Page 58 of Dagger

“All right, up you go, Beasty. It’s bath time,” Chloe coos, lifting the squirming puppy. Beast lets out a tiny yip but doesn’t fight her, his tail wagging so hard he nearly wriggles out of her arms.

I follow her to the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe as she gently places him in the tub. He looks ridiculous in the water—tiny compared to the basin, with his oversized paws slipping on the surface. Chloe hums softly as she runs warm water over his fur, her hands careful and soothing.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, already dreading the conversation when I see Mason’s name. I answer, keeping my voice low. “Yeah?”

“Where the hell are you?” Mason snaps without preamble. “I need you back here. Now.”

“There were things I needed to take care of,” I reply evenly, my eyes flicking to Chloe. She’s focused on Beast, laughing as he sneezes into the water and tries to paw at it like it’s offended him.

“Well, if you’re done, get your ass over here and bring Chloe with you!” Mason barks, his tone leaving no room for argument, and then he hangs up.

Typical Mason. I slip the phone back into my pocket, shaking my head before stepping into the bathroom. Chloe looks up at me, her expression curious.

“Baby, we need to get moving,” I say, crossing my arms. “Mason’s losing it.”

She raises an eyebrow as she rinses Beast, who’s wagging his tail so hard the water is sloshing everywhere. “Already? I thought we’d at least have time to finish cleaning this guy up.”

“Apparently not,” I say with a smirk. “The clubhouse is locked down, and Mason wants us there yesterday.”

She rolls her eyes, wrapping Beast in a towel and pulling him out of the tub. “I know we’re on lockdown; you told me before our nap. But I’m not going unless Beast can come too.”

I blink at her, my mouth opening to argue, but she fixes me with that look—the one that means she’s already made up her mind. I let out an exaggerated sigh and roll my eyes. “Fine. But if he eats anyone’s boots, that’s on you.”

She grins, scratching Beast behind the ears as he nuzzles into her chest. “Good. He’s family now.”

I mutter something under my breath about how quickly this little mutt has taken over, but the truth is, I can’t even pretend to be annoyed. Watching her with Beast—seeing her smile like that—it makes the tension in my chest ease, even if it’s just for a second.

“Go finish with him,” I say, heading for the bedroom. “I’ll pack you a bag. Anything specific?”

“Just don’t forget my shampoo,” she teases, flashing me a grin.

I shake my head as I walk away. This woman is impossible—and somehow, I wouldn’t have it any other way. But Mason’s tone lingers in the back of my mind, a reminder that whatever we’re walking into, it’s bound to be trouble. And now, it’s not just Chloe and the baby I need to protect—it’s that scrappy little mutt she’s decided is ours.

I grab a bag from the closet and toss it onto the bed, running a hand through my hair as I start packing. I grab a couple of her shirts, some jeans, and a hoodie, folding them quickly andstuffing them in. But my mind isn’t on the task. It keeps drifting back to Chloe in the bathroom with Beast.

The way she handled him—it wasn’t just sweet. It was natural, like she’s done it a hundred times before. The way she talked to him, reassured him, laughed when he splashed water everywhere and made a total mess. She didn’t even flinch, didn’t hesitate. She just focused on making him feel safe, like it was second nature.

I toss another pair of pants into the bag, pausing for a second. Watching her like that hit me harder than I thought it would. She’s going to be a great mom. I’ve thought it before, but seeing her with that scrappy little mutt—seeing her so patient, so nurturing—it just drove it home.

Chloe has this way of making things feel steady, even when they’re a complete disaster. It’s not just that she takes care of people—or dogs, apparently—it’s that she does it without hesitation, without asking for anything in return. It’s instinct for her, like she doesn’t even think about it. And when I think about her being like that with the baby… it’s overwhelming in a way I can’t explain.

I grab her sneakers and stuff them in the bag, then head to the bathroom to grab her shampoo and whatever else I think she might need. As I toss a toothbrush in, my mind flickers back to the world we’re about to step into. This isn’t exactly the ideal environment to raise a kid. Hell, it’s barely a place for a dog. But Chloe doesn’t waver, doesn’t let fear show. And if she can do that, then I damn well will, too.

When the bag’s packed, I sling it over my shoulder and head back toward the bathroom. I can hear her laughing softly, the sound of Beast’s paws skittering on the tile as he shakes off more water.

“Ready?” I call out, leaning against the doorframe.

Chloe looks up, holding Beast wrapped in a towel. He’s still damp but clearly happy, his tail wagging nonstop. “Almost,” she says, smiling. “He’s mostly dry. I think.”

I nod, watching her press a kiss to the top of Beast’s head. She glances at me, her smile faltering just slightly when she sees my expression. “What?” she asks, tilting her head.

“Nothing,” I say, shaking it off. “We’ll keep him safe.”

She gives me a small smile, one that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, we will.”

I glance at the pup, who’s wiggling in her arms like he knows he’s part of something now. And as much as the weight of everything ahead presses on me, I feel something else, too—something lighter.

She’s going to be an amazing mom. And no matter what’s waiting for us, I’ll make damn sure nothing takes that chance away from her.

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