Page 128 of Commander in Briefs

“Attack,” she commands loudly.

Before I can wrap my head around what’s going on, Killer launches at Hayes, knocking him to the ground. He grunts, raising his arms to protect his face.

“Heel.” Killer immediately releases at Mason’s command.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” I look at Anniston and realize she’s talking to me.

“Have you lost your mind? She could have killed him!” I’m on my feet and to Hayes’ side, helping him off the floor.

Anniston and Mason begin to laugh. Loudly.

“Don’t be a party pooper, Cade. I wouldn’t have let her bite him,” she tsks, frowning at my seriousness of the situation.

I look at Hayes, his face is pasty white. “You all right?”

He nods and then grins. “Does this mean I can use the car?”

I push Hayes away, annoyed with this whole shit show. Anniston is wiping away remnants of tears from her laugh fest. “You may, Sergeant, but if I find any more bodily fluids on my leather, you will be chained to your bed and not in a good way. The keys are on the table.”

He sprints off without another word.

I reclaim my spot back in the chair, glaring at Anniston.

“Relax, ya big baby. Theo and I practiced it with her last night. Didn’t we, you good girl?” The dog licks her face as she praises Killer for attacking someone in the house.

My stomach growls as I watch this little house of horrors. Of course, Theo and Anniston trained the dog to attack. And who would’ve thought Anniston would like dogs?

“You hungry?” She’s always worried about me eating.

“I’ll get something in a minute,” I tell her, watching Mason rub Killer’s belly.

She hops up, dusting the dog hair off her shorts. “I got it. What do you want? Sandwich?”

I nod, graciously accepting her offer. I don’t want to argue with her because she likes feeling needed. When she’s out of sight, I turn to Mason. “So, you told her about the dog?”

He nods, a small smile peeking out as he strokes Killer’s soft fur on her belly. Mason has always been the more reserved one in the bunch. My guess is that he has more demons than all of us combined but he keeps it locked away, only allowing us glimpses into his former self. He’s been slow to warm up to Ans and this whole situation but by the contented look on his face, I wager that Ans has officially won him over. Although, stealing a dog would not have been the method I would have suggested to go about doing it.

“Did you tell Theo about the picture?” Mason whispers.

I nod my head in confirmation, not wanting Anniston to overhear our conversation from the kitchen. “He’ll never get that close to her again,” I say absently, stroking Killer’s soft fur.

“Agreed,” he adds. And for once, Mason shows that he is part of this family, pushing his fist out in an act of solidarity.

I bump it hard with mine.

“Oohrah.”

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