Toronto, Canada, 2006. A few months after the worst year of the Iraq war. Gabriel Navarro splits his time between his job slinging ink at the Atlantis Ink tattoo parlor, and working on his master’s degree in fine art. Gabe is twenty-two, sure of his beliefs and his artistic integrity, and na?ve enough to think he’ll never have to compromise. And then one night Jake MacLean walks into the shop and changes everything. Jake Maclean is twenty-eight and a veteran American Army pilot. He's been staying with his ex-pat sister in Toronto while he tries to get his life in order. The problem is, he can't. After his disastrous final mission in Iraq, he's overcome with anger and survivor’s guilt, trapped in a losing battle to atone for a failure he’s sure can never be forgiven. Left without hope, he decides to have his memory of the mission tattooed on his back, with the condemning words: God Will Judge Me. He doesn't expect to fall for the tattoo artist. Gabe falls just as quickly and deeply for Jake, though Jake's reluctance to talk about what happened frustrates and worries him. Gabe knows Jake isn't doing well, but accepting Jake’s claims that he's "fine" is far easier than dealing with the frightening truth. But soon it’s horribly clear Jake can’t control his panic attacks or flashes of violence, and he's getting worse. If Gabe can’t help him face his demons, Jake is headed for a crash -- and there’s every chance he’ll take Gabriel down with him.

Black Hawk Tattoo

“Thanks.” Jake sounded a little bewildered but he hugged her in return, patting her back with the hand not holding a cookie. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”


Alice pulled away. She was smiling, but her eyes were wet. “Yeah? Are you? Really?”


Gabe stepped back until he was leaning against the counter, trying not to watch. The mutual history between them was like a tangible presence, something he could never share even if he knew what it was. It made him feel out of place and very much a stranger.


Then, “Yeah,” Jake said, nodding, and he was looking at Gabe as he said it, before he turned back to Alice’s worn face and her sad, hopeful eyes. “Yeah, I am.”


“No, seriously, where are you taking me?”


Chapter 80