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Obsidian
“Ouch, fuck ya,” I grunted as Burgess hit a sensitive area near my spine.
“Sit still and stop being a pussy,” Burgess spat back. I loved my brother's tattoos, but I swear he kept his roughest style for when I came in.
Iver was currently laying on Sloane’s table with his eyes closed and a serene smile on his face as she drew over his back with sharpies. At least he wasn’t getting his brother to stick him with needles in the spine.
“Fuck, man, I’m sure you’ve done that part already,” I groused.
Burgess laughed and lifted his hand. “I don’t know why you bother getting tattoos; you complain every time. If you can’t take the pain, don’t get them.”
“Or get them somewhere really fatty,” Sloane said.
“He doesn’t want tattoos on his head,” Iver mumbled.
I stared at my nephew with wide eyes as Burgess and Sloane erupted into seizures of giggles.
“What the fuck, man? You’re meant to be on my side,” I grumbled.
Iver opened his eyes, and his grin matched the cheeky look. “What was it Dad said about swearing?”
I rolled my eyes and huffed. “Geez, when did you turn on me?”
Iver snorted. “I still love you, Uncle Sid; I’m just playing.”
I winked and grinned. “Just as well, or I’d have to eat burgers all by myself.”
Iver’s eyes widened, and he gasped. “You would do that to me? Your favorite nephew?”
“I dunno; I think Thatcher is looking a lot more loveable,” I said with a laugh.
“Oh no, you don’t. You will not bring my son into this; he has already learned enough swear words from you,” Burgess said as he pushed me back onto the table and started tattooing again.
“He never used it outside the house,” I complained.
“No, he just called his sister a cunt,” Burgess muttered, causing me to laugh.
“I’ve already apologized for that.”
“And I’m yet to forgive you.”
I not only went home with fantastic artwork on my skin but always came away with a smile and aching jaw from laughter. This was what I loved about coming into Shifter Ink and getting tattoos from my brother. It was an excellent chance for us to catch up where he wasn’t having to think about being a Papa. Instead, he could just relax and be himself.
My phone started to buzz in my pocket. “Want me to stop so you can get that?” Burgess asked.
“Yeah, it might be work,” I said as I wrestled my phone from my pocket and looked at the screen to see that it was Donte calling. He’d left the shop after I did so that he could pick up a few parts for me.
“Donte, did you get the parts?” I asked.
“Yeah, I did. Listen, I’ve got a guy on the side of the road, broken down in an old but beautiful Valiant. Looks like he’s blown a water valve and a head gasket. I was hoping you were done and could bring out the tow truck,” Donte said.
“Na, I’m still at Shifter Ink. But I’ll give Dakota a call; he will be able to bring it out and hook it up. Where are you?”
“On Lalbert road, about four k out.”
“Alright, I’ll ring you back in a sec,” I said before ending the call and finding Dakota’s number. He was one of my other mechanics; if I wasn’t around, he usually drove the tow truck if needed.
“Hey, Sid,” Dakota answered.
“Hey Dakota, Donte is out on Lalbert Road about four kilometers out. Can you drive the tow truck out there? Apparently, there is a guy in a Valiant that broke down.”
“Yeah, not a prob. I’ll head out now,” he said.
“Thanks, Kota,” I replied as I ended the call. I wasn’t worried about him leaving the shop; Atticus was still working on a few services that we had to get done and Alena would be still in the office.
I sent a text back to Donte that Dakota was on his way. As soon as I got a thumbs-up, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and prepared for the next onslaught of pain that Burgess was about to subject me with.
Valiant. Damn, I loved old cars. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. There was just something special about working on the old classics. So much better than the new stuff.