Page 61 of Riot

Halo thanks Nina profusely, even hugging her as we move over to one of the larger cages where Cookie is lying. His head is up, and his tail wags when we get closer.

Nina unlocks his cage. We watch in anticipation as he stretches out. His front paw has a purple cast and he attempts to hop up. Because he’s skinny, he doesn’t weigh as much as he should, but he’s still a big dog. When he has some meat on his bones, he’ll probably double in size. I get down on my knees and crouch, reaching in as I scoop him up into my arms. He licks my face and Halo looks like she might cry.

She pats his head like he might break and when she looks at his cast, she bites her lip. “Are you sure he’s allowed to walk on that?”

“Not for a few weeks if we can help it. Frankly, he won’t want to as it’s painful, but as he heals, he’ll want to start moving more,” Nina says. “It was a clean break, so he’ll likely try and hop around and he won’t be able to put weight on the broken leg. But don’t freak out if he does want to try and get up, it’s natural for him to move as long as he’s not doing laps of the block.”

Halo turns to me. “See, this is what I was worried about when he needs to potty.”

“We can take him outside,” I tell her.

“Did you work out how old he might be?” Halo caresses his cute little face as I hold him in my arms.

“At a guess, I’d say around three to four, and he knows commands, but I get the impression he was an outside dog. House training may be something you need to implement, and I can help with that if needed.”

“Thank you,” Halo whispers.

“He’s gonna be fine, right, bud?” I scruff under his chin and he groans, pushing his head into my shoulder.

“Oh, and he loves his pats,” Nina goes on. “Like I said, he’s been completely trusting and a dream patient. You guys did an amazing job getting him here when you did.”

Halo drops her gaze, no doubt reminiscing that horrible night when we found him. Thank God we did.

“He’s in good hands,” I say. “Let’s get him out to the car.”

We walk through to the front doors and say goodbye to Nina. There’s nothing but good news here.

I lay him on the back seat and Halo climbs in beside him. He seems comfy enough as he lays his head down, resting against Halo’s leg.

“We’ll set him up at yours, and then I can take some of the stuff to my place later,” I say.

“Okay.”

I look at her through the rearview mirror. “You good?”

“Thank you, Riot. For everything.”

“Don’t thank me, thank your hearin’ because I wouldn’t have heard shit.”

“He’s safe now.” I don’t know if she’s convincing the dog, me or herself, but it doesn’t really matter. The sentiment is the same. He is safe.

“Nobody is ever gonna hurt him again,Kitten.I promise.”

I drive back to Halo’s apartment with my shoulders a little lighter, and my heart just that little bit fuller.

I’m head over heels and it’s the only place I wanna be.

13

RIOT

I stare at Cash.“What do you mean we’ve got a problem?” I don’t want to be here. I want to be back with Halo in her apartment with Cookie.

I got called away an hour after we got back, and it’s not like I can blow off the Prez when he calls, and on a Sunday?

“You look like shit,” he says.

“Thanks. I had a big night.”

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