Ripper had club business the next morning- something that involved him beating the shit out of a Rival club leader who had been plotting against Hugh and the Sons of Cocidius for some time now. I kissed him goodbye and he left with a wink, being the epitome of the badass he was and riding away on his motorcycle.

I threw on one of his shirts and a pair of black jeans, lacing up my red doc martens and braiding my hair quickly- I had work with Slater today, but I was also having lunch with dad.

It had only been around two days, but felt like we hadn't seen eachother in ages.

Slater looked up from a woman's back he was tattooing when I walked in, whistling lowly as his eyes ran up and down me.

"I swear honey bee, you could wear a potato sac and make a man get a boner"

I clicked my tongue and fell into my seat, going through the appointments for today. "Thank you Slater. And thank you for saying it when my boyfriend wasn't here"

Slater waved his hands. "I know your boyfriend would fry my ass, so I can only save my compliments for our private time"

He was a tramp but I loved him like a brother.

The woman on the table raised her head, eyes zeroing in on me. "You're Ripper's girlfriend? The infamous Corin Kane?"

I nodded slowly, wondering how she came to know about me. The woman didn't even seem to mind the pain on her back and grinned enthusiastically.

"Holy shit. Lady, you are seriously my fucking idol- getting a man like Ripper an holding him down- you are the literal shit man"

I didn't know if being compared to shit was the highlight of my day- but I took it with a smile nonetheless. The girl was young and around Seamus's age, with a pretty, cherubic like face and strawberry blonde hair.

"What's your name" I asked, rolling over to her in my seat. She blushed darkly and held out a hand.

"I'm Tina Banks. My parents own the supermarket down the road"

I shook her hand and smiled, liking her already. Anyone who had the guts to say what came to their mind was someone I could be friends with.

Slater pushed the girl's head back onto the headpiece, clicking his tongue at me in a mock growling way. "Leave the customers alone Corin. I have work to do"

The door opened with a ding, my next appointment coming in- the ever elusive Bianca. She strutted in, in her staple bright tie dye tee- this time in acid like yellow, pink and green- ripped jeans and her favourite worn pair of black boots.

She pointed finger guns at me, falling into the client chair and pushing the sleeve of one arm up.

"How have you been girl? I've heard quite a bit from Beast Boy"

I smirked at the nickname Bianca had for her beau, rubbing some alcohol on the bare skin just above her guitar tattoo.

"This and that you know, threatening and contemplating beating bitches."

Bianca nodded impassively, examining her nails. She opened her mouth to speak before Tina's enthusiastic voice interrupted us.

"Oh. My. God. You're Bianca! THE BIANCA! The one who tamed the heart of the Beast"

Bianca gave the girl an up and down look, eyes flicking to the large cat tattoo she was getting on her back. "That would be me. And you're.....?"

Tina's head snapped up, a wide smile on her face as she held out her hand. "Tina Banks. I've been wanting to meet you two for literal years. I mean, even though you've only been here for months, I feel like, so excited to be able to finally meet you!"

Bianca sat still, obviously overwhelmed by the amount of vocal intonations and inflections this girl could use in less than thirty seconds. She was kind of cute actually, in the hyperactive, well-meaning teen kind of way.

"Well. It's great to have another fan"

Tina accepted this gratefully before lying back down and promptly falling asleep. Bianca stared for a few moments before looking back at me.

"What are you going to do about Lacey?"

I shrugged a shoulder, penning in her design- a wild animal that had a mysterious resemblance to her cuff. "I don't know. Do you think I would be going too far if I actually did something?"

I sighed. "I don't even know her- and I'm contemplating beating her a half inch within death. Am I crossing some sort of boundary?"

Bianca opened her mouth, but Slater beat her to it, tone a frosty calm. "You don't need to know that bitch to know what she's like. I've seen her parenting skills- they mainly consisted of her fists and open hand. That woman was a plague on this club, her husband and her sons. You do what you need to do Cor- no one will stop you."

Bianca nodded, wincing a little when I started tattooing. "Too much talking is done in this club. You need to fuck that bitch up- and quick. Before she fucks somebody else up or over"

I nodded gravely, fingers reflexively stretching. "That's all I needed."

Permission.

_______

I messaged Ripper that I would be out when he came home, on a particular hunt. And the fact that he trusted me, messaging me back with a simple;

be safe. Love you.

Made my heart swell with gratitude and unconditional love for the man. He really was my perfect other half- the one meant for my soul. I hadn't believed in soul mates for a long time, especially when so many families in my life were broken.

My foster parents had divorced five years after I was adopted, and my mother was a prime example of why destiny and fate were not your friends.

But then Ripper came. And he was beautiful, passionate with a ruggedness and depth that spoke to my heart. He was mine.

And I was completely and utterly his.

A shout disturbed me from my thoughts, a chorus of drunkenly excited men all gathered near a seedy looking pub on the edge of the street.

I hid behind a dumpster, glad I was dressed fully in black to hide in the shadows. Their voices echoed over to me, drawls of alcohol dilated words.

"Can't believe that slut's paying us a grand each to get one little bitch and throw her over some bridge" One of the bigger ones grunted, chugging back a bottle of what looked like moonshine. Impressive. A smaller one with wispy hair chuckled, wringing his hands out in a sick sort of glee.

"'Parently she's a fighter. I like the aggressive ones" My stomach churned, rolling over in a slog of disgust.

Big one laughed, a new gleam in his clouded eyes. "They're always the best for fuckin'. Good to show who's really in control"

I held back a snarl, reminding myself that four to one were not good odds. For anyone- maybe alright for Ripper. I slid out of my hiding spot and hurried on down the street, careful to keep out of their vision. Lord help whoever they decided to go after.

I didn't see a pothole and tripped, falling ungracefully and conspicuously onto the road. Wincing, I stood quickly, biting down hard on my lip to stop a cry. Tripping was a bitch- even more so when it was raining and you forgot to bring a jersey.

A sudden silence had my gut turn cold, and I turned to find all the men staring at me.

I broke eye contact quickly, limping on and pulling out my phone. Where was my pepper spray when I needed it the most? Footsteps sounded behind me, drawing closer and faster as my blood chilled and my mind raced.

Ripper picked up as on the second ring, voice tired. "Hey love, need some help?"

"Ripper, come now," I whispered anxiously, turning back for a split second to see the horde of men getting closer.

A shuffle was heard and he replied quickly. "what's wrong? Where are you?"

"On the fifth street, near the-"

The phone was smacked out of my hands, shocking and terrifying me all at once. The group of men had surrounded me, all with dark faces and too wicked grins. Ripper's voice echoed from the phone, getting louder as ever second I didn't reply passed.

"You fell outta the sky an into our hands girlie" The big one droned, palming the hilt of a knife in his pocket. A deep fear rolled through me, but so did a ripened anger, one that guaranteed a little of my rationality was gone.

All the rest of them eyed me up and down, taking their lazy time, with wide mouths tilting into sickening smiles. "Lacey didn't tell us you was pretty. Really pretty" The wispy one murmured.

"That's because someone like me would never go for an ugly looking fucker like you" I spat, straightening my shoulders.

He scowled, fury flashing over his face like a fire ignited. "I don't like you so much anymore. Bert, fuck her up."

And the big one's first punch sent me straight to oblivion.

___