Henry dropped them off, and she and Amber walked into the store. Dawn could feel eyes on her and knew it was Gordon’s security.
“Does it get annoying knowing you’re being watched all time,” Amber whispered at her like she was afraid they could somehow hear her. “I didn’t notice it the first couple of days, but now… Damn, it’s eerie.”
It had bothered her, but Dawn was getting used to it. She knew Gordon was worth a ridiculous amount and he had competitors, and there were crazy people out there. It was America too—a lot different from Australia where guns were illegal, and it was a smaller population. “I’m getting used to it. America is different.”
Amber laughed. “You can say that again. I feel like we come from another planet sometimes.”
Dawn nodded. She did too, but Gordon was hers, and he was worth any alien feelings.
****
“What the hell do you mean you just got a phone call from Mathew to say the police have caught the threat? What threat?”
His father stood from the leather sofa in Gordon’s office. “Son, after the, uh, accident, you were acting strangely. Then, when you decided you were going to Australia, and we heard your plan, Mathew, the families head of security, and I had talked. We thought it best you not find out the car accident wasn’t an accident. We knew Australia would be safe for you while we figured everything out and caught whoever was threatening you.”
“What? My car accident wasn’t an accident. Fuck, Father, is that all that’s happened? What else have you kept from me?”
“There has been a couple of death threats, and I may have been shot at—”
“What the fuck? How could you keep that from me?”
His father’s head dropped. “It’s been getting harder as they have become more adventurous as of late since you’ve come back. I hired extra security. The police promised they were on it—but it’s all over now, son, they have them. Everything worked out for the best. All the police need is a statement from you.”
Gordon could feel his heart racing, and he tried not to think of what his father meant by more adventurous, an image of Dawn flashed before him. He blinked and went to his phone calling James, who he knew was with Dawn now.
“Hello, sir.”
“Where is Dawn? Can you see her?”
“She’s in the tattoo parlor with her friend.” Gordon relaxed only to tense when James continued. “I’ll go in now.”
“You’re not with her?”
“I was keeping a safe distance like she asked, and you agreed.”
“Gordon,” his father interrupted, “Dawn is fine I’m sur—”
“Don’t. You stay quiet.” He growled at his dad and to James said, “Tell me you see her now.”
James was silent, and then Gordon heard him swear, and a loud bang, like something being hit. “She’s not here. The guy in here said she and her friend left out the back with his boss about fifteen minutes ago.”
Feeling his heart about to beat out of his chest, he yelled, “Find her now.” Ending the phone call, Gordon turned to his now very deathly pale father. “You better fucking hope the police do have the threat.” Picking the phone up again, he called Dawn a couple of times only for it to go straight to voicemail. He then called his security and left to go to his car. Getting in his vehicle, he sat his phone in the holder and activated the tracker on Dawn’s phone while he frantically tried to call her. As he drove to the flashing light that said where she was, he prayed she was okay. He also promised that his family head of security Mathew was fired. He couldn’t believe what he and his father had kept from him. He’d deal with them later. Right now, he needed to know Dawn was all right.
****
The owner, Bran, had personally done Ambers tat. He’d asked them about Australia, and they’d told him she’d just moved here and Amber was visiting. Bran was eager about her website design. He told them about his new store that was bigger, and he had originally bought it to move the current shop into the new one. When Amber was done, Bran offered to take them to go see the new shop. Without thinking of her guards, she left out the back with Bran and Amber.
Dawn and Bran now sat going over what he wanted. Amber had walked down to the mall that was close to this location.
“This shop looks awesome. It’s twice the size of the other and in a great spot. I think with the website and attaching some keywords to a search would have this shop booking out.”
“We are busy at the other location, but I thought with the foot traffic here, and if we could link to the mall, it would bring in business.”
“Do you know what direction you want to go with this?” Dawn had an idea, but if he had one she would go that way.
“Any suggestions?”
“I like the feel of both your shops. What do you think of having the same with the website?”
“You could do that.”
“Oh, yeah, I even think we should stick with the rooms to introduce your other artists. It’ll show their style, too.”
“This all sounds too good to be true.” Bran winked. “All you need is tats and you’d be my perfect woman right now.”
“Oh, I have tattoos. You should know, when you work in a shop, you at least have to have one.” Pulling down her shirt, she showed him her tree on her back and the affinity symbol on the back of her neck.”
“Those are really well done. Is your tree finished?”
She shook her head. “No. Actually, if you’re willing, I’d like to add to my tree.”
Bran went and got a stencil, and Dawn told him what she wanted. He did two and put one design on her back. “What do you think?”
“Perfect. That will be awesome.”
“If you could come around the same time tomorrow that would be great. I can do the tat. We’re busiest at night, so if you come same time tomorrow, I’ll make sure I’m free.” Bran stood, and she followed him. “I better get you back. You can call your friend.” Dawn nodded and pulled her phone out of her black bag, frowning when she saw fifteen missed calls. “Do you have someone to show you around while you’re here?”
Blinking, she looked up from her phone screen to Bran. She’d been warned by Gordon’s security not to tell people who she was married to. Supposedly, she could be kidnapped for ransom. She’d found it really hard to resist rolling her eyes when Gordon’s security had gone through a bunch of rules. She understood why Gordon had them, but she wasn’t the one worth millions.