Page 35 of Gage

River nodded, a flicker of a smile on his face. “Yeah, that was a good night. Lyon loved his grandfather. I hope he’s okay.”

“And I hope he’s found Brutus,” Faron added. “If not, you know he won’t leave until we do.”

“Damn straight,” I said. “Those two are inseparable.”

We blendedin with the locals, our clothes and demeanor carefully chosen. I wasn’t too worried about being spotted, but after walking for two days, it was clear we needed a vehicle. Faron approached a man standing next to two jeeps.

“We need to rent your jeep for a few days,” Faron said.

The man studied us for a moment before replying in perfect English. “Three thousand dollars. And I won’t tell anyone you’re here.”

We exchanged glances. “Damn,” I muttered. “Can you at least tell us what gave us away?”

“The boots. I wish they sold boots like that here,” the man said, eyeing mine. “I tried ordering some online, but no one will deliver to this place.”

“Give me your address, and I’ll send you a pair,” I offered. “Don’t forget to include your size.”

His eyes lit up briefly before narrowing. “Why are you really here?”

“We’re looking for our buddy. He’s here hunting for his dog.”

The man frowned, scratching his chin. “I haven’t heard about a man, but Ihaveheard about a dog. Everyone’s terrified of it. They keep it locked up.”

I leaned forward. “Where?”

He grabbed two scraps of paper and began writing. “Here’s my address for the boots, with my size, and here’s the dog’s location. But listen—be careful when you go after him. The men who have him are meaner than the dog.”

“Do you know how Brutus ended up here?” I asked.

“He was shipped here in a crate. Don’t know who sent him, but the men who got hold of him… they’ve been turning him meaner every day.”

I let out a frustrated breath, glancing at the guys. “Damn it. Let’s get Brutus. He might be our best shot at finding Lyon.”

“I can’t believe Brutus is related to Penny and Sissy,” River muttered. “That dog doesn’t like anyone except Lyon.”

Faron snorted. “He was like that when you brought those puppies to the office. Good thing Lyon stopped by, or Brutus might’ve ended up biting everyone. I swear, if that dog bites me, I’m taking it out on Lyon.”

We paid the man and took the keys to the jeep. “If we can’t return it, it’ll be about twenty miles west of here. You’ll see it,” I said.

He waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about the jeep. I’ll find it. Good luck with your search. But again—be careful when you go for that dog. Head three streets down, then turn right. Maybe call his name. If he’s still got a bond with your buddy, he might come to you.”

I nodded, unsure but willing to try. “It’s worth a shot. Let’s go.”

21

Gage

We passedthe street three times before finally spotting the sign. It was ridiculously small, almost hidden. When we pulled up in front of the house, I let out a piercing whistle, the same one Lyon had done hundreds of times. River leaned out the window and shouted, “Brutus!”

The response was immediate. Barking erupted from inside, fierce and desperate, and before we knew what was happening, Brutus came crashing through a window. Glass shattered, and in an instant, the damn dog was in my lap, trembling but alive.

“Go!” I yelled, and Faron slammed his foot on the gas. As we sped away, I took a good look at Brutus, and my blood boiled.

Someone had beaten him. Dried blood clung to patches of his fur, and when I gently touched his leg, it didn’t feel right. He whimpered, then growled low in his throat, almost as if embarrassed by the sound.

“His leg’s broken,” I said, my voice tight with anger. “And look at these marks—someone took a whip to him. If we had the time, I’d go back and beat the hell out of whoever did this.”

“When Lyon sees him like this,” River said, his jaw clenched, “he’s gonna lose it.”

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