Page 110 of Call it Reckless

His eyes flashed with a fire that immediately made me know I’d crossed a line. “At least she trusted me.”

“Reid—”

He collected the trash, including half of the sandwich I hadn’t been able to eat due to our argument. “I think this is where I take you back to work, and we take some time to cool off.”

The ride was quiet. I hated this between us. Even when he thought I made some foolish decisions when we first met, he’d never been truly upset with me. Now, I felt his anger weigh like an anchor around my heart.

As we pulled into the parking lot, Griff came out of the garage whistling. Buddy followed on his heels. There was no way Reid was right about him. I couldn’t explain the name change, but that didn’t make him a criminal. People had all kinds of reasons to have a new identity. And I really resented the way Reid thought he had the right to tell me how to run my business.

Reid drummed his fingers along the steering wheel. “Bristol, take a break. Go home. I don’t want you around him until I can figure things out.”

Until I can figure things out.I, not we.

“Yeah, well, to be honest right now, Reid, you’re the one I don’t want to be around right now.” I slammed the door and walked back into Head to Tow, wishing I had an engine to tear apart. At least that, I could fix. Fixing what went wrong with Reid wasn’t as easy.

* * *

Max came backwith the alternator. I insisted on doing it myself. Anything to pass the time and help distract me from my anger. I tried to see past it, to understand that he was trying to protect me. But to demand I fire an employee with no legitimate reason would at the very least ruin my reputation. Surely, he had to see that.

Two hours later, my steam had run out. As soon as I finished the last adjustments and checks, I would call Nick to come get his van, and then I’d call Reid to ask if we could talk.

I climbed into the van and started the engine, smiling when I heard it turn over and purr almost like new.

Well, at least the engine sounded new. The van itself smelled terrible. Like dirty dog plus urine. I knew Reid had said the van had been used to transfer dogs, but wouldn’t it have been cleaned after being used?

Curiosity made me look to the back. A sliding glass window separated the driver’s section from the back. I could see cages lining both sides of the van’s walls.

There was no kind of bedding inside the cages, not even straw. Disgusted, I climbed out, walked around to the back, and opened the double doors. The smell was even more overwhelming. Lying half-in, half-out of one of the cages was a flat piece of wood with bite marks and blood. There was also a muzzle behind one of the crates. On the floor was a torn, thin magazine titledSporting Dog Journal. There was no sign of water or food or even a place for it. What a terrible way to move dogs. It didn’t look humane at all. Images from the commercials I’d seen of animal rescues came to mind.

Feeling sick, I slammed the doors shut and turned off the engine. Back inside, I asked June to call Nick while I cleaned up and told her to head home. Max and Chad had left a few minutes ago. Being a Friday, we didn’t have any more customers. Paige finished early on Fridays, too. I saw her and her staff sweeping and tidying up on their side.

“Do you mind if I take off?” Griff asked.

I studied him for a few seconds. “No, of course not. Have a good weekend.”

“You, too. Aren’t you headed home?”

“I’m waiting for Nick Rhodes to get his van. Then I’ll head home.”

He hesitated. “Do you want me to wait with you?”

See, Reid? Nice guy.“No, I’m fine. I’ve got Buddy.”

He glanced at my dog. “Okay. Take care.” He squatted to rub his hand along Buddy’s flanks. “You’re a good boy.” Buddy’s tail thumped in response, not even bothering to raise his head, making Griff laugh. “Okay. Got it. Lazy evening planned. See you both Monday,” he called and headed toward the front door.

Nick was taking longer than I expected. “Come on, Nick. Where are you?” I mumbled.

“Nick’s a dick.”

I looked over my shoulder at Sterling. That was new. “You can say that again.”

He cocked his head while looking at me. “Nick’s a dick.”

He bobbed his head. “Where’d you learn that?”

“Nick’s a dick,” he screeched louder.

“Okay, yeah. I think so, too. Maybe you could share that with Reid.”

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