Page 20 of Downward Dawg
Chapter Seven
Mad Dawg
They dismounted the bike in front of her house, and Ella looked left and right at the two men who had trailed them here.
“If they want, I can make coffee or something for everyone?” She winced as she removed the helmet, a flash of pain creasing her brow as she handed it to him. He hung it off the handlebars. “If they’re staying?”
His brothers had parked and killed their bike engines, but looked to him before dismounting.
“Nope, their place is out here. We just need to verify for certain that there aren’t any other threats hiding in the bushes. It’s an overabundance of caution, I promise. Regardless, they’ll take care of the outside, and I’ll check inside.” Need burned inside him to ensure she was safe. The terror from realizing she’d been taken hadn’t faded yet. “Make sure.”
She turned to look down the street. “It’s unlikely anyone would hide out here, especially in broad daylight.”
“And I’d have thought it unlikely they’d have come to your studio. Never would have thought they’d—” He pressed his palm flat against her low back, biting back the words as he urged her towards the house.I need to get her inside. Out of view. Out of danger.“Let me take care of you, baby. We’re better safe than sorry, at least for now.”
Inside, Ella dropped to a knee to greet Chicken, then folded her legs to sit on the floor without being asked.Good girl,he thought.
On high alert, Mad Dawg moved into the building using the skills learned in the military, throwing open doors and looking in corners. He found nothing, which was a good thing all around. His breathing slowed down gradually as he cleared the house. When he returned to the front room, Ella had removed her shoes and was crooning to the dog. It looked and felt so natural, the rest of the day was surreal in contrast.Probably be a while before I’m back to normal. Before we’re back to normal.
Chicken seemed to sense something, spending a long time sniffing her face and hands, all along her pants, and then back to her face. The dog gave her a swipe of the tongue along one cheek and Ella laughed, then winced and grabbed at the side of her head.
“Everything’s clear in here. Are you all right?” He grabbed her hand, tugging her up and against his side, needing the weight and heat of her body to help ground him.She’s safe.The idea of what might have happened if he’d been unable to find her was like acid burning through his brain. So much could have gone wrong.But it didn’t, and she’s here now. Safe.He just had to keep remembering that truth.
“Got a bit of a headache,” Ella admitted as she stood.
“Not surprising. I think I’d be more shocked if it didn’t hurt, way they walloped you.” Wanting to take care of her, he gestured deeper inside the house as he toed off his boots. “Point me to where you keep your painkillers, and I’ll gather stuff. You want to rest on the couch, or in your bedroom?” He made to step away, then paused when her hand landed on his arm. “Yeah, baby?”
“Depends.” The smile she gave him was shaky, tentative. “Will you still be here?”
He swept her into his arms gently, holding her close. “Baby, I’m not going any-fucking-where. Couldn’t pry me loose with a crowbar. I’m here, with you, and there’s nowhere else I want to be.” The unvarnished truth seemed to please her, because the tiny smile grew to a wide grin that lasted until she winced again. “Let me get you something for your head, baby. Get you settled so we can both rest, yeah?”
“Kitchen, third drawer under the coffeepot.” She angled around the couch and leaned on his arm as she sat down carefully. “Why am I stiff all over?”
“Because you got thrown around like a ragdoll today?”Damn, it hurts to think about that.He moved to the kitchen and shuffled through the contents of the drawer she indicated, locating both acetaminophen and ibuprofen. This was going to be a headache that could do with a little of each, so he opened both bottles and shook out the appropriate number of pills.
He pulled out his phone, checking to find an*all clear*from Tinder. His chest expanded hugely, stretching muscles still tense with fear as he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew there would no doubt be more debriefing to do later, but for now he could rest easy knowing Ella was safe.
My Ella.
Snagging a bottle of water from her fridge, Mad Dawg made his way back to the couch and sat next to her. “Here, baby.” He held out the pills and unscrewed the top of the water, handing that to her as well.
“I should stretch. Do some yoga so I get out ahead of the soreness.” She gulped the pills down with a couple of swallows and returned the bottle to him. “Thanks, Dawg.”
“Why don’t you rest first. Give your body that recovery time I keep hearing you talk about. No reason to push things. Let’s hang out here on the couch and watch one of those romance movies you and Chicken like. I promise I don’t hate them. I just wanna be here with you.”Need to be with her is more like it.He set the closed bottle to the side, picked up the remote and dropped it in her lap. Grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch, he pulled her close and flipped it over them both. “This is comfy, yeah?”
She settled against his side and laughed softly, turning on the TV. “It is comfy. Just like our first date.”
Her words made him smile.Hell yeah we’re dating. I like the sound of that.
Chicken climbed on the couch on the other side of Ella, shoving at the blanket with his nose until he created a space for him to crawl underneath. “Dog thinks so, too.” He stretched and ruffled Chicken’s head. “Good boy.”
On the TV, a show started playing and he kept most of his attention on Ella instead of looking away. Stroking the back of her head softly, he threaded his fingers through her hair, straightening it and gently unknotting a couple of tangles he found. It wasn’t long before her breathing evened out, her body relaxing fully against him.
Mad Dawg kept up the tender touches, angling his head so he could see part of her face. Without more than that, he was content watching her sleep.Keep her safe all her days, if she’ll let me.
When she eased back to wakefulness after a couple of hours, his back complained, but he didn’t care.
Worth it.
