Page 40 of Wild Card
Loki bounced over and jumped up to lick Gray’s chin. He chuckled and scratched behind the German shepherd’s ears. “At least you like me.”
Taz growled, and Gray jumped like a scared little kid.
Bailey snickered from his spot by a Kia Forte. The hood was open, and Bailey was elbow-deep in grease.
“So, what was up with the sheriff’s car, then?” Bailey asked. “Obviously, you didn’t end up in cuffs.”
Oh, but I did …
“Sheriff’s car?” Gray asked.
“For fuck’s sake, is there an echo in here?” I grumbled.
“Something about Banshee,” Holden said. “Why don’t you tell us what’s going on?”
“Okay, but I need a drink for this.” I went to the mini fridge and pulled out a beer.
“Toss me one too,” Gray said. “I saw Dallas in town, and it took all my effort not to punch him in the face.”
Holden groaned. “You better get me one too. You’re all going to be the death of me if you keep getting into trouble.”
I pulled out two more and handed them off.
“I’ll take one,” Bailey said.
“Nice try,” Holden said dryly. “You can have a root beer.”
Bailey turned, leaning back against the car with a scowl. “I’m the only one working around here. When are you going to stop treating me like a kid?”
“When you stop acting like one.”
Bailey huffed and stuck his bottom lip out.
Gray tousled his hair. “Don’t think that’s going to help your case.”
I grabbed a soda for Bailey, which he begrudgingly took, then settled my ass on a pile of tires in the corner and took a drink of my beer.
Oreo and Loki roamed the shop, sniffing at everything, but Banshee stuck close and laid her head on my knee.
“All right, tell us what the sheriff has to do with Banshee? She’s not a wanted dog, is she?” Gray joked.
I saluted him with my bottle. “She kind of is, actually.”
I filled them in on her dognapping, my daring rescue, and Dalton’s visit—minus the cop porn. That would live in my spank bank forever, but I wasn’t going to share it.
“I can’t believe those assholes just dumped her and then stole her again,” Bailey exclaimed. “Fuck them!”
His indignance made me feel a little better. I hadn’t overreacted. They were scum.
“Right?” I took a swallow of beer. “They’re the ones Dalton should arrest.”
“You should have called me,” Gray said. “I would have had your back.”
“Me too,” Bailey said.
“And get everyone tossed in jail again?” Holden asked. “Surely there’s a legal way to keep Banshee.”
“Sure, if anyone’s got a few thousand bucks lying around. Turns out, Banshee is a high-class lady. She’s just been slumming it with us.”
