Page 82 of Reckless Harmony

Her tail still wagging wildly, Bea dug into her dinner with relish, crunching the food loudly as Rayna added some canned cat food to Freddie’s dish in the laundry room. He sauntered over to the dish, even letting her give him a quick pat as he settled in to eat.

She returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge, studying the contents as she tried to decide what to cook. Her work day hadn’t been that busy or challenging, but the lack of sleep over the weekend and the stress of losing the three grand this morning left her feeling exhausted and unmotivated to cook.

She stretched lightly, glancing at her phone on the counter. She really should check her messages and respond to some emails for the rescue.

Eat first, and then you can do some more work.

Good plan. She reached for the bag of salad, pausing when there was a loud knock on the door. Her heart went into overdrive immediately. Maybe it was Stark. Maybe he was here because he couldn’t stop thinking about Friday night, either.

She started eagerly toward the door, her footsteps slowing as her common sense kicked in. It wouldn’t be Stark. It was always the same when she got a knock on her door. Some random stranger with an animal they no longer wanted and the belief that she had to take it.

Ignoring her disappointment, she opened the front door. There was no one standing on her porch, but a large cardboard box sat on the snowy ground a few feet away from her porch steps.

“Are you kidding me? You couldn’t even leave the poor thing on my porch?” She shoved her feet into boots and stepped outside. The cold air immediately brought goosebumps to her skin, and she considered grabbing her jacket to throw over her robe before hurrying down the steps instead. Who knew what was in the box and how injured it might be. The sooner she looked, the better.

She crouched next to the box and peeled back the tape that held it shut. She moved back a little and stretched to open the top flaps, keeping one hand raised in front of her face. She had a feral cat come flying out of a box and attach itself to her face once, and she wasn’t going through that again.

No angry, hissing cat came flying out, and she lowered her hand, peering cautiously into the box. “What the hell?”

The box was empty, and she stared in confusion at it before straightening and studying the darkness. Her skin prickled, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. “Hello? Is there someone there?”

The wind was her only reply, and seriously creeped out, Rayna turned to walk back to the house. She jumped about a foot and nearly fell on her ass when she saw the man standing in front of her porch steps.

“What the fuck, Louis! You scared the shit out of me.”

Louis stared at her, his big body weaving slightly and his nostrils flaring like an angry bull’s. “I want my dog back, bitch.”

CHAPTER 28

Rayna stiffened, her body sending out little alarm bells that made adrenaline spike in her veins. Keeping her voice calm, she said, “You’re drunk, Louis. Did you drive here?”

He barked harsh laughter. “Did you hear me? I want Red back. Go get him.”

“I don’t have him,” she said. “He’s not with me.”

“Bullshit, he ain’t,” Louis snarled. He produced a flask from his pocket and took a big swallow before shoving it back into his coat. “Give me my dog.”

“I’m telling the truth,” Rayna said. “Besides, you surrendered him, remember? You signed the paperwork. He isn’t your dog anymore, Louis.”

“He’s my dog!” Louis shouted. “You stole him, and I want him back.”

She backed up a few steps when Louis stumbled toward her. “Stop. You’re drunk, and you shouldn’t be driving. Give me your keys, and I’ll call you an Uber. Go home and sleep this off.”

“You think you’re all fucking that, dontcha, bitch?” Louis slurred. “Stealing the dogs of hard working, God-fearing people in this town. Well, I ain’t gonna stand for it no more. Give me my dog before I have to do something you ain’t gonna like.”

Cold fear settled in Rayna’s stomach. “Don’t you fucking threaten me, Louis Hapson.”

“It ain’t a threat. It’s a promise,” he growled.

“Get off my property,” she said. “I won’t ask again.”

“Not without my fucking dog,” he screamed, his voice echoing in the cold air.

Fuck! She stared at the house, wishing like hell she’d brought her phone out with her instead of leaving it on the counter.

With a heavy grunt, he pushed away from the porch and walked toward her. His body swayed and wobbled, but he still looked dangerous and mean. He was blocking her path to the house, but she was fast on her feet. All she had to do was get past him, and she’d beat him into the house. She’d lock the door and call 911.

More adrenaline surged through her, and she ignored Louis’s shout of surprise when she ran toward him. She zigged to the left, triumph rocketing through her when she easily dodged Louis’s flailing hand and ran past him.

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