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

Officer Abao pulled out a simple notebook and a pen and then looked at him expectantly. “Alice told me what you told her over the phone, which is that you and Mr. MacLean had an altercation. Can you tell me what happened?”


Gabe nodded. “He was in a fight and I tried to stop him and he hit me. It…I’m sure it was an accident and I really don’t want to press charges or anything. I’m just worried about him.”


“We’re doing everything possible to find him,” Abao said, which Gabe supposed was meant to be reassuring. “And I can understand how difficult this is, but I’m afraid I need to ask you these questions.”


Alice put a coffee mug on the table next to his hand. Gabe didn’t really want it but he thanked her anyway. Holding the mug at least gave him something to do with his hands. “Yeah, okay.”


“Great.” Abao gave him a brief smile. “All right. Has Jake hit you or physically hurt you before?”


Chapter 99