ut it now, in the company of two genuine killers who looked anything but dangerous, Spyder saw much of his early ink less as a tribute to the art and more to his own neuroses. He wore his fear on his skin for everyone to see. Spyder had avoided thoughts like these his whole life and, as Primo wrestled the gates of the fortress open, they came down on him hard. Fear and covering up fear had probably been his primary motivator since childhood. Oddly, now that he had real monsters to deal with and not just the neurotic shadows that hed dragged with him from childhood, none of it was as bad as hed imagined it would be. Maybe because he wasnt alone. Shrikes arm was solid against him. If he wasnt really brave, maybe he could watch her and learn to act bravely. A line he used more than once to sell tattoos to uncertain customers popped into his head, "Sometimes changing the outside is the first step to changing the inside. "
Beyond the wall, the fortress was another world. Olive and orange trees lined the inside of the courtyard, providing shade and cooling the air to bearable levels. A fountain filled the air with the pleasant sound of running water and a tile walkway pointed the way into the main domed building. Primo ushered Shrike and Spyder inside to an opulent room of cushions and low, inlaid tables on a polished teak wood floor. Primo gestured for them to make themselves comfortable by a table piled high with fresh fruit and bottled water. When they were seated, Spyder put Shrikes hand on the fruit and she eagerly took a fig from the pile. Spyder peeled an orange and said, "I could get used to this. "
"Its very nice," replied Shrike. "Its also for our benefit. Letting us know that she can take care of us. "
"I
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