Tattoo

Three

TW: Verbal Abuse

Jackson's POV-

It had been four days since Piper Williams had visited the shop. Even though I knew I probably wouldn't be seeing her again, I could not get her off my mind for the life of me. As the days went on Luis got increasingly angry with me. I was losing paperwork, making messes, even forgetting to make important phone calls.

She would not leave my head.

I had only met the girl once but it seemed like I had memorized nearly every part of her. Every time I shut my eyes her glittering blue ones were staring back at me. I could still see the delicate curve of her lips and nose, and if I was very still I swore I could smell her perf-

"Jackson I swear to the heavens above if you do not stop daydreaming this instant I'm going it hang you by your underwear outside of the shop!"

Now, that wouldn't be very good for my image.

"Sorry Luis" I muttered before attempting to focus on the computer screen before me.

"Oh no no no. Not this time boy, you've been acting like you have cotton for brains for too long." He paused to smack the back of my head with the papers he was holding.

"What is the matter with you Jackson!"

You see there are two possible outcomes that could happen if I were to tell Luis what was exactly going on. One, he would laugh his ass off. The giant jerk would incessantly tease me and would probably have a sign made that says, "Wanted: Small, Pretty Girl that Stole Jackson's Heart." Or, Two, he would tie me up, kidnap the girl, and force her to talk to me. You see Luis was a "take no shit" kind of man, and I didn't want to risk either of those outcomes.

"Nothing really, I just haven't been feeling that great" I took a deep breath and looked up at him, praying silently that he'd take the lie. Luis looked me up in down for a bit before narrowing his eyes and smacking one huge hand over my forehead.

"You do feel a bit warm, why didn't you tell me earlier, you know your mother would kill me if I let you get sick" I felt my body grow tense at his words. I just wish he would stop mentioning, her.

"Listen how about you head home for the night, go get some fresh air, take a walk" the old Italian grumbled out with a sigh. His large hand squeezed my shoulder before letting me go and returning to the back of the shop.

I let my head fall into my hands. I hated this, I hated not being able to control my own thoughts. Luis was right, now I needed a walk to clear my head of not one, but two women.

Piper's POV-

To say my brother handled things well would probably be the most elaborate lie I had ever told in my life. To say my brother was a sociopathic control freak would be the most truthful thing I had ever said in my life.

My brother had been in charge of me since the day my little baby feet could walk. My parents said, "Patrick, watch out for Piper" more than they said they loved us. So when my parents died, the phrase that rang out most prominently in his head was, watch out for Piper.

I guess in his psychotic mind he immediately associated that with controlling every single aspect of my life. So you see when I do something that breaks from his little circle of control. Things go straight off the deep end.

When I had come home that night I was already prepared for the hellfire that would rain down on me. I even had a list of what I had done wrong.

1. Stayed out past curfew.
2. Went somewhere alone.
3. Went to the east end of town.
4. Did not notify him of where I was.
5. Talked to strangers.