Page 14 of Strictly Forbidden

But this sunny day was special to me, much more so than the other two had been. I had one arm wrapped around Max as he waited his turn, proud of the amazing pup and what we’d both been able to accomplish. However, the moment was horribly bittersweet. I’d slept with the beautiful boy, fed him, walked him in a yard I tried to avoid for years, trained him, and watched him finally thrive from the care given by someone who truly loved him.

And I did.

I’d thought love would never be possible again but with Max, everything was easy.

Losing him would be one of the hardest things I had to endure. And I’d had my share of tragedies.

At least I could reflect on the months spent together, the joy I’d had in the little things and accomplishments we’d achieved together with adoration in my heart. Max was the bestest boy. I buried my head into his fur, trying not to become emotional. When he lifted his face, his eyes as imploring as on the first day when he’d been so hopeful of finding his person, my heart ached so much I wasn’t certain I could do this.

But he gave me a reassuring lick, a rarity given his strict training. He was offering me reassurance that he wouldn’t forget me and that he’d be alright.

“And our final graduate of the day,” Warden Carter said from behind his podium, “is Max and his handler Kage Bronson.”

As the audience of maybe fifty started to clap, it realized how funny and ironic it was to me that some of the same guards who’d done everything in their power to make my life miserable inside the hellhole were clapping. The only people’s accolades that mattered to me were Dr. Daniels and my sister Thalia, who’d defied my wishes and my father’s orders not to come see me under any circumstances.

She had tears in her eyes, clapping and cheering the loudest.

As I rose to my full height, Max peered up at me as always, looking for direction. All I had to do was nod so he walked forward to collect the medal other dogs had received, the certification that would be put in my hands.

For all the bad shit I’d done in my life, the murders that I’d committed in the name of a man who couldn’t give a shit about anyone but himself, I felt a sense of pride for the first time in so long.

It felt damn good.

I refused to lose the feeling ever again.

And maybe, just maybe one day I’d be able to see the dog I’d fallen head over heels in love with once again.

CHAPTER 5

Noel

“Come, boy,” I said as I pulled Max from my car.

He peered up at me with the same huge brown eyes as when he’d walked into my house five days before. He’d been so calm yet so attentive, falling by my side and never leaving. Whoever had trained him had done an amazing job.

With the incredible and very beautiful dog by my side, I’d finally slept an entire night through. I knew part of it could be the fact that I finally felt as if an evil shadow wasn’t hanging over my shoulder, but it was more than that.

It was the weight of Max’s body molding into mine, the tiny licks he gave me in the morning to ensure that I was okay. And the fact that every time I took him outside for a walk, he was more attentive than any person or other dog I could imagine.

Plus, he adored tennis balls.

I’d been given all the dog’s information, a half-eaten bag of the dogfood he’d been on for the five months of training, and a huge bag of toys and his fluffy bed. There’d been at least eight or nine tennis balls, some of them brand new.

I’d found joy in the simple act of tossing him the ball over and over again. The moment he flanked my side, bouncing his muzzle against my leg, I was given a boost of confidence as well as a feeling that the two of us belonged together.

As I walked into the restaurant, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness. Just two weeks ago, entering a restaurant with a group of strangers would have felt impossible to do. I’d never been to the lakeside location before because I hadn’t been able to experience anything outside my comfort zone. In a few short days, Max had offered me the ability to venture out. But more than that, I’d wanted to get out into the big bad world again.

I’d taken him to a dog park, to get ice cream, and even a hike in the mountains. His arrival had awakened the dead woman inside and for that, I was eternally grateful. So much so, I’d made a decision I had to thank the man responsible for training him.

Even if learning his identity went against the rules.

Just walking inside was a feat, but there was no instant claustrophobia, no wish to run away and crawl under the covers. Instead, I had a smile on my face and a wishful spirit for the future in my heart.

Max was a service dog, wearing his vest given his certification. That allowed for admiration amongst the people I passed in searching for Zoe, not condemnation as I’d felt so often before.

Zoe stood up and waved from what appeared to be a pristine position at the back wall of glass peering out at the crystalline lake. It was chilly outside, steam rising from the water but it couldn’t take away from the incredible vision of beauty.

I could swear colors were brighter, the sun larger in the sky and my heart completely full. As I approached, Zoe clasped her hands over her mouth.

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