Page 21 of Start A War (Saint View Psychos)

A tiny flash of white up ahead had both me and Caleb slamming on the brakes. His car screeched over the blacktop, his wheels locking up as his slid along the road. But it was too little, too late, his reflexes too slow to avoid the collision.

I sucked in a breath when a tiny white body hit the front of his car and went skittering across the road, coming to a stop as it hit the gutter.

Caleb’s door opened. He put one foot down on the road and leaned on his doorframe. “Fucking bastard cunt dog!” he shouted, staring over at the unmoving mass. “What did you do that for?”

My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, forcing me to stay seated.

Caleb got back in his car, and it lurched off into the darkness once more.

I let him go. The chase was over. My evening now had a different mission.

I pulled my car to the side of the road and got out, walking quietly to the little white dog Caleb had hit. It was probably some kid’s pet. I’d check the tags and take him home so they could have closure.

A yelp of pain cut through my entire being. I lurched into a jog and stared down at the creature.

Big brown eyes stared up at me, and a tiny bark escaped through a bloodied mouth.

I squatted beside her, looking the dog over and noting that she was actually female. “You’re still alive, but Caleb just left you to suffer on the side of the road.” I shook my head. “And they call me a psychopath.”

The barks turned into whimpers as I put my hand to her black nose and let her sniff me. “How about we make a deal, little dog? I’ll pick you up and get you some help, but you promise not to bite me. Blink if you agree to the terms of this arrangement.”

She blinked. Several times.

“Very well.”

I gently slipped my hands beneath her battered and broken body and carried the animal to my car. I placed her gingerly on the passenger seat before running around to my side and getting behind the wheel.

She looked up at me silently, putting her full trust in me.

“That’s probably foolish, Little Dog. I’m the bad guy, don’t you know?”

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