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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+
Peringkat tidak cukup
123 Chs

Chapter 27

“Let me see it,” Gabriel ordered. He took Hype’s arm and pulled her gently to her feet. Jake noticed Gabriel kept his hand carefully under her bruise. He examined the vines, heart, and blood drops on Hype’s arm like he was appraising it for an auction. “It’s not terrible,” he said finally when he let Hype’s arm go. “Go draw it and I’ll put it in the new designs binder.”

Hype let out a little-girl squeal and hugged Gabriel so tightly he grunted. “Thanks!” she said, and then she zipped off behind the counter. Jake guessed it was to get paper to draw on.

“She’s like a big, skinny toddler,” Gabriel said.

“I heard that!” Hype called from the counter, which only made Gabriel laugh.

“That was nice of you,” Jake said.

“Well, the design was good enough, so why not?” Gabriel said. He turned his head to make sure she could hear him. “Besides, it gets her out of our hair.”