Jock’s grip on the phone tightened.“Who?”
“Some lowlife named Ricky Calder.Was a Common Enemy MC prospect who didn’t survive the club folding into IMC.He’s turned into a bitter little man, a small-time dealer, likes to hang around the edges of our territory.Not affiliated with anyone, but he’s been on our radar for causing trouble.Word is he’s got a thing for pit bulls—likes to use ’em for fights.Makes me wonder if Maynard was one of his.”
Jock’s jaw clenched, and he glanced at Maynard, who lifted his head as if sensing the shift in his mood.“You got a bead on where this asshole is?”
“Working on it.Dyno’s pulling some strings with his contacts at the sheriff’s office.If Calder’s still in town, we’ll find him.You want in when we do?”
“Yeah,” Jock said without hesitation.“I want to look him in the eye.”
Wrench chuckled, a dark edge to it.“Figured.I’ll keep you posted.How’s the pup doing?”
Jock’s gaze softened as he watched Maynard nudge closer to Tank, who let out a dramatic sigh but didn’t move.“He’s tough.Healing up, thanks to Kent.Tank’s playing big brother, keeping him in line.”
“Good.Keep those boys safe.We’ll talk soon.”
The call ended, and Jock shoved the phone back in his pocket, his mind racing.Ricky Calder.The name landed like a splinter under his skin, sharp and irritating.He didn’t know the guy, but the thought of someone burning Maynard and then leaving him to die in that alley made his blood boil.He forced himself to take a deep breath, remembering every one of the grounding techniques Dr.Jaagr had drilled into him.He pulled out his favorite, running the prompts through his head.
Something I can see: the dogs, safe and sound.Something I can hear: the compressor’s rattle.Something I can feel: the wrench in my hand.
The exercise helped pull his focus back to the garage, but the anger didn’t vanish, didn’t really even diminish.It just simmered, waiting.
He crouched next to the dogs, running a hand over Maynard’s head and neck, careful to avoid the tender spots.“We’re gonna find who did this to you, boy,” he murmured.“And they’re gonna wish they’d never laid eyes on you.”
His phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Silly.
*Just finished a killer session with a client.Got a new design idea I can’t wait to show you.How’s our boys?*
Jock smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing a fraction.He snapped a quick photo of Tank and Maynard, the pit bull’s head now resting on Tank’s massive paw, and sent it back.
*They’re plotting world domination from the garage floor.Miss you, baby.Tell me about this design.*
As he waited for her reply, he stood and returned to the bike he was working on, but his focus was split.Part of him was here, in the grease and metal of the garage, with two dogs who trusted him to keep them safe.Part of him was with Silly, imagining her sketching furiously in a hotel room so damn many miles away.And part of him was already out there, hunting for Ricky Calder, ready to make sure justice wasn’t just a word.
***
Home with the dogs, it was feeding time, and both of his canine roommates were excited.Silly had happened on a good thing with the ideas for their food, and both dogs loved having a spoonful of the special wet food mixed into their kibble.
“All right, boys.Come sit.”
Maynard was first, but Tank wasn’t far behind as the dogs lined up in front of Jock, butts on the floor.“Good dogs.Tank, down.”With a groan, the big mastiff lowered his belly to the floor, then twisted to cock out one hip, finding a comfortable position.“Good boy.Okay, let’s do the food stuff.”He placed their bowls in their respective holders, Tank’s several inches taller than Maynard’s.“We’ll do more training stuff after.”
He yawned.
“Y’all finish that, come find me.I’ll be in the backyard.”Both dogs’ ears twitched at the word, so he knew they’d heard him and recognized the instructions.
Jock strolled outside and stepped off the concrete patio, burying his toes into the grass.“This is it, man.Nearly perfection.”Head back, he stared at the sky painted with the red-and-orange hues of sunset.On the far eastern edge, he could see the moon, small but bright.“Faithful as always.”No matter what happened down here on earth, or even in his life, the universe would go on.
A single click of a toenail on the patio caught his attention just before Tank leaned heavily on his leg in the heel position.A second later, Maynard appeared at his other side, the dog looking at the pair for a few moments before moving tentatively closer.
Jock patted his leg, and the dog came near, still giving Tank the side-eye.
“Bet you tried to steal his food, didn’t ya?Learn that lesson once.Hope it sticks.”
Maynard tilted his head at Jock, looking devious and innocent all at once.
“Oh, you’re going to be a fun one.”He grabbed the ball thrower and a yellow tennis ball.“Wanna run some?Tank, you can go lay down if you want.”The weight pressing against his leg increased, then disappeared as Tank searched for a comfortable place to rest.
For the next ten minutes, the back yard was full of laughter and exertion as Maynard ran after the ball.Half the fun was getting it back from him once he returned with it, and while Jock was careful with how he handled the still-healing dog, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t wrestle a little.
