Tattooed Love Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Tattooed Love

  Simone Elise

  Copyright © 2017 by Simone Elise.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This book is published by Inkitt – Join now to read and discover free upcoming bestsellers!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 1

  There were very few moments in my life when I could definitely say that I had hit rock bottom. Right now, in this moment, I could definitely say I had hit rock bottom. I was stoned, drunk, and high on emotion, gripping a half-drunk beer; sitting in a gutter outside some pub. I had no one to call, and no one would be wondering where I was, so there was nothing stopping me from throwing back the remaining alcohol in the bottle.

  I suppose that is the benefit of hitting rock bottom… you can’t fall any lower.

  I was wiping my mouth when someone tapped on my shoulder.

  “Leave me alone.” I grunted. I was at the point where I just didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care about the looks I was getting, or that I was interrupting the flow of the taxi rank.

  “This goes against my better judgment, but you look like a rape case waiting to happen. Would you like a lift?”

  It was his husky voice that made me turn my head around to look up at him. Tall, dark, handsome and screaming dangerous; yet he looked familiar.

  “Do I know you?” I asked, frowning at him as he lowered himself to kneel in front of me.

  “The name is Jackson.” He spoke slowly and immediately seemed to realize that I hadn’t made a connection, so he added “We go to the same high school.”

  I nodded, but still couldn’t make a connection; hell, at this point of the night, I was lucky to be recalling my own name, which was…

  “Amber, you alright?” Jackson placed a hand on my shoulder and my eyes snapped back open, stopping me from slipping into unconsciousness.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just had a few too many.” I took the hand he now lowered to offer me; when did he stand up?

  I pulled myself up on to my bare feet; I had managed to lose my heels at some point during the night. “Thanks.” I smiled. Even in my drunken haze, I could tell that Jackson was dangerously good looking.

  “Do you want me to take you home?” He spoke slowly again, as if I wouldn’t be able to understand him otherwise.

  “Nope.” I waved my hand dismissing the idea. “I’m fine, and I will have you know I’m not as drunk as I might look.”

  “Really?” He cocked his head to one side. From the expression on his face, he clearly didn’t believe me. “Because the smell from you makes me think you drank the bar dry.”

  My expression changed as soon as I heard the judgment in his tone. “I had a bad day,” I snapped. He didn’t know. He couldn’t understand. I pressed a finger into his chest. “Don’t judge me handsome.”

  “Handsome?” He chuckled at that. “Didn’t think you were capable of compliments, Amber.”

  I suppose he had a point, but it wasn’t one I was going to confirm. “Go away, John.”

  “It’s Jackson.”

  “Then go away Jackson,” I corrected with a dry smile.

  “You have a bad attitude.”

  “And you’re not the first person to point that out.” He was far from it. People seemed to make it their personal mission to remind me of my bad attitude; it wasn’t my fault the world sucked. My attitude was simply a side effect of this miserable thing called life.

  I waved down a taxi, but Jackson wrapped his hand around my wrist, stopping me from walking towards it.

  “I’ll take you home.” His tone was soft, gentle… and was that slight concern I was sensing?

  “Why?”

  “Don’t trust me?”

  “I don’t trust anyone.”

  “Wise thing to do.” He tilted his head to the side again, looking down at me. “I’m not going to hurt you Amber, and if I did I’m sure you could handle me.”

  “You seem to know more about me than I do you.”

  “That’s because I’m not self-absorbed.”

  I took a step towards him, staring up into those dark eyes of his. “No one ever got hurt being self-absorbed.”

  “Whatever you say Miss Shields.”

  He knew my name, and my last name. Where did he say he knew me from again? Oh right… school or hell on earth as I liked to call it.

  “Fine then handsome, you can take me home.”

  “I’ve got a question first.” His eyes flickered to my lip. “Should I be hunting down the man that gave you that cut on your lip, or should I be asking what the other chick looks like?”

  My lips curved into a smile. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I smiled. “I always think no question is a good question.”

  I caught something flash across his face,
but before I could read him, he gave a quick nod of the head, and I knew that was the end of the subject.

  I would never tell a soul that it was Blake who had done this to me. I knew he regretted it as much as I was trying to forget about it. Our fights were always nasty, but this one had, by far, been the worst.

  “Come on then, I’m parked around the back.”

