Page 8 of Being Us (Next Generation 4)

He gave my face another lick before lying down and waiting patiently for his sandwich.

Heading into the diner, the bell above the door dinged, indicating my arrival. I had been there before but as soon as I woke up that morning, I had been on edge. I could feel it deep in my bones. Even before leaving the apartment, Trigger felt it as well and tried stopping me from leaving. After giving in, he helped give me peace of mind that I wasn’t overly losing it and that someone was after me. Or multiple someones. At first, I had thought it was all in my head. But after Sunny was shot, I knew I had to get out of there. And fast. I also knew that because Sunny had died, I was royally fucked.

Making my way into the small diner, I nodded to the waitress and sat at the stool at the counter.

“Same as usual?” the young woman asked.

“Two please.” I usually got just one meatball sub and shared it with Trigger but this time, I ordered him his own.

She gave me a small smile, a flush of pink hitting her cheeks.

I smiled back but as pretty as she was, my body never hinted for more. It never hinted. Ever. There had been times where I thought a part of me was broken.

Glancing out the large window that took up the full length of the diner, I saw Trigger being petted by a dark figure. The hackles on the back of my neck rose. The person wore all black and I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.

“Here you go.”

My head whipped around.

The waitress placed two wrapped subs on the counter in front of me. “Enjoy.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed the food and threw a couple of bills in its place.

When I went to head outside, I saw that the figure had disappeared. Once I neared the lamppost where Trigger had been tied up, I realized that he was gone as well.

Rushing to the leash that was no longer attached to the collar around my dog’s neck, I looked around me. Nothing was out of the ordinary but there were no cars on the street. Everything looked normal but a feeling of unease rushed through me. Who the hell took my damn dog?

A bark sounded, pulling me to an alley a block away. Dropping the subs, I quickly rushed toward it. When I rounded the corner, I wasn’t expecting to see what was in front of me.

My stomach fell.

Two dark figures had backed Trigger into a corner. He was growling and snarling at them, drool dripping from the sides of his mouth.

Looking around me for a weapon, my heart leapt when I saw a pipe lying on the ground by a garbage bin. I picked it up, banging it against the wall.

The two figures turned toward me.

“’Bout time you show up,” the one said.

I recognized the voice but couldn’t place it. All I could focus on was the fact that my dog was cornered. He was old. Barely hanging on most days. He didn’t need this added stress. The vet had told me that he only had months to live. If that. This would end him. If the bastards left him alone that is. But I had a bad feeling that tonight would be it for us as a duo.

“Trigger, I’m here, boy,” I told him, keeping my voice as calm as I could. Calmer than it had been in months.

“Trigger,” the one guy repeated, leaning against the wall. “I like it.”

“What do you want?” I demanded, slapping the pipe against my open palm. “You want to play? Because I’m down for that. Although, I don’t think you would like my dog ripping out your throats.”

One of the men standing closest to Trigger stepped around him and in a quick move, had grabbed him by the throat.

Trigger struggled but even though he was big, he was weak thanks to his age.

“I don’t suggest making threats,” the bastard said, petting a hand over Trigger’s head. “One move and I’ll snap his fucking neck.”

Bile rose to my throat. I was tempted to call this in and beg for help but then I remembered I had no one. I was all alone in this fucked up world thanks to a club brother forcing me out. Being the president meant shit when your whole club was against you.

“What do you want?” I demanded, keeping the pipe at my side.

“We have a message for you,” the guy with his arm wrapped around Trigger’s throat, sneered.

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