“Fine, but that’s it. I’m not getting anything else.”
He scurried ahead of me, stopping only two more times along the aisle to pick out a dog bone and a frisbee to throw. By the time I got to the counter, Mr. Callahan was pissed.
“It’s not my fault. He kept picking things out!”
John’s eyes went to Milo. “He’s a dog. He doesn’t pick anything out.”
“Really? Watch this.”
Picking up the dog food, I hauled it over my shoulder. “Okay, Milo. I’m going back for the cheap food.”
He sat there, cocking his head at me like he didn’t understand what I was saying.
“This one’s too expensive. I’m not getting it.”
I pretended like I was going to walk away, but he just stared at me. Traitorous dog.
“I swear, when we were in the aisle, he was picking out what he wanted.”
Mr. Callahan shook his head as he started scanning the items. “Damn witch,” he muttered under his breath. “Probably put a hex on the dog.”
I looked down at Milo and sighed. “You’re giving me a bad reputation all over town.”
25
JR
I idledoutside the rundown house on the edge of town. It was a shitty neighborhood, but then again, the whole town had pretty much gone to shit. Brian walked out of the house in a wifebeater and low-slung jeans. By any woman’s standards, he probably looked like a good catch if he wasn’t standing right in front of this house.
Muscular with a good face, I understood why he appealed to Alyssa. But if I had been there, I would have known right away he was no good. It was in the eyes, just like with me. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw the ability to kill, to instill fear in anyone who pissed me off.
And I was looking at those same eyes right now.
She was lucky she’d gotten away with the bruises and hadn’t ended up dead.
Clenching my fist, I forced myself to sit still and wait. If I got out now, he’d see me, and then I’d have to kill him in broad daylight instead of waiting for the right time. The reason I was so good was that I was smart about everything I did, but this was personal, and those situations always got the best of me if I didn’t keep a cool head.
My phone buzzed in the console and I answered without checking the number first. Not that I was surprised when Archer was on the other end.
“What do you want?”
“Just checking in.”
“You mean, checking up on me.”
“Same difference,” he retorted. “Did you do it yet?”
“I’m biding my time. He’s leaving now.”
“Just be smart about this. Alyssa needs you.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
I knew how much she needed me more than ever, and I wasn’t about to let her down ever again. I was still pissed at how easily I’d let my responsibilities slip through the cracks.
Instead of thinking about her, I had been focused on myself.
“How’s Alyssa?”
