in person she was something else.

Salem Cruz was without a doubt the prettiest rock-and-roll chick I had ever laid eyes on and I could tell Rule agreed. She had a full sleeve tattooed on each arm, one classic Catholic images mixed with riotous Day of the Dead artwork and the other all old-school, Sailor Jerry–inspired work. She had long, caramel-colored hair that had a bloodred streak in the front of it, complete with swooping curls on top and long waves hanging down the back. Her eyes were as dark as the midnight sky, and I liked the way they twinkled like she knew something the rest of us didn’t. She was average height, but there was nothing average about the curves she was rocking, and all her retro glamour was topped off by a face that men in classic literature went to war for. She was the perfect blend of fifties pinup, rockabilly cool, and Latina sex goddess. She was just all-around impressive.

If her looks alone hadn’t been enough to convince me that she would get people in the door, her credentials were. It was her résumé and sassy, take-no-shit demeanor that sold Cora. Salem wasn’t just a pretty face, she had been tied to some of the most successful tattoo shops on the West Coast, and the shop she left in Vegas wasn’t just some hole in the wall, it was one of those big-deal chain shops that operated in a casino and was helmed by a famous Xtreme sports guy. In all actuality the stuff we were starting in D-town was small and totally new compared to where she came from, and I think Phil knew it. She also had a hand in designing and marketing her own clothing label, so really there was no way we couldn’t offer her the job.

The three of us walked out of the office Cora had commandeered and Rule handed baby R.J. back to her mom. The baby looked around the still-work-in-progress retail space and made a noise. I totally agreed with her. Expanding was a lot harder than I had initially thought and I couldn’t wait until it was all said and done.

The brunette was wandering around, taking stock, sizing things up, and I had to wonder why she was willing to come somewhere so different, somewhere that was just starting up, when obviously she could write her own ticket anywhere she wanted in the tattooing world. She turned and watched us approach, her dark eyes dancing.

“How did it go?”

Cora laughed and kissed Remy on the forehead. “At this point I’m ready to hire a stranger off the street. We are too busy, need the help, and the fact you can run circles around anyone else we’ve seen makes it a no-brainer. Plus this place could use another female in the mix.”

Salem’s bright red lips quirked up in a smile. She had a ruby-red Monroe piercing that lifted with her full lips. “I think it’s going to be a good time. The shop is beautiful. I think with a few little touches you are sitting on a gold mine up here in the clouds. There is a lot of opportunity sitting right at your fingertips.”

Cora rolled her eyes and jiggled the baby, who started to holler just a little bit. She was going to give her mom a run for her money in the loud and bossy department down the road.

“Trust me, the old carnival theme totally fits. These guys are all clowns and half the time it really is like being part of a sideshow.” I gave Cora a dirty look, but didn’t disagree with her statement.

I nodded at Salem and extended the offer. “As long as you’re okay with the pay and think you can handle working hand in hand with us, the job is yours. I think we’d be lucky to have you, and Phil thought you would be a perfect fit, so that matters to me. We’re a family, though, so be prepared to deal with the nonsense that comes with that.”

Rule grunted and reached out to shake her hand. “Welcome aboard. The crazy train is always looking for new passengers.” He bent and kissed the baby much like Cora had done, and straightened back up. “I gotta head home. Shaw’s been under the weather for the last few days. I need to check on her. She was green when I left.”

Cora looked up at him and lifted her eyebrow that had the pink crystal piercing in it.

“I don’t think there’s any stomach things going around. I pay attention now because of the baby.”