Page 96 of Unbound

Marley started growling.

Tommy frowned at the dog. Marley was growling at him.

He went into his office and picked his gun up. I went upstairs with my puppy.

Tommy was there, a couple minutes later, standing over the bed, where I sat, holding Marley, who was squirming to get away. I let him go but instead of jumping off the bed, my dog sat on the bed, between me and Tommy, staring at Tommy.

Tommy sat on the edge of the bed.

He patted Marley’s head, and said, “Good boy.”

Marley tilted his head curiously at his master. At any other time, I’d have laughed. My little baby dog was smart. He was trying to figure all this out.

I looked my husband right in the eye.

His chest was still heaving. Still pissed.

He was staring at me. I was staring back.

“He never contacted you? Not since that dinner?”

I shook my head.

He narrowed his eyes.

“You don’t believe me?” I accused.

“Didn’t say that.”

“You better not fucking say that!” I yelled.

He gave his head a shake and blew out a breath. He put his palms over his eyes and rubbed.

“I gotta go hit something.”

“You do that,” I snapped.

His hands dropped and he stared at me a minute.

I rolled the other way and got to my feet on the other side of the bed.

I stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door. I washed my face and drank a glass of tap water.

I looked at my reflection.

I shook my head.

I felt the tears threaten but I didn’t let them come. I opened the door. He was standing there, looking down at me. I couldn’t read his expression. My dog was in his doggie bed, chewing on his big red Kong toy.

I tried to walk around him but he stopped me with his hands on my shoulders.

“Get off,” I pushed his chest with both hands. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

His eyebrows rose in challenge.

I glared.

He backed off and looked at the floor.

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