Inked & Filthy: A Bad Boy MC Romance Boxed Set Read Online Free PDF Page A

on pikes outside the police station by the morning.”
     
    Buckley leaned forward, bathing his fat face in light. “It won't matter. The damage will already be done. The college would have to expel Audrey and no other college would accept her after that.”
     
    As much as I hated to admit it, Buckley was right. I couldn't let Audrey's life get ruined because of mine.
     
    Sheriff Buckley stood up and and opened the door. “I'll give you a moment to think about your options.”
     
    I didn't need a moment. I'd do anything for Audrey. Going to prison was a small sacrifice if it meant Audrey could lead a normal life. “I confess, Buckley. I tried to kill him.”
     
    Buckley grinned and left me alone. Did I do the right thing?
     
    The sentencing hearing came up the next day with the judge sentencing me to thirty years in prison. I kept expecting Audrey to show up and fight for me but she was nowhere to be found. The Blood Dogs didn't even know that I'd been picked up by the cops. Before they could even act, I'd already be in a jail cell.
     
    I'd never let any harm come to Audrey.

Chapter Four
     
 

Audrey
     
Present

I'd gone a week without hearing anything from Hawke. I expected him to be at my door every day to fight for me. Maybe he actually was respecting my wishes? Luckily I had my painting to distract me from him otherwise I might've been tempted to call Hawke.
     
    The day of my art show arrived and I barely got my painting finished in time. The thing was still drying when I put it in the backseat of my BMW SUV. Thankfully I had my little black dress picked out beforehand to save time. My body was a bundle of nerves as I drove to the show. I couldn't stop sweating. My father and Sam were both going to be there to support me. I needed it.
     
    I got to the art gallery a couple hours before the show started and hung my painting up. With everything that had happened I had totally blanked on coming up with a price for my piece. With my father's money I didn't really need to sell my art. But I wanted the price to reflect my talent. Twenty thousand dollars would do the trick. Nobody would ever buy it for that much.
     
    By the time the show started, I'd already drank three glasses of white wine. The buzz was already in full effect and I didn't feel nervous anymore. I stood by my painting and answered any questions people had. I kept looking around for Sam but she was already late. My father was never late. He always arrived when he intended.
     
    “Now that's an amazing painting.” I turned around to see Sam standing in front of my work with a glass of wine in her hand.
     
    “Thank you for coming, Sam, I really needed you.”
     
    Sam tilted her head to the side as she examined my art. “No wonder you wanted to keep this under wraps. I've never seen you paint something so dark before.”
     
    She was right. This was something totally out of my wheelhouse. I normally painted sunsets and gardens. All that strange energy I had was channeled into this—the Grim Reaper as Lady Justice. His skull was blindfolded and he held his scythe in one hand and a heart in another.
     
    “I don't know what came over me. I just saw this in my head and had to get it on the canvas.” I poured the wine down my throat and let it warm my insides.
     
    “And twenty thousand dollars? You sold your last painting for three hundred dollars.”
     
    I shrugged my shoulders. “I obviously don't need the money. But I can't keep devaluing my stuff because I think I'm no good.”
     
    “Well I think you're amazing and you deserve every penny.”
     
    I hooked my arm in Sam's and took her away from my painting. “Come on. I'm sick of answering questions about my piece. Let's go make fun of all the other art.”
     
    Sam and I laughed our way through the gallery, consuming glass after glass of wine. Bossa Nova music played throughout the gallery. We passed by a painting of a cow—just a cow grazing on the farm. It already