Page 22 of Baratta's Darkness

Fiona

I wake up snuggled in Baratta’s arms. I want to stay here, where I’m warm and comfortable but the puppy we found last night is whimpering, needing to go to the bathroom. I also have to meet my brother at the gun range ...

“OH SHIT” I scramble to get up. I’m late. “Blood is going to kill me. Baratta! BARATTA! I gotta go.” I’m trying to put my pants and shirt on quickly but I get tangled up in my clothes causing me to fall on my ass.

Speaking of my ass, Baratta is sitting on the bed laughing at me. Wait a minute, did I call Baratta mine?

I’m furiously trying to finish getting dressed before I scoop the puppy out of the crate and grab my keys while running for the door. I’m almost out the door when Baratta snags me around the waist.

“Slow down Mario”

“I can’t, you don’t understand. Blood has been way overprotective since I got back. He’s not going to back off unless he sees for himself that I can protect myself. I need him to back off, for my sanity. I have to go.”

“Why are you taking the puppy?”

“I will ask one of the Prospects to get him some food and the kids can play with him for a bit. I don’t really have anything here for him, he can’t keep eating people food and I can’t leave him in the crate all day.”

“I have a few things to do in town this morning and I have a feeling you won’t hear from your stalker today. Go ahead without me and I’ll meet you at the clubhouse at noon.” He says before planting a kiss on me.

I’m halfway down the steps when he calls out, “Got your gun?”

I turn running back up the stairs but he stops me at the door and holds it out for me. With another kiss, I’m finally on my way.

I think I ran all three red lights in this town, thankfully there wasn’t much traffic. Finally, I pull up to the clubhouse and I’m only ten minutes late. I sit in my car for a minute to just breathe as I look over at the puppy.

He sat in the seat like a gentleman, behaving perfectly the whole way here.

“You need a name before I take you in there.” I reach out, pulling him into my lap. “Toby? No. Magnum is a strong manly name. No. Winchester? No. I got it! Since you have that beautiful blue coat why don’t I just call you Blue, but with a French twist to make you more sophisticated. Your name is Bleu! Do you like that?”

Poor puppy must think I’m crazy for talking to him like this. I shake my head, time to face the music. I take Bleu to the clubhouse and deliver him to the kids’ playroom. “Mina, Mina, Mina.” I sing out. “I have a new baby for you to spoil.” She gives me an odd look before I reveal the puppy.

“Mina meet Bleu, Bleu meet your Auntie Mina. Baratta and I found him last night.” She’s still giving me crazy eyes, when the kids see Bleu and choruses of “Puppy, puppy” ring through the room.

“Mina, I have to get out to the range or Blood is going to kick my ass. I’m already late. Can one of the prospects go get him some puppy food? Please and thank you,” I say running out the door.

“Bear” I call one of the members, “Can you please grab a buggy and escort me out to the range.” Ever since the girls and I tortured that dickhead with frogs in the box, we have to be escorted every time we go out to the back of the property.

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