Page 43 of Sweet Violence
Ha! It worked on two of the dogs; they went tearing across the room, baffled when they couldn't find the ball. Butch and Terrie were too clever, though, and very insistent in their tail-wagging excitement. I managed to push up until I was sitting, and from there I got clumsily to my feet. Damn, these puppies had wiped out my grace and balance faster than a torture session.
"You're very cute," I told them, ruffling their fur.
"Thanks," Taj drawled.
I snorted, rolling my eyes as I crossed the room, weaving around squishy dog beds and slobber-covered toys. And a bone I wasn't a hundred percent sure wasn't human.
"Hey, you," I greeted, dropping down beside Mallie. "Not you," I huffed, snorting at the look Taj threw my way. "I'm talking tothispretty girl," I said, my voice turning soft and sweet.
"You talk to dogs the way you like being spoken to by your doms," he pointed out, earning himself a scathing look.
"I will cut off both your dicks," I swore venomously.
"You'd miss them too much," he challenged, crossing his arms across his bare chest, so much smooth, tempting skin on display.
No, Avie, stay strong! He's an asshole and we hate him, remember?
I directed my full focus to Mallie instead, scratching behind her ears, my heart going completely squishy when her tail weakly thumped her bed.
"What did you mean, what have I tried?" Taj asked, watching me closely if the heat searing my cheek was anything to go by. It felt like being branded by lasers.
"Well, I'm not an expert—I've never had a dog for longer than a few months. Hazard of living with killers-in-training and a complete psychopath of a father. But I'm pretty sure chicken is a cure-all for most dogs. Is she eating?"
"Not much," he admitted. "You lived with killers-in-training?"
I shrugged, not taking my focus from Malice. "Dad's hang-arounds and wannabes. There were always a few he picked up and thought to train in murder. I was the best of them all," I said fiercely, not sure why it still mattered to me. But Iwasthe best. I always had been. "Probably because they only dropped by after work or school, while I got up to all kinds of twisted shit every hour of the day."
"That's fucked up," Taj muttered.
"Coming from the devil's son?" I fired back, getting itchy and self-conscious—and stabby—again.
Taj watched me with a coolness that rivalled Arkan's. "My dad never made me kill anyone. He tried to keep me from the worst of Hell until I was eighteen, actually."
"Did it work?" I asked, stroking my fingers through Mallie's fur, a tiny weight leaving my chest.
"Did it, fuck. But he tried. He's a good dad, and I had a good childhood, so yeah, I get a free pass to judge your fucked-up upbringing."
"Now you're just bragging," I huffed under my breath, shooting daggers at him. "I didn't come here to talk about my past. I'm here for the puppies."
Taj nodded, as if he understood that talking about this shit made me want to pour acid in my chest to stop the crushing sensation in my heart. "I've tried chicken, and treats, and just spending time with her, but she won't come out of her shell."
"Poor baby," I cooed to Mallie, bending to place a kiss on her furry head. "No one willeverhurt you again. I'll suffocate and slice them up. Pinky swear it."
Her sad eyes rolled up to me and damn near broke my heart.
"She won't go outside," Taj said without prompting, like he needed someone to vent to. "I've tried getting her to go but she wouldn't even step foot in our garden back at the house."
"Palace," I corrected with a smirk that quickly faded. "What are we gonna do with you, Mallie?" I sighed.
"We?" Taj asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Duh. I saved her life; we're bonded now. Me and Malice," I added quickly when Taj looked ready to get to his feet and run as fast and far as possible. "Things like that bind girls together, you know. When was the last time she ate?"
"Technically?" Taj sighed, raking a hand through his wavy hair. Aww, he was really worried about her. "This morning. But she only had one bite, and it took me practically begging for her to eat that."
A tremor went through my pussy. "I bet you beg so prettily."
Taj’s hand snapped out. I was prepared for him to choke me so I yelped when he grabbed my nipple through my thin shirt and twisted.
