Page 8 of Freeing Hawk
“Positive. Eris is lovely.” I smiled. “It’s her first baby, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind just talking to you.”
“Ask her first?”
I promised I would, and she hugged me tightly before I headed for the door. She called her thanks after me and I stepped through and closed it behind me.
“King, what the hell have you done?” I muttered making my way back to my truck.”
Chapter 2
Angel
I threw the ball and the giant, black Doberman bounded into the water after it. Once he caught the ball rolling off a wave, he trotted back and dropped it at my feet. Tiberius was soaking wet and bum-wiggling like crazy.
Grinning, I scratched his head and sides then I tossed the ball again.
Tiberius was a two-year-old, pure Doberman rescue. I hadn’t gone for a pet. It was a visit with a friend for him to see if he connected with any of the animals at the shelter. Nikau had been looking for a puppy. But when I saw the then one-year old Doberman, he stole my heart.
To make it worse, the shelter would have put him down if he hadn’t been rescued within a certain amount of time. It angered me someone get to make that call.
In the end, I walked out with Tiberius, trotting proudly beside me with a tennis ball in his mouth.
Nik walked out empty handed.
When the ball fell at my feet again, Tiberius looked up at me—his bum wiggle of happiness filled my heart.
“Again?” I asked
He glanced behind him then looked up at me once more, tongue hanging out, ears perked up at the top of his head.
I could never get over those ears. My friend Romeo called them Tiberius’ crown.
I clicked my teeth and took off running down the beach. Tiberius barked and gave chase.
“Come on!” I called. “Keep up, old man!”
When I stopped and turned to look at him, Tiberius barked and ran around me in a circle. His ears fell then perked up again before falling to the sides of his head like they did when he was happy.
I scratched his head and tossed the ball. This time, down the beach. Tiberius bounded after it and I couldn’t help the laughter to bubble up inside me.
We played a little while longer than we probably should have. I’d have him for a year but was called back to help out my Army Rangers. I’d had to leave him with Romeo, for a while. The guilt of leaving him behind ate away at me. Then there was the worry he’d forget who I was, forget he loved me.
But Tiberius hadn’t forgotten. When I returned, he showed me how happy he was to have me back and it was as though I hadn’t even left.
Once playtime was over, we headed up the steps to my house. Tiberius wandered leisurely along behind me but took a break to chase a seagull.
“Ty!” I called.
He stopped and looked back at me.
“You know better.” I scowled him. “Now, come on.”
I said nothing else but continued up the path. He trotted over and walked by my side until I was opening the screen door. He stepped in and sat on the mat and allowed me to towel him off. While I did, he licked at my chin.
I laughed. “Dog, stop that.”
Instead of stopping, Tiberius offered a low bark only to lick me again. I released him and he ran directly to his bowls. For a breath, I watched him, wondering how someone could have left him in a box at the side of the road.
It tore my heart out leaving him with Romeo for the few weeks. Even though I knew he’d have his meals, toys and tons of love, it still killed me not being around him. The vet at the shelter said it was probably because he was jet black—the family was probably superstitious. But that made no sense to me. He was born all black—he had to have been. Then all of a sudden, he wasn’t good enough?
