The Tattoo Artist (La Petite Mort #1)

19. Chapter 19

nineteen

Alexander

M y blood was boiling as the thirst for vengeance took over my body. I wanted to make those assholes pay for putting their filthy hands on what was mine. Quinn was mine, and no one touched what belonged to me. My brother Aristotle might be the don of the Greek Mob and Hades crime family, but I would never fucking forgive him if something had happened to her. He knew she was at the nightclub, and he didn't even fucking have the decency to call his brother and let him know. No, I had to find out through my sister, who happened to be at the Blue Morpho. Even though she knew she wasn't allowed to go unless one of us was there with her.As our only sister and woman in the family besides our mother, we tried to keep her away from all the blood and crime.

My phone rang as I came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my waist. I picked up my phone from the dresser and read my sister's name on the screen. I answered, and I just knew she was somewhere she wasn't supposed to be. I could hear the music playing in the background as she was telling me to hold on a second. The music was starting to fade, and I assumed she was either outside or somewhere quiet.

"Xander, before you get mad at me for breaking one of your stupid rules, I have to tell you something." She spoke on the other end of the phone.

"Where are you," I answered as I cleaned the remaining blood off my knuckles.

"Before I answer you, promise me you won't tell Aristotle what I tell you," she said, and I sighed, not knowing what the hell she was talking about.I put my phone between my ear and shoulder, held on to it, and dropped the towel. Igot a pair of black jeans on as I adjusted myself. "Xander, promise me, or I'm not telling you anything," she urged me to promise her. "I promise. Now tell me where the hell you are?" I demanded.

I planned to get a few of our guys there, knowing my sister probably blew off the security we had on her.

"Blue Morpho," she finally let out. I closed my eyes, and my jaw tensed. Son of a bitch. We told her not to go. I was getting ready to lecture her when she spoke. "Quinn is here. She was with her friend, and I saw Aristotle speaking to both of them. But I'm pretty sure he was making sure she was okay after what happened on the dance floor," she was rumbling.

My heartbeat went faster after hearing her name, but I swore it stopped when she mentioned an incident on the dance floor. I was immediately out the door, my shirt not fully on.

"Lock the door and stay inside the fucking office, do you hear me? Do not for the life of me disobey me," I demanded before hanging up.

I called Sebastian, informing him to get to our baby sister and take two of our men. I also called Leonardo because whatever happens tonight, the clean-up crew will surely be needed.

The Devil has come out to play tonight.

The doctor arrived and checked her out. He informed me that the drug they used on her was a neuromuscular blocking agent, which was the number one factor that caused her paralysis. This drug-induced paralysis should wear off in a couple of hours once the body rids itself of the drugs in her system.

Dr. Kane hooked her up to an IV drip, leaving behind two different bottles of medication. He instructed me to give her one every four hours from now until she finished both bottles. I listened to what he was saying, taking note of everything he said about her care. I nodded my head in understanding, and then I proceeded to talk to him in Greek so she couldn't understand what I was about to ask the doctor if she woke up.

From my peripheral vision, I can see her start to stir. "Την β?ασαν?" I asked him, hoping the answer was no and that I arrived in time to save her. ( "Did they rape her? ")

He shook his head, and the instant relief my body felt was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I thanked Dr. Kane for all his help and walked him to the door, leaving me and Quinn alone.She stirred a bit more as I witnessed her upper body move, meaning the drugs were wearing off.

I took a seat next to her and took a hold of her hand bringing it towards my lips, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. My thoughts went back to what happened a few hours ago.

On my way to Blue Morpho, my mind went through every worst-case scenario that could have happened to her without me being there. My phone rang, getting me out of my daze. I looked down to see Quinn calling me.

"Quinn," I answered.

"Alex…Alexander," she whispered out, the blood instantly draining from my body. I knew something was wrong. I could hear it in her voice.

"Princess? What's wrong? Why do you sound like that?" I drove faster, passing all red lights, hoping to arrive in time. I'm only about five blocks away. "I can't feel my legs—"

"Where the fuck are you ?" I hissed, wanting to make sure she was there and I was not too late.

"Blu... Blue Morpho—" she rasped out. I was two blocks away. Hang in there, baby. I'm coming. I was hoping my brother had found her or one of our men had located her when suddenly I couldn't hear her anymore.

"Quinn, Quinn, Quinn!" I yelled, gripping the phone tighter in my hand. When I looked down, I saw the call was still connected. My jaw tensed when I heard a man's voice.

"Where's your feisty friend now? Huh?" He laughed sinisterly.

"IF YOU TOUCH HER YOU'LL DIE. YOU SON OF A BITCH," I threatened, praying to God the bastard could hear me, but the call got disconnected.

The car stopped, and I ran out, heading inside when I saw Sebastian, Aristotle, and a few of our men. "CCTV showed her in the hallway and the—," I didn't let him finish when I ran towards the hallway and opened the door coming face to face with a horrific scene.Two men tried to grab Quinn's ankles and pull her legs apart.

