“Be careful,” I said through Coop’s window.
His grin flickered, almost reaching his eyes this time. “Always am.”
Then his taillights were disappearing into the white, swallowed by the blizzard.
Beckett reached for my hand as we pulled back onto the road. The snow was coming sideways now, visibility down to almost nothing.
“Merry Christmas Eve,” he said.
I laced my fingers through his, held tight.
“Best one I’ve ever had.”
Behind us, Jet whined softly. Ahead, the road disappeared into white.
But we were together. And somewhere out there, a mama dog and her puppies were finally warm.
That was enough. That was everything.
?*
* Books from characters in this chapter:
Beckett & Audra – WARRIOR SECURITY: BECKETT
Lachlan & Piper (and twins) – WARRIOR SECURITY: LACHLAN
Lark – WARRIOR SECURITY: LARK’S SONG
Jude & Lena – MONTANA STORM
Lucas & Evelyn (Avery, Zeke) – MONTANA SANCTUARY
Hunter & Jada – MONTANA MEMORY
Daniel & Emma (Tyson) – MONTANA FREEDOM
Cooper – WARRIOR SECURITY: COOPER
Chapter 2
Two Strays and Some Dogs
Ryan Cooper
(Not attached to fucking anybody, notwithfucking anyone, all fucking alone)
The mama dog had claimed my passenger seat like she’d been riding shotgun her whole life. She sat upright, wrapped in my jacket, watching me with eyes that saidI’m trusting you, but I’m also judging you.
Fair enough. I was judging me too.
A truck full of puppies on Christmas Eve. I’d take it. Better than the alternative—going home to silence and pretending the quiet didn’t bother me.
The box of puppies was wedged on the floorboard, four tiny bodies huddled together, making sounds that were somewhere between squeaks and hiccups. Every few seconds, one of them would let out a mewl that hit a frequency designed to bypass all rational thought and go straight to the protective instincts.
“I know,” I told them. “We’re going somewhere warm. Promise.”
The mama dog’s ears swiveled toward me. Still judging.
