Page 96 of Rules

"Joey, come here." I called. "Get out of my shop!" I swelled up trying to make myself look intimidating.

Three pairs of eery eyes seemed to glow in the dim light from the refrigerator cases.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," the tallest one said, making a show of licking his lips with his tongue.

My blood ran cold. What had I done?

"Oh boys, aren't we lucky," another added, taking a step toward me. "Boyfriend not here to save you, sweetheart?"

I backed up instinctively, Joey putting himself between them and me, still barking. My back hit the edge of the workstation. Nowhere to go.

"He'll be here in just a few minutes. So, you should leave now." I said, desperate for them to leave. "JOEY COME HERE!"

"Humm," the first man ran his hands down his body stopping at his zipper to adjust himself. "Just how is that pig cop of yours?"

"Seems fitting the pig is fucking a pig." the second one said, adding grunting noises.

"Naw, I like her hair, I'd still do her." The man stepped closer. "Is that what you want, piggy, you want a real man?"

I forgot to breathe.

"I don't know. Fucking fat girls is like fucking on a water bed." He made some distorted gesture that looked like he was drunk trying to hump someone.

There was no way I was going to let what they were thinking happen. I scanned the area around me for some sort of weapon. Nothing. Damn.

"Guess your big bad sheriff isn't going to save you is he?" The tall man said his words almost dripping with anticipation.

"You two, keep your damn zippers up, you know we're not here for that!" The third guy who was the biggest of the three yelled. "And would someone shut that damn dog up!"

"Come here, you little shit," the shorter man lunged for Joey, who dodged, still barking wildly. The man tried again, and missed. I was trying to grab Joey but he was scurrying around growling and barking. As if he was kicking a goal, the man drew his foot back and connected with Joey. Sending him flying into the wall with a sickening thud. Joey yelped once, slid down the wall, then crumpled to the floor, silent.

"SCORE!" He yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed, hurling the ceramic pot at the tall man. I took both hands and grabbed the nearest thing to me, a half-full five-gallon bucket of water we'd been using for lilies. With strength I didn't know I possessed, I swung it by the handle, connecting solidly with the head of the man who'dkicked Joey. He went down hard, sprawling unconscious on the floor in front of me.

"You fucking bitch!" the first man snarled, lunging toward me.

I raised the bucket again, but he was faster, knocking it from my hands. Water splashed across the floor between us. Then searing pain burst across my face as a fist connected with my mouth. I tasted blood as another blow followed, this one to my ribs, driving the air from my lungs followed quickly by another in the same spot. I bent, gasping, trying to draw breath, as an uppercut caught me squarely in the side of my chin.

"Hey, we've got to go! The hardware store alarm went off, the scanner said cops are on the way!" Another male voice yelled.

Another punch landed against my temple and stars burst behind my eyes, then darkness flooded in as my head bounced off the floor.

The world returned in fragments. Searing pain. Bright lights. Hands touching me. Voices.

"Ruth, can you hear me? You're going to be okay. We're taking you to the hospital."

I felt like I was moving. The ceiling of my shop slid past, then the night sky, then the interior of an ambulance.

"Joey," I mumbled through swollen lips. "Is he—"

"Officer Edwards is taking him to the emergency vet now. He's alive but needs care."

Relief washed through me, followed by a fresh wave of pain. I tried to lift my head but couldn't. "Did–"

"No more talking," the paramedic said, adjusting something on an IV.

The words faded as darkness pulled me under once more. But before I succumbed completely, one image surfaced: Tobias's face, close to mine drawn with worry, telling me not to work late. Telling me I wasn't safe.

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