Page 16 of Strictly Forbidden

Dear Conrad,

You don’t know me and I realize this is against the rules but I have a friend who was able to find me your name. I just wanted you to know what you did with Max has changed my life. I’m the survivor of an abduction, the monster who took me killing several other women. I was lucky, able to escape. But as you might imagine, the horror of what I went through never left even after several years of being safe. If there is such a thing.

With Max by my side, I can breathe again and it’s all because of the sacrifice you made. I thought you deserved to know I adore this beautiful boy with all my heart and will do everything in my power to honor the grace and gift you’ve given me. I hope that gives you a small level of comfort.

PS—he will always have a huge supply of tennis balls!

Affectionately,

Noel

Shit. I sat back, fighting tears. This wasn’t the kind of place you were ever allowed to show emotion. It had been almost nine years since I’d shed my last tear, the horrible stormy day something I’d tried so hard to forget. At least this time, the tears that were difficult to blink away were ones of joy.

Mostly.

I stared at the photograph again, tracing my boy’s outline before shifting my full attention to the sparkle in her eye, the look of sheer happiness that while masked was definitely there.

Noel.

The name suited her.

“Take care of her, Maxie boy. She deserves you.”

Two weeks later

Noel

I stood outside for a few seconds, pushing the very comfort zone I’d come to embrace. Okay, so we were technically under an awning but that didn’t stop Max from shaking his entire body, tossing rainwater all over me. I was at the same grocery store I’d been to hundreds of times, but it felt entirely different today.

Maybe because I’d chosen to purchase food during the middle of a storm. It might even turn into an ice storm later. Yet here I was, feeling more confident than ever.

Woof.

He rarely barked, only when he was hungry or there was danger, but today his huffing woof was nothing more than a gentle push. He was telling his new mommy dog he wasn’t a fan of the rain either. And that he was right by my side. Laughing, I rubbed his head and walked us both inside, noticing the manager was smiling from behind his perch near the front of the store.

While the grocery store was required to allow assistance dogs, it didn’t mean the manager had to be as nice as he was. True to form, the man slipped from behind the tall enclosure. In his hand was a new chew toy that he’d likely had for days just waiting for Max to pop in with his mommy dog.

I knew that I was supposed to keep others from petting Max or interacting as much as they did. I’d been provided with all the rules for owning a support animal. I’d gone through a full six hours of training both before and on the day Max had come into my life. But the attention and affection hadn’t seemed to faze Maxie boy in the least. He was still attentive and protective as the moment he’d attached himself to me.

“Such a gorgeous boy. Here you go, buddy,” Marty said with such glee in his voice.

“Marty, you are so sweet. Thank you.” Max was eager but patient, knowing he’d need to wait until we returned home to get his treat. Besides, I was purchasing Frosty Paws for him as well to celebrate a little over two weeks together.

“The least I can do to see that pretty smile of yours. By the way, I read your latest book. All I can say is woman, you made me sleep with the light on last night.”

“Then I did my job, Marty. Thank you so much.”

He gave a single pat on the head to my boy before returning to his perch while I grabbed a basket.

“Let’s get this over with, baby boy. I think we’re going to watch a movie tonight during the storm. What do you think?”

He did nothing more than give me that happy little face I’d already come to adore.

I was happily selecting items, barely paying any attention when I tossed a few products into my cart. Yet the moment I heard Max whine, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. The sound was eerie, mournful, and a lump formed in my throat. Refusing to feel any form of terror as I’d done so often before, I did everything I could to act nonchalant as I searched for the source of Max’s obvious distress.

There were several people shopping, a good dozen positioned in front of the meat counter, which was only a few feet away from me. Maybe it was the cute little boy waving at Max from the closest basket. Or maybe the girl blowing him a kiss.

I walked closer, my curiosity getting the better of me. Max was no longer making a single sound, just sitting on his haunches beside me, staring at the end of the meat case. When a shopper moved, I finally noticed a lone man searching through the expensive meat, finally selecting a package of steaks and tossing it into his basket.

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