Page 35 of Safe With Me

“I can make assumptions. He was mistreated by his owner. And where’s your proof that he’s yours?”

“Don’t have no proof.” She shrugged. “But he is mine and I want him back.”

“Not so fast, doll.” Spike, the tattooed guy came up behind her. Obviously, he was older. He put his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t really need the dog.” He looked at Pax and Steph. “How much is he worth to you?”

Pax’s jaw dropped. “What the fuck? You’re trying to blackmail me for him?”

“We need an incentive to leave him with you.” Spike spoke again.

Steph stepped forward. She flashed her security badge quickly. “I’m an officer of the law, you two. You don’t have proof he’s yours and now you want money from the doctor.” Which Stephanie suspected was the plan all along. “I can arrest you for extortion. Pax, my handcuffs and gun are on my desk. Why don’t you get them?”

The man gave her a once over. “You can’t take us both.”

“With a gun, I can.”

“Fuck this,” Marci said. “I don’t want the mutt anyway. Let’s go, Spike.”

This was like a grade B movie.

But they left. Pax turned to her. “Wow, you are a great actress.”

“Well, I do have handcuffs. And maybe I should bring my gun to work, Pax.”

“I hesitated about that. But…maybe.” He crossed to her and stood close. “You are something else, Stephanie.”

She fluttered her eyelashes. “Thank you very much, sir.”

* * *

“You gotta be kidding me.” Will Kirkland shook his head. “Sounds like something out of a bad movie.”

“That’s what I said.” This from Steph.

“And you should’ve seen this one.” He nodded to her. “She was a real Charles Bronson.”

Will chuckled. “Seriously, though. Do you think you need a gun, Steph?”

“Previously, I thought no. But those two could have been armed, Will—and they were only teens. Who knows how many more of their ilk will come in.”

“Pax?”

He leaned forward and linked his hands between his knees. “I’d hoped not. But now, I’m thinking we do. We know it’s a bad area for crime but a clinic has to be set up in the neighborhood that needs us.”

“The night guards will have to be armed, too, then.”

Pax asked, “Have you had to arm any other of your security guards?”

“I have. If they’re guarding high profile people who come to Syracuse. And in a few other situations.” He looked at Steph. “It’s up to you. If you think you’re endangered, of course you can be armed. What do you need from me?”

“Nothing. I already have a gun from my Secret Service days. And I renew my permit to carry every year.”

“Then it’s a done deal. You’ll have to alert Jackson Kane, too.”

“Yeah, I know.” Pax stood. “Thanks, Will.”

“Don’t forget your dog.” His tone was dry.

Mutt slept soundly on a chair in the office. Steph went to him and shook him gently. “Come on, buddy.”

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