Page 27 of Iron Fist

“Hey!”

The shout startles me enough that I turn around just in time to see a large, crazy-looking dog bounding up to me at top speed. I have a flash of panic, but just before I start to freak out, I realize its tongue is hanging out like it can’t wait to see me. Instinctively, I brace for impact, and the dog plows into me with a happy yelp.

“Whoa!” I cry, staggering. Somehow, we don’t both go flying into the ditch. The dog leaps up again, tongue out like he’s trying to lick my face, and I start laughing hysterically at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Shit!” the male voice that shouted at me yells. “Goddamnit, Dog! Down!”

I look up to see Brody of all people coming toward me, murder in his eyes. Whether his anger is at me or the dog, I can only guess.

“It’s okay!” I gasp in between giggles. “He’s — eek, stop it, Dog! — He’s fine!” I manage to grab hold of a hunk of his fur close to his neck and pull him down onto all fours, long enough to catch my breath. “He’s just a little crazy, though.”

“He’s a damn idiot, it what he is,” Brody growls. “Down, you idiot!” He frowns at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. No harm done.”

Brody shakes his head in disgust. “I don’t know what the hell got into this damn mutt. He jumped clean out the window of my truck to get to you.”

“If only I was as attractive to all men,” I quip. Then realize I who just said this to. Reddening, I hurry to change the subject. “What’s his name?” I ask, nodding at the dog.

Brody is quiet for a second, then answers: “I dunno. I’ve just been calling him Dog.”

I cock a brow at him. “Isn’t he yours?”

Brody shrugs. “I don’t really know that either.”

The dog jumps up on his hind legs and paws at the air with his front feet, like he’s trying to bat away something. He lets out a weird roar, almost like he’s trying to say something. I start to laugh as I realize what he reminds me of. “Is Dog short for Dogzilla?” I ask.

Brody makes a rude noise. “Could be. He’s enough of a damn monster, for sure. He’s eating me out of house and home. Tore right through the bag of kibble in the back of my truck.”

The two of us share the moment of mirth, looking at this ridiculous dog who is still batting the air, trying to get my attention. Unexpectedly, my heart does a little leap in my chest.

“The hell you doin’ out here walking on the side of the road, anyway?” he asks me then. The smile leaves his face.

Dogzilla falls back on all fours. I reach down and scratch him behind one ear.

“I was walking back to my motel,” I say. “I just got back from grabbing something to eat.”

“Where you staying?” Brody asks, and then his eyes widen in surprise as he glances down the road. “The CasaBella? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Yeah, well,” I say, reddening. “It was cheap. And I didn’t know how long I’d be sticking around. So…” I shrug.

The fact is, as horrible as the Casa Bella is, at least I’m independent there. No one is really watching me coming or going. But once I’m at Dad’s, I won’t just be passing through Ironwood any longer. I’ll have to admit that I’m truly back here indefinitely.

“So, are you?” Brody asks. “Sticking around?”

I sigh. “Looks like it. My dad is legitimately sick. He has stomach cancer. So as much as I had been planning on leaving, I need to stay here for a while and spend some time with him, before…” I trail off, not willing to say the words. Taking a deep breath, I continue with a smile that feels ridiculously fake. “So, it looks like I’ll be staying at the house starting tomorrow. On the bright side, no more Casa Bella.”

“Shit. Cancer. I’m sorry.” Brody looks legitimately upset. “You doing okay?”

His tone is so unexpectedly kind that my throat tightens. It loosens something inside me.

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I’ve basically been estranged from him for years, but I guess I never thought about…” Dad’s emaciated face appears in my mind, and for a second I feel like I can’t breathe. “He’s really sick, Brody.”

Brody’s features soften. “Jesus.”

“He wants me to come work at the office with him for a while. Learn the ropes, I guess. He’s hoping I’ll take over for him, I think.”

Brody says nothing for a few seconds. “That’s a lot to ask. Expecting you to uproot your life like that.”

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