Page 17 of Innocent Intentions

Matthias threatens my puppy.

And suddenly, everything crashes down.

“Answer me. Do you understand?” His voice is razor-sharp.

“Yes.” Mine comes out barely a whisper.

“Good. Now, what is your address? Rocco here will go pick him up.”

I can’t answer immediately. I’m still stuck on the whole hurting-Benny-thing.

“If you don’t give me your address, I can’t send someone to get him.” Matthias sighs. “He won’t be let out or fed. Do you want that to happen?”

That snaps me out of it.

“No. My address is 6215 Goodwood Ave.” My voice is tight, my throat closing up.

Then without thinking, I turn to the speaker. “Rocco, please be gentle with him. He’s just a puppy.”

That was a mistake.

“Don’t talk to Rocco!” Matthias snaps.

I flinch.

His eyes flash, a dark warning behind them. He turns back to the phone. “Rocco, you catch that? Get the dog and bring him to my place.”

“Yes, sir.”

Matthias hangs up.

The second he does, he turns to me. His head tilts slightly, calculating.

“Never speak directly to my men.”

I freeze.

“They don’t get to hear your voice.” His tone takes a deadly turn, emphasized by how quiet it is. “That’s only for me.”

Something inside me twists. I don’t know if it’s fear, revulsion, or something else entirely.

“And never disobey me in front of them.” His voice dips even lower. “You won’t like the consequence.”

And then.

“Neither will Benny”

Something inside me snaps.

The sob punches out of me before I can stop it.

And then another.

And another.

Before I know it, I’m crying hard. Uncontrollably. Big, fat, ugly tears. My body shakes and my breaths come in ragged gasps.

“Today has been the worst fucking day.”

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