“What’s the issue?” I asked, as I walked across the cement tarmac.
“Just wait.”
One of our vans backed slowly into the bay. I stood and watched as two men, in full protective gear, fought like hell to get Bandit out of the back of the truck. The dog was absolutely wild, all teeth and frothing spit and pure rage.
I looked at Maksim. “Does this dog have rabies?”
He shook his head. “He had all his vaccinations at the animal shelter, including his rabies booster. This dog is just pissed.”
I watched as they worked to bring him to the kennels at the back of the bay.
Holy shit.
“So this is the illustrious Bandit,” Maksim remarked.
“Mila fell in love with him at the shelter.”
He glanced at me. “You know we can bury this fucker. She’ll never know we found him.”
I was terrified to let this dog near her. I put my hands in my pocket and touched the Bandit necklace that I had been carrying around ever since I had gotten the clasp fixed.
Last night my wife had confessed that she believed her punishment was not knowing Bandit’s fate. I couldn’t commit her to a lifetime of that emotion. “My wife deserves the truth. I’ll need the handlers here when I bring her by.”
“What do you need?”
I looked around. “I want the dog muzzled. Two armed handlers to bring out the dog. If Bandit tries to hurt her, we stop him by any means necessary.”
He gave a solid nod. “I’ll set it up.”
“Tell everyone to protect my wife at all costs.”
After school,Mila froze when she got into the car and saw me sitting in the back seat, but then a huge smile crossed her face. “What are you doing here?”
“I have a surprise for you.” I nodded at Anton, who started to drive.
Her eyes were wide. “What?”
“We have to drop by my work first.”
She looked nervous.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “We’ll be safe.”
“I know,” she said, her voice small, but I could tell she didn’t believe me.
When we pulled up outside the bay, I told Anton to let Maksim know we were here. When he shut the door, I pulled the necklace out of my pocket and hung it from a finger. “I think this belongs to you.”
She covered her mouth with both hands, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. “You fixed it.” Her eyes met mine. “I felt so terrible that I did that, and so ashamed. And it was my only connection to Bandit too.”
“Can I put it on you?”
She nodded and lifted her hair so I could clasp the thin chain around her delicate neck.
She touched her necklace and gave me a shy look. “This is the best surprise ever. Thank you so much.”
Maksim appeared in the doorway and nodded.
For a moment I wondered if I was insane letting her near that dog, but then she gave me such a pure, sweet smile. “This gift means so much to me.”
