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Poppy and Rowdy had reht after I left I knew that because before she had moved back home Poppy and I had stayed in constant contact; now our coraduated high school together Rowdy had picked the University of Alabao, even though Notre Dae What I didn’t knohat I wondered at noas how things had happened between the away not just from my little sister but also from his entire future and education I needed hi I had et a clear picture of who Roas as a grown o upstairs with her I didn’t really want to but I figured I couldn’t say no Nash and Rule ultined my paycheck, but I realized fast that Cora was sort of the rudder of the group She steered the ship and I didn’t want to be the one causing waves so early on inand fresh vibe it had I liked my coworkers and the men and women in their inner circle Rule’s as a sweetheart and there was no doubt the tattooed heartthrob had irlfriend was just a peach She didn’t really talk htful and she looked at Nash like he hung the moon I had only met Jet once but his wife, Ayden, popped in and out of the shop to talk to Cora at least twice a week, and I always thought she was a riot And of course I adored Cora She was sal, only right noas dreading getting dragged over the coals by her, but that didn’t change the fact that they were all really good people and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to land when I finally realized where I was supposed to be

The upstairs was mostly empty There was an office Cora shared with the boys and a whole bunch of e to be filled up and turned into a trendy, retro tattoo boutique It wouldabout what they wanted to put up here and just do it I think the idea of shopping and building an online store was kind of daunting to the was still pretty fresh, so everyone was just trying to find their footing as business owners still It was a good thing I was here This was right up my alley I loved clothes I loved tattoo and pinup culture I couldn’t wait to make the Marked and the men behind it a household name

I walked into Cora’s messy office and sat in the chair across from her desk She didn’t walk around the other side but instead just jus back and forth She had eyes that were two different colors, so it was easy just to stare at her in awe I had to respect that she didn’t beat around the bush when she immediately laid into me

"Look, Salem, I like you I like you quite a bit actually and I think you are just e all need for the next phase of this business once the boys get their shit together But Rowdy is ame since that first day we hired you and I don’t just , but I do know that ever since you showed up he hasn’t been himself and that I don’t like at all"

I pulled h the dark strands

"What exactly do you know?" I keptifreasons for see back up in his life

She lifted a shoulder and let it fall She really was just the cutest thing ever

"I know that he burns through girls at an alar rate and that they all thank him afterward I know none of them stick and yet he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of you"

Well, that wasn’t exactly what I had been after and I think she knew it When I arched a dark eyebrow at her she gave irl for more than a minute, which isn’t exactly unusual with this crew The rest of theht girl Only Rowdy has irl and she didn’t want him, so now there is no reason to look for the one He told me that the one just happened to be your sister She broke hi or anyone too seriously At least he was until you walked in the door He sees and looked down at the peep-toe cut out of my pumps They were black and had red bows on the heels They were supercute and went awesome with my fitted, red pencil skirt I dressed the way I did to feel sexy and in control I rocked a look that attracted attention, and I did it er and I liked the positive response it always got No ae of the blade that cut through me at the reminder that Rowdy had loved my little sister

I looked back up at Cora and nodded a little "He did love Poppy The family that lived next to mine in Loveless took Rowdy in as a foster kid when he was ten They were supernice but had a bucket load of kids, their own and ones from the state Roas shy, quiet, and really sad Poppy and I were playing tag out front one day and she just happened to see hi us but not saying anything and she ran over and asked him to play with us"

I felt a soft smile pull at e and lanky There was also no way to ht blue eyes in a town that was predominantly inhabited by Mexican-A new and uncertain, so and unexpected in a life that had forever seeh sadness and discontentth and defiance in hied to have in myself I wanted to soothe him but I also wanted to watch what happened when someone with that h hi untethered fro hiry, to be lost and frustrated I wanted to tell hiht just the way he was, like I so desperately longed to hear Now I still wanted to tell hiht, but he wouldn’t stand still long enough for me to explain that I was here for hirow into soive me a chance

"I think he loved her frohed and looked down at ether "My dad is a very traditional rated from Mexico City when he was just a baby and he really believes in the old way of doing things He is hyperreligious and didn’tfriends with Rowdy because he was an orphan and his foster family were active ation But he never would’ve condoned a romantic relationship between the two of them and Rowdy always knew that It never stopped hih I think he was just waiting for the two of thee, and then when Poppy was out from under ether"

Cora’s legs stopped swinging and she looked me dead in the eye

"So what happened?"

I barked out a dry laugh and pushedhair back over my shoulder "Good question"

Noas her turn to lift an incredulous eyebrow, only hers was dotted with a sparkly pink piercing