Ricochet by Delilah Mohan

Riya
“Do you trust me?” He asked.
“Yes.” I watched as his chest seemed to expand and a smile crossed his face.
He bent his head over my skin, his machine poised in his hand, “If you’re going to do it, you might as well make a statement, right?”
The bite of pain hit as he made his first mark of ink and I relished in the rebellion that came over me. Never before would I have dared to go against my ex-husband’s wishes, or break a single rule. There are rules for a reason, Riya. His voice filled my mind, and it haunted me. It haunted me every second of every day. It reminded me of a past life, a life without choices, a life full of scars and pain. A time where I could never be whole.

Augustus
My Selene. My goddess. My moon.
“Don’t you look. It’s going to be a surprise.” I told her, right before I wiped her skin and admired my work. She bit her lip and looked to the ceiling.
I watched her look up, her expression so beautiful that it made my chest ache. I couldn’t have her, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming. I’m an addict, physically broken, mentally damaged. I could never be worthy of her love. But then, she looks at me, her brown eyes peeking from under thick black lashes and I realized, I would give my life trying.