Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

to an unspoken prayer.
    “S-Snake.” The sound of loud rock and rowdy men nearly drowned out his baritone. A party during the week?
    “Hold on, I need to take this outside.”
    She sniffed, swiping at her eyes as she concentrated on the lifeline he’d extended the minute he answered her call. I’m not alone anymore.
    “You still there?” he asked.
    “Y-yes.”
    “What’s going on?”
    “T-today would’ve been my daughter’s second birthday.”
    He whistled. “Those are always the hardest to get through. The significant days, huh?”
    She nodded. He understands. “Where are you right now?”
    “I-I don’t know. I pulled over, so I didn’t wreck.”
    “Take a deep breath, girl. You’re okay. You don’t have to go through this shit alone this year.” His voice was comforting. She differed to his dominance, grateful to have a guiding voice.
    She gulped down air, taking back more control.
    “Better?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Look around and tell me what you see,” he instructed.
    “I’m near Downton off of Vine Street,” she said, taking in the rundown buildings yet to be renovated. They’d cleaned up the once urban area, but there were spots that had yet to get the makeover treatment.
    “Not a good place to be this late at night.”
    “I don’t want to go home,” she whispered. Her face was on fire as she forced the words out, ashamed of the truth. Her shoulders slumped and she fixed her gaze on the steering wheel.
    “I can understand that. How about you come to me?”
    His words gave her pause. “Me come to you?” Hope flooded her.
    “Yeah, why not?”
    “I don’t want to impose—”
    “Bullshit, babe. You didn’t call me to talk over the phone.”
    “I don’t know why I called you,” she said honestly.
    “Because you need someone, and for some reason you trust me. Which is why I’m going to give you my address. You’re going to come over, and we’ll get through this night together. You’re already ahead of the game. You reached out. Trying to do this alone leads to more pain and bad decisions. I don’t want to see you go down that road. Trust me, I did it enough for the both of us.”
    “Where did it take you?” she asked, speaking without thinking.
    He sighed. “Down a bottle and behind a cell with assault charges.”
    Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
    He snickered. “Oh, she says. You ready to listen to me now?”
    His candidness cracked open her shell.
    “Yes.”
    “Good girl. You got a pen and paper?”
    She dug in her purse, pulling out a pen and tiny notebook. “Uh huh.”
    “Okay, take down my address.” She jotted down his information. “You’re about thirty minutes away. I’ll be out front waiting for you, all right?”
    “Yes. Snake?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Thank you.”
    “Don’t need to thank me for shit. I know your pain. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy or leave you alone to deal with it. I know we ended up thrown together at the group. I’m not much for being anyone’s buddy. But support I can do.”
    They disconnected, and she sat up in her car and wiped away her tears. Clearing her throat, she re-started the car, pulled out of her parking space, and hit the road. The farther she got from the city lights, the better she felt. The darkness was a welcoming friend. You could hide all your insecurities, flaws, and tears in its inky velvet. Slowing to make sure she found the drive, she turned off the main road. Is this a fortress or something? She didn’t know much about Motorcycle Clubs. She’d never been into the T.V. shows that depicted them, but she knew they weren’t people who tolerated disrespect, or people in their business.
    Shame washed over her. She hadn’t expected Snake to be so kind. Snake, I wonder how he got that name? She’d noticed the brightly done traditional style snake tattoo that peeked out of his white T-shirt. But something told her the name came before the tattoos. What am I doing coming here? I don’t even know his real