  I followed him, walking towards the darkly lit car park, as warning signs flashed through my mind. I should’ve been terrified. I should’ve run in the other direction, but I continued to follow him.

  “So, where to?” he asked, opening the car door for me.

  I couldn’t go home; I couldn’t risk my dad seeing me this way. I had no other choice. I had to go back to Blake. I silently prayed he had cooled off.

  So, I gave Jackson the address, unsure of whether this would be my first or second mistake of the night; the first being getting in the car with him to begin with.

  ***

  I got out of the car rather gracefully, or so I thought. As I wiped the dirt from my mouth after falling face forward on my second step, I began to rethink how graceful my exit actually was.

  “You alright?” Jackson dropped beside me, placing an arm around my waist and bringing me back to my feet.

  “Two left feet” I muttered, not meeting his eye. I hoped right then that I would never see this person again.

  “You live here?” Jackson asked as he looked over at the house he was helping me walk up to.

  “Yep.” No I didn’t. I just crashed here with my somewhat boyfriend, but I wasn’t about to tell this person that.

  The front of the house was packed with cars, motorbikes and motors. It looked like an automobile junkyard, but it was this very look that kept people away, shielding the ‘family’ from prying eyes.

  We reached the porch, and I grabbed the door knob. Letting go of Jackson, I leaned all my weight against the door. “Thanks for bringing me home.” I looked at him for the first time since I had embarrassed myself.

  “You sure you’re safe here?” He gave the property a once over before looking back at me, visibly torn. “You know if you need somewhere to crash for the night, I can put up the cash for a hotel or something.”

  I smiled for the second time that night. “What did I ever do to you to deserve such consideration?” I wanted to know. While I may not have known him, he seemed to know me, and I wasn’t a nice person. So, why was he bothering?

  He exhaled slowly, and then met my eye with an expression I couldn’t quite read… “You’re the kind of woman who needs a man to protect her from herself, and clearly you haven’t found one yet, so I’m just giving you a helping hand.”

  “You don’t seem like you’d be big on community service,” I bit back. He certainly didn’t look the part. The tattoos and that ‘pissed off’ expression would scare anyone with half a brain away. My judgment at this point was questionable though, so it was no wonder I hadn’t slammed the door in his face yet.

  “Maybe I’m a sucker for a good looking woman.” The corner of his lips twitched in a half smile. “You know Amber, you’re bearable drunk.”

  I chuckled and pushed his shoulder playfully “You know Jackson, maybe you do know me.”

  For a split moment we shared a smile, an amused chuckle, and then silence fell between us, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was the kind of silence that usually compelled me to step into a man’s arms; this was sexual tension, and fuck me if I knew how it had come to this so suddenly.

  “Night Amber.” Jackson took a step back, his eyes darting around one more time, before he turned his back to me and began to walk down the porch steps.

  “Oi Jackson?”

  He looked back at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “On Monday if I don’t remember this, and I’m a bitch, I want to apologize now.” I inhaled sharply and exhaled quickly. “You seem like a nice guy. Perhaps you should try and befriend me when there’s an actual chance of me remembering you.”

  He smirked, nodded his head and walked away.

  I wouldn’t remember it, but that was the first time Jackson Johnston had saved me from myself, and that was the night our love was born.

  ***

  High school.

  It was the dwelling of the stupid, the fake, and the occasional friend. It wasn’t like I didn’t like school; it was school that didn’t like me.

  I locked my car, and slowly began to make my way towards the hell on earth.

  Once again, I was starting a Monday with a headache, a cut lip, and a massive bruise on my arm. I wasn’t the normal teenager who spent her weekends shopping or playing some stupid sport. I spent my weekends doing what I loved - drinking and stealing.

  I was more than happy to openly admit I was a young offender.

  Now, closer to the school stairs, I untangled my black sunglasses from my long wavy black hair and pulled them down to my face.

  I didn’t have to push through the crowd; people always made way for me, mainly because they were scared that if they didn’t back off, I would make them. I didn’t rush up the staircase; I was in no hurry to attend class.

  I was a valued member of a group (some may call it a ‘gang’ but, personally. the mere word ‘gang’ to me, screamed pathetic. I referred to us as a family). We didn’t care about graduating from high school.

  But then a memory of Blake and me fighting last week flashed through my mind, and I began to doubt just how long I’d remain a welcome member of this ‘family.’

