Page 37 of Brutal Savage

“Okay, Bubbles, you can relax. I’ll hand you right back to Brody in a second.”

You little shit.

Her tail wags as soon as I say his name, like she committed it to memory the moment she heard it back at the shelter.

Brody straps himself in, and once he’s good, I give the tiny terror right back to him and get in.

“You know, having a dog is a huge responsibility. You will have to make sure her water and food bowls are cleaned and filled, that she’s brushed every day, and we have to take her on walks together. Think you’re up for that?”

He nods, almost enthusiastically.

I hide my smile as I start the car, knowing that the therapist was right. This was a good idea.

Now I just have to figure out how to get the kid and the dog to like me.

Maybe Elara too.

We make it to the pet store in thirty minutes, and the cart is full of too much crap. Food, bowls, treats, a pink doggy bed Brody picked out, and a bright purple collar.

I strap it around the dog’s neck to make sure it fits. “What do you think?”

Brody inspects her as I slip on the black leash. No way was I going to be caught dead walking her with a purple one he originally chose. Luckily, the kid didn’t object.

He gives me a thumbs-up, and I swear this is the most he’s communicated with me since I’ve adopted him. Maybe I should’ve gotten the dog sooner.

“Alright, let’s go pay.”

We head for the cashier, who starts scanning and bagging all of the stuff while I remove my black card and pass it to her.

She gives me a curious glance, then proceeds to hand me the bags. They all know my family in these towns. How could they not? We practically own it all. Restaurants, bars, stores. We have our hands in everything. Makes hiding the dirty money much easier.

“You’re good with walking her to the car?”

The dog stares up at me and barks with her dissatisfaction. Like she’s offended I’ve even spoken.

Kinda starting to regret this decision right about now.

But seeing how happy Brody is makes the dog hating me worth it.

CHAPTER 10

ELARA

I’ve yet to decide on the job offer Tynan made a couple of days ago.

Just the thought of that man sends a shiver down my spine.

I can’t be forced to see him every single day. The way he makes my body grow weak is too much for me to handle.

“What’s on your mind, honey?” Grandma asks from the other side of the table at the café, the one he owns.

He’s everywhere, even when he’s not present. It’s like I can feel him watching me, even when that makes no logical sense.

Gran eyes me speculatively. She’s a shrewd woman. Definitely fools lots of people with her sweet act. Not to say she’s not sweet, but she’s tough when she has to be.

She used to run a company she started with Grandpa. Textiles, that’s what they sold. Then when they got older, they handed it off to my dad to manage, on top of his restaurant.

He wasn’t very good at it. That, of course, made Grandma pretty pissy. And who wouldn’t be? But with her help, my father figured it out.

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