Inked: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World), стр. 10
Although the idea had floated around my mind about me relocating to run this place, I didn’t think it would happen. I was needed in Manchester. That was my studio after I escaped London the year before, but the second the call came from Zach to ask if I’d move here, there was only one answer I could give. And that’s how I found myself here, living on the sunny Californian coast as far away from my troubles as I could get. Just a shame it’s impossible to leave my nightmares behind me for good. Those motherfuckers will haunt me no matter where I am on the planet, it seems.
“Morning,” Oz sings as he joins me with his own coffee in hand, courtesy of his sister.
“Morning. Your better half not with you today?”
“Ugh,” he grunts, rolling his eyes. “Don’t. Just don’t.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Ah, domestic bliss. It’s a sight to behold.”
“Fuck off,” he barks, disappearing out to his room.
Much like the studios in both London and Manchester, each artist has their own room to work in. Zach has had the place fitted out in exactly the same way as all his other studios, so his Rebel Ink branding is strong despite the differences in location.
Once I’ve finished my breakfast, I head to my room. It’s much more homely than the flat I’m renting, which is good because if things continue the way they have been then I might be moving into it sooner than I’d like to admit.
With just under an hour before my first client of the day is due to arrive, I power up my computer to get some admin done before pulling my phone from my pocket. Knowing her number is sitting there waiting for me taunts me. My thumb hovers over the contacts as I debate shooting her a message. I know the wisest thing to do would be to forget and move on, but there’s something about her that’s still under my skin.
Ignoring my need to reach out, I instead find the number for another woman who occupies a lot of my headspace. Sadly it’s in a totally different way to Harlow.
“Hey, Son. How’s it going over there?” Mum asks in a joyful voice that I know she’s putting on for my benefit.
“It’s fantastic.” It’s not a lie, I love my new life here, but speaking to her is always a stark reminder of the disaster I left behind in my quest to escape my past. “And how are things there?”
“Yeah, yeah. They’re good. The electric company has finally sorted everything out.”
“That’s great. What about everything else?”
She pauses and lets out a large sigh. “We’re getting there. Natalie has a new bar job, so that will help. Sadie is looking, but with her studies, it’s not easy. It’ll all be fine though. I’m stronger than I look. I won’t let him break me, Son.”
“I know you are, Mum.”
“Plus I’ve got you, my guardian angel.” A smile curls up at one side of my mouth.
“It’s the least I can do, seeing as I’m not there.”
“How was I so lucky to get you as my son?” She asks me this often; my constant answer is that I’m only what she made me, but the words are getting boring.
“It’s how it should be. Anything else from debt collectors?”
“No, not since the last lot of letters I sent you.”
“That’s good. Hopefully, they’re coming to an end.”
“I’m sure they are. There’s only so much bad luck that can land on me, right?”
I agree, because I’m not sure what else to say. Mum chats away before I tell her that I’ve got to get to work and bring our conversation to an end, promising to ring her in a few days but insisting that if she needs me she reaches out before then. She agrees like always, but she’s stubborn, and it’s usually one of my sisters who ends up ringing with bad news.
Mum and Dad had been happily married all my life. I often questioned Mother’s choice in men seeing as he was so controlling. He enlisted in the army at fifteen, and every single part of his life was run like it was a military operation, including his marriage. I always assumed Mum was happy with that, because she sure never complained. Although I’m now learning it was more because she was afraid to than anything else.
Everything was… bearable, I guess, until one day it all came crashing down around Mum’s feet. Dad came home one night and announced that he’d met someone else and that he was leaving. Mum was shattered. Everything about life as she knew it ended with those few words, but she never imagined what was to follow, thanks to my father.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. Shaking my head, I hope that it might rid me of some of my stress as I pocket my phone and welcome my first client of the day inside. It’s a guy who turned up a few weeks ago for a consultation. I’ve been working on finalising his design since, and I’m excited to finally be able to put some ink to skin at last.
“Corey, man. How’s it going?”
“It’s good, it’s good,” I say plastering a smile on my face like all is right in my world.
“I can’t wait to