Free Jocelynn Drake - [Asylum Tales 02] by Dead Mans Deal

heard, goblins were among the few races that were good at relationships. Once they bonded with a mate, it tended to be for life and they were happy with each other the whole time. Humans couldn’t even come close to understanding something like that.
    I was finishing up a tattoo on a young werecat when Bronx came in. The werecat had wanted a tattoo on her hip that would keep her from getting pregnant for the next five years. She’d still go into heat every season, but the ink would protect against pregnancy. There were special waivers required for that particular tattoo since I didn’t want to be sued in case something was off. I had yet to have that one come back to haunt me, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
    The troll settled onto his stool with only the softest of grunts. The swelling had gone down in his face and there was only a slight discoloration around one eye. Otherwise, he looked normal. He was moving a little slower than normal, but most wouldn’t notice it.
    “You know you could have stayed home tonight,” I said after the last client left the shop.
    “So you said yesterday,” Bronx grumbled. He set up his station with his usual meticulousness, checking to make sure that he had all the supplies he had put aside the previous night.
    Trixie flit across the room and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, laying her head on top of his. “How are you feeling?”
    “I’m fine,” Bronx said, patting one of Trixie’s hands.
    “I knew that Gage would be trouble. I don’t think you should hang out with that bad influence any longer,” Trixie continued in her best doting-mother voice.
    At that, Bronx finally smiled. “Yes, Mother, but he’s my only friend.”
    “No, dear, you’ll always have your mummy,” she said, earning a bark of laughter from me. Trixie kissed Bronx’s cheek and then walked over to where I was lying back in the tattooing chair in my station. She put a knee between my legs, a little too close for comfort. “What are you laughing at? I’m old enough to be a great-great-great-grandmother to both of you. Sometimes I think I need to take you over my knee, spank some sense into you.”
    I placed my hands on her hips and tried to pull her closer, but she grabbed the top of the chair, halting her descent. “I could be up for that.”
    “Good grief,” Bronx muttered under his breath with no small amount of disgust. I laughed. For the most part, when Bronx was in the shop with us, Trixie and I maintained a somewhat professional atmosphere. Well, as professional as it ever was before we started dating. Every once in a while I let something slip to make Bronx shake his head.
    The chime for the front door sang through the lobby as someone walked in. “Saved by the bell,” I said, starting to push Trixie back.
    “So it would seem,” she said with a glare before easing into a smile. “Stay. I’ll get it.”
    I nodded and then watched her walk toward the front. Turning, I found Bronx relaxing on his stool, his back leaning against the counter behind him. He looked tired, both physically and maybe even a little emotionally. I opened my mouth, but he held up his hand, stopping me.
    “Apologize again and I’ll hit you.”
    “I can’t help it.”
    “If you hadn’t done something, I would have and I’d be feeling worse if not dead right now.”
    My eyes hardened on his face while my hands clenched the arms of the chair I was sitting in. “I’ll get you out of this.”
    “You’ll get us both out,” Bronx corrected, his eyes drifting closed. “I’m not leaving you alone with Reave. Both or none at all.”
    I nodded in a sharp, jerky motion as Trixie’s heels thudded across the floor toward me. I looked up and forced a smile on my face. She’d talk to Bronx after I left for the night and then again to me when we met up after her shift. There was no hiding the Reave business from her now, but I didn’t want to worry her while we were in the shop.
    Trixie motioned toward the