Page 92 of The Dark Stranger
And I freeze.
No.
No, no, no.
It's not Inez.
It's Christina.
Christina from the tattoo shop.
Thegirl who came in with her husband David. The one I did the lion and Viking piece on. Just a week ago. Maybe less.
I can see the tattoo from here. It's on her thigh, still red around the edges, not fully healed yet.
What the fuck is she doing here?
My chest tightens. My breath comes faster.
Did I—
Did I get her into this?
Did they take her because of me?
Oh my God.
"Christina?" I whisper, leaning forward as far as the ropes will let me. "Christina, it's me. It's Becca."
She doesn't respond.
Her head lolls to the side, eyes unfocused, lips parted. She's drugged. Just like the rest of us.
"Christina, please," I try again, louder this time. "Look at me. It's Becca. From the shop. Remember?"
Nothing.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
David!
Her husband. The guy who held her hand the whole time I was working on her. The guy who looked at her like she was the only person in the world.
The one who has the matching tattoo.
Is he okay?
Did they hurt him?
Did they—
Stop. Stop spiraling.
I force my eyes open, force myself to breathe.
And then—
The screens behind Lionetti's desk start flickering.
