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Black Hawk Tattoo

Toronto, Canada, 2006. A few months after the worst year of the Iraq war.<br><br>Gabriel Navarro splits his time between his job slinging ink at the Atlantis Ink tattoo parlor, and working on his master’s degree in fine art. Gabe is twenty-two, sure of his beliefs and his artistic integrity, and na?ve enough to think he’ll never have to compromise. And then one night Jake MacLean walks into the shop and changes everything.<br><br>Jake Maclean is twenty-eight and a veteran American Army pilot. He's been staying with his ex-pat sister in Toronto while he tries to get his life in order. The problem is, he can't. After his disastrous final mission in Iraq, he's overcome with anger and survivor’s guilt, trapped in a losing battle to atone for a failure he’s sure can never be forgiven. Left without hope, he decides to have his memory of the mission tattooed on his back, with the condemning words: God Will Judge Me. He doesn't expect to fall for the tattoo artist.<br><br>Gabe falls just as quickly and deeply for Jake, though Jake's reluctance to talk about what happened frustrates and worries him. Gabe knows Jake isn't doing well, but accepting Jake’s claims that he's "fine" is far easier than dealing with the frightening truth. But soon it’s horribly clear Jake can’t control his panic attacks or flashes of violence, and he's getting worse. If Gabe can’t help him face his demons, Jake is headed for a crash -- and there’s every chance he’ll take Gabriel down with him.

Aundrea Singer · LGBT+
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123 Chs

Chapter 102

“Is that why he’s not in the Army anymore? Because of his kidney?” Gabe asked.

He expected her to say yes, but Alice shook her head. “No. It wasn’t his injuries.”

Gabe waited, but Alice didn’t say anything else. She picked up the mug again and this time she took another drink, then stared at the half-empty cup as she turned it around and around in her hands. “Our house burned down when Jake was five,” she said suddenly. “He probably didn’t tell you about that either, right? Of course not,” she said when Gabe shook his head. “I honestly don’t think he’s ever told anyone.” She threw Gabe a mild glare. “And if you so much as breathe a word about it to him, I’ll kill you and bury you in the backyard.”

Gabe nodded. “I promise I won’t tell him.”