Page 34 of Riot

“All surgery involves risk, and we don’t know if he has internal injuries.”

He takes a beat. “What would you like to name him?”

I look down at his cute face. He’s adorable. I don’t know what would possess someone…Take a breath.

“Cookie?”

His lips roll. “Cookie?”

“Do you have a better name?”

“Well, he looks pretty strong and kinda mean lookin’…”

“He doesn’t look mean!”

He gruffs a laugh. “There’s lots of tough dog names; Thor, Sinbad, Duke…”

“Sinbad?”

“Pirate. Thorn. Fury. Piro…”

I shove him on the arm. “Stop it.”

He smiles. “Just tryin’ to make you laugh. If you wanna call him Cookie, then Cookie it is.”

“Cookies are cute, that’s all.”

“He is kinda cute.”

A few moments of silence fill the air between us. “How could anyone do this?”

“You’d be surprised at the depths of some people’s depravity.”

I look out the window. “I guess sometimes I forget the world we live in isn’t always a pretty place.”

He squeezes my hand. “He’s gonna be okay.”

I hope that’s true. Poor Cookie lies across me, total trust on his face when really I wouldn’t blame him for snapping at us or shaking in fear. “We were meant to find him.”

“We were, and I’ll get Rock and Jett to bring up the camera footage from outside your buildin’, see if we can find out who dumped him.”

I turn to him. “You’d do that?”

“Of course. Piece of shit asshole who did this need to learn a lesson. Could’ve dropped him at the animal shelter, or at thevet’s, but to dump him in the trash?” He shakes his head, anger crossing his face.

“He’s got us now.” I swallow hard. “We won’t let anything else bad happen.”

He brings my hand up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “No,Kitten,we won’t. You’re his angel in disguise.”

I snuggle into his chest. “I’m so glad you were here. I wouldn't have been able to lift him.”

Riot gently strokes his fur. “Talk about cock blockin’.”

I laugh out loud. “Right?”

He pecks me on the forehead. “I guess the universe has other plans for us right now.”

I close my eyes, willing everything to go well for Cookie when we get to Faux Paws.

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