Page 93 of Phoenix

Chapter 22

Case

“Tell her to release, man! She’s killing me!” Some fucking asshole cries from the ground as Arya sinks her teeth into his arm, keeping him put.

“That’s what you get when you fucking run. All you had to do was stay the fuck put while I searched your car. You ran. When you run, it’s my partner’s turn to take you down.”

I kneel down on his left side and secure his left arm behind his back, then command Arya to release his right.

“Arya, loose. Sit.” She obliges immediately, releasing his arm and coming around to sit beside me.

I pull his arm right arm around and slap cuffs on him just as the backup I’ve called for arrives.

When he’s securely in the back of the other cruiser, and I’m able to run his name in the system, I see he’s got an outstanding warrant out of Atlanta for a phone book of charges I’d love to break his fucking face for.

This is why I do my job. To take scumbags like him off the streets.

I am nearly ready to signal to the cruiser behind me that I’m about to roll back to the station to book that asshole in, but Arya nudges me with her nose from the back seat.

“Impatient thing. I know, I know. You did a good job.”

She gives me a bark and another nudge and I know immediately what she wants.

“All right, All right. Hold your horses.” I pop open my glove compartment and pull out a bag of the treats I reserve for good days on the job.

I pull one out and toss it back to her.

“Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled,” I say, before I pull onto the road and head back to the station.

When I pull into my driveway six hours later, there’s a familiar blonde beauty sitting on my front steps, holding a fallen flower bud in her hand.

She stands when my headlights illuminate her. She is dressed in a simple, blue sundress and flip-flops. Her hair is piled in a messy bun on top of her head, and from here, I can see there isn’t a stitch of makeup on her face.

She’s the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her.

I climb from the car and open the back passenger door to let out Arya, and she jumps down, bolting straight for Nora on the stairs.

“Hi, beautiful girl!” Nora bends down to her level and scratches and rubs her with both hands on her head. “Did you have a good shift? Were you safe? Did you keep your partner safe? I hope so.” She bends over and kisses the top of her head then resumes her place on the second stair.

I approach them, still on the ground with Nora a few steps up, so we are eye level.

“You look good in that uniform,” she says.

“I know.” I smile wide when she rolls her eyes. “Are you all right? I wasn’t expecting you here.”

“I try not to make stopping by unannounced a habit, but after this morning, I just wanted to come make sure we are okay,” she says, as her eyes dance between the two of mine.

“Come inside. I want to get this belt off.” I take her hand. “Arya, inside.”

She listens immediately, going straight through the door when I unlock it.

“Was it hard to train her?” Nora asks when we step inside.

“There were hard days and easy days. Overall, it was pretty seamless.” I turn toward her. “I’m going to go change and get my gun put away. Make yourself at home.” I lean in and kiss her cheek before disappearing down to my bedroom.

When I come back a few minutes later, now dressed in jeans and a plain back T-shirt, she’s curled on the sofa snuggled up with Arya.

“I think you’re just using me for my dog.”

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