Page 274 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“I don’t know your name, puppy,” I murmur. “But how about we call you Bella? My mama used to call me that all the time. It means ‘beautiful’.” I wiggle my fingers under her chin. “You sure are beautiful. And I’ll bet my mother led me right to you because she knows that I need something soft and cuddly more than ever right now.” I smile, feeling lighter than I have for a long time.

I feel like someone is looking out for me, like I’m not alone.

I let her lick me for a few more minutes as I contemplate my next move. Much as I want to take her home with me, I have to take her to the police station. They must have a way of tracking down her family. She must have a chip they can scan. Maybe the family has already reported her missing. The thought of giving her over to the cops makes my heart clench, though.

Maybe I can keep her overnight. I can give her a bath, feed her, play with her, give her a nice warm bed. At least she can have a good night’s sleep before I take her to the station. Who knows how easy it is to find dog owners anyway? What if they need to put her in a shelter while they investigate? That would be horrible!

Bella takes a few more steps toward me, close enough that I can scoop her up. She nuzzles her head against my leg and I stroke her back a few times. When she’s close to climbing on top of me, I reach around her gaunt body, about ready to pick her up when a searing pain shoots through my shoulder. My body lurches forward and Bella darts out of the way as my hands fall to the pavement, planted on either side of me. I clench my teeth, the pain crippling the muscles in my arm. I crawl toward the side of the building to use it as support, and Bella follows me. I smack my hands against the brick, clawing at it as I struggle to my feet.

I make it up halfway before a cold, numbing sensation spirals up my right calf and I collapse back onto the ground with a loud moan. Bella is now on top of me licking my face, and my head feels like it weighs a hundred pounds, way too heavy for me to move it around. I let out a pathetic whimper, my energy supply depleting at an alarmingly rapid rate.

“What’s wrong with me?” I moan, my voice thick and heavy. My face slips down onto my now-immobile hand. I can vaguely feel bits of gravel sticking to my cheek and I want to brush them off. I want to be able to move my hand. But the numbing spreads to my left side, paralyzing my limbs. I manage to flip myself onto my back before my eyes droop closed for good. I force them to stay open, to see someone…anyone…who might be responsible for this.

For killing me.

Because if this isn’t me loitering at death’s doorstep, I don’t know where the hell else I could possibly be.

Just before my eyes float closed for the final time, I see something familiar and my throat tightens, emitting only a gurgling sound instead of a full-fledged scream.

Holy fuck.

Those eyes…

I try to cry out.

But my mouth can’t form words.

My lips won’t move.

And my voice is silenced.

* * *

My eyes float open and I see white.

White and glaringly bright, recessed ceiling lights.

I swallow hard.

Fuck, is this heaven?

I squeeze my eyes shut for a second to adjust, then crack them open a bit once again, this time remembering not to stare. I roll my head gingerly to the right and left as I take in the space. I can see a desk and a few chairs in one corner of the room. Stark white walls. Covered windows. My hands run over a soft, buttery leather texture beneath me.

Okay, if itisheaven, then I must be in some angel’s office.

Or maybe God’s…

I rub a hand over the spot in my shoulder that feels like it’s on fire and my fingers graze a bandage of some kind. I squeeze my eyes shut, bringing my hands to my temples and cringing when a sharp pain shoots down my right arm.

Where am I?

And why am I here?

My brain struggles to focus, to make sense of the images wallpapering my mind. Splintered memories scatter behind my closed eyes and I take a deep breath, trying hard to focus.

Little things begin to make sense.

The sunshine. The Little League game.

---