Hagen, Lynn - Oliver's Heart [Brac Pack 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Lynn Hagen Page B

him.
    “Are you sure it won’t hurt, Cecil?” Johnny asked for the twentieth time.
    “I told you it will sting, but you can’t think about that. Just remember your mate Hawk’s name will be forever inked above your heart.”
    Damn, why wasn’t Cecil telling the little guy that it would hurt like a bitch? Oliver shook his head. It wasn’t his business.
    They pulled to the back of the parlor. Murdock got out and told them to stay until he checked the place out.
    “You okay, Drew?” Blair asked.
    “Fine. I can handle this. I want Remi’s name as a reminder of what he means to me.” Drew smiled weakly.

    * * * *

    “It’s awfully quiet around here.” Hawk walked into the den and noticed for the first time that it was empty.
    Hmm.
    He went to the kitchen next. His mate, Johnny, acted like he had a damn tapeworm, and this was one of his favorite places.
    Empty.
    Hawk’s stomach began to knot when he hadn’t found his mate in their bedroom either. Where was his pretty baby?
    He stormed to his Alpha Maverick’s office, alarm bells sounding in his head when only Maverick was sitting in there behind his desk.
    No mates.
    “Something’s wrong. I can’t find a mate anywhere.”
    Maverick pushed his chair back, rounding the desk. “What do you mean?”
    “Just what I said. The mates are gone.”
    Maverick rushed from the office with Hawk hot on his heels. “Round up your men. I want them found now!”
    Hawk pulled his cell out and called Cody, his best tracker. The Sentries all gathered in the den.
    “We can’t find Murdock or Loco.” Cody informed his Commander. “We tried their cell phones, but it’s going straight to voicemail.”
    “When was the last time anyone has seen any of them?” Maverick questioned. If Cecil had been harmed in any way, hell would open up on earth. His mate had already been traumatized by his damn assistant. The scars Cecil carried were a constant reminder to keep his mate close.
    “I saw them gathered by the library a few hours ago,” Gunnar offered.
    “Dammit.” Maverick had a feeling his little mate was up to one of his harebrained schemes again. When he first mated Cecil, he was timid, submissive. Now that the little bugger had gained his self-confidence back after his ex-boyfriend had abused him for two years, he was mischievous and adventurous. Maverick loved that Cecil had fire in him. He just wished he wasn’t constantly hunting him down. He saw another paddling in his near future.
    “Cecil.” Jasper smiled.
    “’Fraid so. Keep trying the cell phones. At least he had enough sense to take muscle with him. I want a talk with your men when they return, Hawk.” Maverick stormed to his office, already planning his mate’s punishment.
    “Not before I skin them,” Hawk bit out.

    * * * *

    Oliver grabbed the arms of the chair, gritting his teeth. Whose dumb idea was this again? Oh yeah, Cecil’s. Who was dumb enough to listen? Oliver.
    Sweat broke out on his forehead and trickled down his temple as the gun buzzed. How long did it take to write five letters? If felt like a hot knife was cutting into his skin. His piercings hadn’t hurt this bad. He wouldn’t let it show. He couldn’t, considering Johnny took it like a champ, which shocked Oliver. Drew was the last one, and he was up next.
    The tattoo artist wiped his skin then began to stab him again. That’s what it felt like. For all the pain he was enduring, it better be outstanding.
    “Done.” The guy leaned back and sat the gun down. He poured clear liquid onto a paper towel and wiped Oliver’s chest. Next he grabbed some ointment and smeared his chest before covering it with gauze and tape. Oliver stood and stretched. All the mates who had gone before him stood bare-chested with a patch over their hearts. He felt a connection to them now, like he was one of them.
    “Did it hurt?” Blair stepped to him hesitantly. His brother had been trying to reach out to him since his arrival. Oliver had hated him