I saw red.

Fucking red when I saw the bastard's hand about to touch her.

I ripped the asshole away from her, pinning him against the wall.My fist connected with his face over and over again until I heard his bones cracking under my fist.I unleashed all the venom I had running through my veins.My brothers charged at the other two men as I continued to go at it.I threw the bastard on the floor, getting on top of him. Strike after strike. His face was bloody, and his nose was broken. I could start to see bruises on him forming. I grab his hand, breaking his finger before breaking his hand as I twisted it. Hearing his bones cracking caused a sinister smirk to appear on my lips.

His screams of pain erupted throughout the night sky.The poor asshole, who was in shock for the last few minutes, had finally gotten the balls to do something, but before he could do anything, I turned around, and my sinister smirk shone brightly at him. He suddenly stopped and dropped the weapon he was going to use to attack me.His color drained from his body. He was trembling with fear as he lifted his hands in surrender.

"I–I'm sorry. Alex—Alexander. Fuck man, I'm sorry," He stuttered, dropping to his knees in front of me.

"Touch her again—" I threatened, throwing his friend's limp body beside him. "— And I'll kill you." I sneered at them. Bouncers from the club and Leonardo's clean-up crew had come out the back door.

"Alex–Alexander. I—I can't move," she moaned, obviously not feeling well.

"Shhh. It's okay, Princess. I'm here now."

My daze was interrupted when I heard her crying silently.

Fuck!

My other hand went up to wipe the tears away, whispering sweet things. She continued to let the tears flow. I stood up and took a seat on the side of the bed, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her closer to me. "Shhh, Princess. It's okay. You're safe now," I whispered and rubbed circles at her back, doing my best to calm her down.

She looked up at me with watery eyes, breaking my heart all over again but fueling the venom I currently had flowing through my system. "How are you feeling?" I questioned, my voice softer than ever.

"Better—" she swallowed hard and continued. "Thank you for saving me," she sighed.She looked around my room, noticing where she was, her eyes wandering. I watched her take in my room. I had floor-to-ceiling windows, giving me the perfect view of the city and tower bridge. The bed was an emperor, with dark grey sheets and a black comforter on top. She took notice of the nightstand on the side of the bed with a lamp on top, leaning her body a little forward to see what was on the other side of me. The same nightstand, but this one had no lamp.Her eyes moved to the opened door—which happened to be the walk-in closet and then to the hidden door that matched the dark walls. My breathing stopped, and I looked at her intently, but her eyes moved past that, not noticing what it was—a hidden door.

Getting off the bed and leaving her to wander, I approached the walk-in closet. I grabbed a black T-shirt and made my way back towards her. She looked so small sitting in the middle of this huge bed. She looked up at me, giving me a small smile. "Here you go, Princess," I whispered, handing her a black T-shirt with my tattoo logo on it.

"The dress looks uncomfortable." I looked down at her as she grabbed the shirt from my hands.I assisted her with getting to the edge of the bed.

"Ca—can you help me unzip my dress, please," she asked me quietly.

I nodded.

I softly helped her unzip her dress and gave her the blanket I laid across the end of my bed so she could cover herself. She pulled out her arms, and I helped her slip on my black T-shirt without looking at her body. I could feel her staring at me as she watched my every move, with the mirror giving her easy viewing. She stuck her hands into the openings. I helped her stand up, instructing her to hold on to me for balance.I slipped my hands under the T-shirt and gently pulled her dress down until it dropped to her ankles.As my fingers accidentally made contact with her legs, I could feel her tense up.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"Let me get you a pair of boxers," I told her. I helped her sit as I walked back to the closet and grabbed a pair of clean boxers. I returned to my bedroom, handed her the boxers, and helped her get her feet into them. I looked up at the ceiling, avoiding looking at her as she pulled them up, lifting the black T-shirt in the process. A few minutes later, I helped her lay back against the pillows and wished her a good night.

Just as I got ready to leave the room, I heard her call out my name. "Alexander," she whispered.

"Quinn?" I answered.

"Can you ummm…. Can you please stay with me–" she swallowed hard, biting her lips. "Just until I sleep, please?" She babbled. I couldn't help the smile that took over my face. I made my way over and settled onto the bed beside her. She moved her body closer to mine and rested her head against my chest. My arms rested under her neck and pulled her closer to me. She nuzzled her face onto my chest and inhaled my scent. "I thought you weren't going to come for me," she mumbled against my chest, barely audible.

"Why's that, Princess?" I whispered, brushing my fingers through her hair.

"Why would you ?" she sighed.

"Because mou Angelos, I will always come if you need me, no matter where you are. I will always protect you." She lifted her head to look at me.

"Always," I whispered looking down at her lips, she smiled before settling her head against my chest once again, as she listened to my heartbeat thumping for her and only her.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Thank you for protecting me, Alex," she whispered just before sleep overtook her. I kissed the top of her head and smiled at the nickname she gave me.