  I pushed a stationary middle school student out of my way in frustration. I heard him fall to the ground, but I didn’t acknowledge it.

  Should have moved himself, I reasoned in my mind.

  I got to the front yard and did a quick scan of my surroundings.

  Happy, immature teens spanned the yard.

  I could safely say I disliked pretty much the entire population that attended this pitiful place. Then my eyes landed on Jackson Johnston.

  He was sitting on top of one of the picnic tables, arms crossed, hoodie pulled down over his head, and sunglasses on. His minions surrounded him; little morons. I could feel his stare through his sunglasses, but I didn’t pay attention to him, one because I had never spoken to the loser and two because he glared at people more than I did.

  Jackson. Jax, his friends call him.

  He always had this look about him; like he’d been fighting all night, or had just come out of a fist fight.

  I got distracted when I spotted Rachel, leaning against one of the pillars near the entrance, smoking. She caught my eye, flicked her long red hair to the side, and started walking towards me.

  Rachel was the only person I spoke to in this place called public high school.

  Even though my father was super rich, I didn’t let that factor into my choice of high school. I didn’t give a toss whether I attended a public or private high school. I was going to fail regardless, because I wasn’t into academic stuff, so I saved my father the trouble and the tuition of private school, and didn’t publicly air exactly what kind of wealth I came from.

  “Amber.” Rachel spoke as she sucked lightly on the cigarette.

  I nodded my head in acknowledgment, and she handed the cigarette over to me.

  I sucked on it lightly, letting my eyes return to Jax’s picnic table, as we began to walk slowly towards the school building.

  I could never fully understand why he even bothered attending. Everyone knew he had a lot of money, and, from the looks of it, he didn’t want to be here either.

  “Losers,” Rachel muttered under her breath, clearly noticing my line of sight.

  “Yep,” I replied, and, as we passed Jax’s table, I casually flicked my cigarette at one of the cheerleader’s heads.

  I heard a high pitch shriek, followed by a moan, as we kept walking.

  “Can’t you put out a cigarette right?” The angry little bimbo barked at me.

  I just flipped the bird over my shoulder and kept pace
with Rachel.

  “So… any memories of the weekend?” Rachel asked knowingly.

  “Nope, but I am sporting this highly fashionable cut lip,” I teased back, pushing the front door open with more force than it needed.

  Students in the hall were caught off guard as the door slammed into the wall.

  “Smooth.” Rachel mocked.

  I shrugged my shoulders and we began to make our way up the corridor as the bell rang.

  Everyone scattered and scurried to get to class, but Rachel and I maintained our languid pace.

  And so, another day of high school had begun.

  Jax

  Pointing the gun at Ryan’s temple, I waited for him to beg for his life, but he remained silent. I couldn’t count how many lives I had ended. Only eighteen and I already had a record of a hardened criminal. Still, it didn’t bother me.

  I was loyal to my club and my club brothers.

  If that meant I had to get my hands dirty to stay loyal to them - I would, and I did.

  I cocked my head to the side and ran my hand across the side of my face, which was swollen as a result of him trying to escape.

  “Finish it Jax!” Cole snapped from beside me.

  I met Ryan’s eyes one last time. His eyes were consumed with anger and hate towards me. The gun jerked back in my hand as I pulled the trigger.

  Ryan’s blood splattered back onto the clear plastic, and his body dropped to the floor, lifeless.

  “Clean this up,” I said to the prospect and walked away. My job here was done. Another loose end finished with. I was waiting for the day I would regret my life decisions, waiting for the day when the guilt of all the lives I’d taken overcomes me.

  So far, it hadn’t.

  “The accommodation has been organized,” Cole informed me, matching my pace as we walked out of the empty shed.

  The Shield brothers. Troy Shield. You wouldn’t want to cross him. He made a great President. Almost as ruthless as I was; but he didn’t nearly come close to the number of lives I had ended.

  Cole Shield. He was always the first one to pull his gun; he didn’t believe in second chances. He liked two things - his ability to aim straight, and women. Out of all the Shield brothers, he had the worst temper.

  Tyler Shield. Loyal and trustworthy. If there was one thing you could always count on when it came to any of the Shield brothers, it was loyalty and trust. Tyler was a ladies man, and when he wasn’t charming a woman, he was backing up one of his brothers in a fist fight.