Old Ink (Get Ink'd #3) - Ali Lyda Page 0,50

I saw it, but it was starting to grow out now. He wore a white t-shirt and ripped jeans that were a smidge too large for him—and a wary expression.

“Is this some long-lost son?” Mateo teased, pointing to Bryan’s red hair.

I stood, ignoring my pain-in-the-ass employee. Setting the sketchpad out of sight on my chair, I crossed the room to shake hands with Bryan. “It’s so good to see you out in the wild,” I said, clasping his hand. “Orange is a terrible color for us redheads.”

Bryan smirked when he caught Mateo’s wide eyes. “I wanted to take you up on the offer. I turn eighteen in a few weeks, but my granddad said I needed a job now if I was going to stay with him.”

“Oh, lord, it’s another misfit,” Mateo said with an exaggerated sigh. “You’re like an old woman that collects stray cats, Reagan.”

Caught off guard, Bryan turned red and looked uncomfortable. I put a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t listen to him,” I said. “All he’s really saying is that the staff that I hire all tend to have had scrapes with the law. This is a place of new beginnings. Trust me, you’ll fit right in.”

“Everyone has a record?” Bryan sounded dubious.

Nodding, I point to Mateo. “Juvie. Javi? Juvie. Dane? Brief stint in juvie, too long stint in gangs. Bryce?”

“Let me guess,” Bryan said with a smile. “Juvie?”

“You got it. This shop, as you now see, is near the center. It helps that I or old friends of mine mentor there. We see all of you, the ones who never had a chance or just need a hand to get on their feet, and we want to offer that. Get Ink’d is how I’m best able to do that. And you, my friend, have talent, so it’s a bonus for me to take you on. Mateo, you should see this kid’s art.”

Mateo was looking at Bryan with new interest. “Oh? He’s got chops?”

“More chops than you, old man,” Bryan blurted out, tone confrontational and shoulders squared. I knew it was just a result of his time in juvie, having to prove himself at every turn, but I cleared my throat. Bryan blushed and looked at his feet.

“And then some,” I agreed. “Mateo is an adjunct professor part-time at the local community college. He teaches art as well. Do you want to see the shop?”

Bryan nodded and stole a quick glance at Mateo. “Yeah. Sure.”

We all went out of my office. Javi was bent over a customer, working intently on a calf piece. Next to him and his client, Dane was relaxed and chattering, waiting for his afternoon appointment to show up.

I pointed to them and introduced them. Javi looked up briefly and offered a smile, and Dane came bounding over. “Hey hey hey,” he said. “This your long-lost son?”

“I am not the only redhead in the world,” I said, eyes narrowing. “Bryan is just out of the center and looking to start work here.”

Dane’s jovial look softened. “The first weeks out are the roughest, man. I’m glad you’re joining us.”

Next to me, Bryan coughed, and I saw he’d used it as an excuse to wipe surreptitiously at his eyes. I shot Dane a knowing look that said go easy. Dane nodded.

I’d been avoiding looking at Channing—we were at work, and I was the boss, and looking at him would just send all my blood straight to my cock. But welcoming as always, he shouted, “Glad you’re one of us now, Bryan!”

And Dane immediately began chanting from that weird circus movie, “One of us, one of us, gooble gobble, gooble gobble!”

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I tried to look as intimidating as I was able. “That’s it. He’s coming with me to sign some paperwork and you jackasses have work you can find.”

I escorted Bryan back to my office and offered him the seat across from my desk. I sat and found the hiring forms, allowing him a moment to collect himself. “Sorry about that,” I said, “but it helps to know exactly what kind of crazy place you’ll be signing up to work in.”

When I looked at him, though, he was smiling. “It’s the right kind of crazy.” His gaze dropped to his clasped hands on his lap. “I was worried, you know, about coming.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’ve never been good at making decisions for myself. You know how there are leaders and followers? I’m a follower. And I let a bunch of people who