Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He leaned over her seat and ripped the nasty hat off his head. “Stop the car,” he barked.
“Where’s the hospital?”
“Look at me.” She did and he kissed her, groaning in pleasure as her taste once again coated his taste buds. “We really need to have a talk about this.”
“Sure. Hospital?”
He gave her directions and she pulled out a phone and placed a call, giving what he’d just told her.
The warmth combined with his blood loss, made him lightheaded but he held on, keeping his hands over the bullet hole in the man’s torso. The hospital had someone out there waiting who took the man inside. Leena drove into the parking lot after and shut off the lights. “Come on.”
He got out, weaving, and used the SUV as a support. Not much later a truck pulled up and a sigh of relief streamed from him when the driver hopped out. Davis.
“Shit, he’s been shot. Let’s get going.”
He passed out in the back of the truck, his head on Leena’s lap and the dirty dog up in the front with his brother.
Chapter 10
"He was a silent fury who no torment could tame."
— Jack London (White Fang)
* * *
Leena sat on the couch, wrapped in warm dry clothing. Beside her lay Argo, once again a proud representative of the breed. He was sleeping as well. She flexed her fingers along the mug that she held, full of hot tea.
Davis walked in the room and she got to her feet. “How is he?”
“He’ll be fine. My friend is a nurse and she sewed him up.”
“You have a lot of female friends.”
He grinned impishly and raked a hand through his dark hair. “I suppose so.” He sobered. “How are you doing? You were out on the street for a week.”
“Let’s just say I have a lot more respect for what they go through. I’m okay, still cold in ways I didn’t think I could be. But I’ll be fine.”
“Are you hungry? I could fix you something to eat.”
She lifted the tea. “This is fine for now, thank you. Any ideas on how to proceed from here?”
“Once he wakes up, we’ll figure something out. I’m off for a few days from work, have some vacation time I’m using up.”
“Okay, and you’re sure it’s okay if Argo and I are here?”
“Hell yes. You saved my brother. As far as I’m concerned, you’re family.”
The doorbell chimed and he jerked his head at her. Without a word, she headed to the back bedroom, out of sight. John lay there, still unconscious, his shoulder wrapped in white tape. She frowned at the injuries he’d sustained. Much like the first time she’d found him.
“Leena?”
She turned from John’s sleeping person at Davis’ voice. Heading back up there, she paused when she saw a woman with blonde spiky hair dyed with streaks of pink, purple, and blue standing there. “Yes?”
“This is Terri. She’s my computer hacker friend.”
She smiled and offered her hand. “He says friend, only because he won’t take me up on what I’ve offered. Nice to meet you.”
“And you, thanks for the help.”
“I despise corruption so I’m more than happy to lend my considerable assistance.” She hefted the bag in her hand. “Where can I set up?”
“Pick a spot,” Davis said. “We’re waiting on John to wake then we’ll get to it.”
Leena looked at her watch and frowned. “Can I use your phone? I need to make a call.”
“Sure. Make yourself at home. We’ll be here.”
Tea in hand, she walked to the base and picked it up. Pulling the number up from her memory banks she dialed and waited, hip against the back of the couch she was near. Three rings before it was picked up on the other end.
“Hello?”
“Mitch? Leena.”
“Oh, hi, sorry didn’t recognize the number you were calling from.”
“Visiting a friend. Just wanted to know how we’re doing timewise for the Terv? Can I still pick up him next month?”
“Yes, he’ll be out of quarantine by then. And I’m sorry, I know you wanted to keep him at your kennel and should have been able to but you know how the red tape is.”
“It’s okay, they want to use a place they’re used to dealing with, not a huge problem in my book. Yes, I would have rather had the dog sooner, but this actually works out better in the long run. No one has been bothering him?”
“Nope. He will eat but that’s about it. No playing, no interest, no anything. He’s only accepted two people to come into his run, so they are the two who rotate taking care of him. Like I mentioned before and in the mail, he’s okay once he’s out of the run, he will allow someone to take his leash but he’s just… Well, you’ll see when you get him.”
“And his exercise? Has he been getting any?”