I coughed, rolling onto my side just as that baton slammed into my ribs, a sharp pain sparking across my nerves. I whimpered in pain and desperation. Come on.Come on!I kicked at him, clawing at the ground, forcing myself to keepgoing, I had to keep going. I had to get to the gun. I needed it.
I could see it just beyond my reach. “Lus, kill,” I ordered through my teeth.
The man screamed in response, his grip on my ankle easing ever so slightly, just enough for me to push myself a little more, reaching out for it, the silver like a beacon of light in the darkness.
My hope returned when I finally wrapped my hand around the grip. I grabbed the mag next and finally a single bullet as another yelp filled the air.
I turned back towards them, scrambling to get the bullet in the mag when I saw the guy beating my dog.Beating her.
I screamed and slammed my foot into his face with everything I had, and I shoved the mag into the gun, pulling the hammer back.
“Hey!” I shouted, my voice surprisingly steady.
He looked up, his eyes widening.
“Not my dog, you fucking bitch.”
“Don’t kill him,” I heard someone say.
My gun shifted and I pulled the trigger, watching the bullet shoot straight through his left wrist and into the back of my couch.
I was panting, my heart pounding as the guy screamed.
Another gun appeared against his temple, and he tried to stifle his screams spit flying from his lips at the effort.
I heard voices beyond the ringing in my ears, but my eyes were locked on my dog.
I dropped the gun and turned myself around, crawling over to Lucy, blood splattered across the ground. “Lucy,” I said, her eyes still feral, her teeth still digging into his leg. She was panting too hard. She had to let go or she would suffocate.
“Lus,” I said again, pulling myself up to a sit beside her, my hands surprisingly steady as I reached out, only for her teeth tosink deeper into his leg. There was so much blood. So much. I couldn’t tell if it was hers or his. It matted her fur and there was just…it was too much. Too much blood.
“Lus,” I whispered, placing a hand on her head.
She snarled, her eyes lifting to mine.
“Olivia—”
“I got it,” I snapped, uncaring who said it. “Lucy, it’s okay. I’m safe.” But she had pent up anger too. Pent up rage.
I had trained her to protect me and for the last three years, I hadn’t let her do that. I kept her back. Made her watch me while I took the beatings, got yelled at, got tossed around and abused. I made her watch after telling her to keep me safe.
It wasn’t just me that suffered these last three years, I realized in absolute horror. It was her too. She had suffered. I had made her suffer. I caused this.
“Get the damn do—”
I heard metal against teeth, his words muffled. “Say another word. I fucking dare you.”
“Baby,” I whispered, feeling the tears drip down my face. “I am so sorry, please, you have to let go. We’re safe now. We’re safe.”
She continued to pant through her nose, the blood pouring from his wound, but after another few seconds, her pupils started to widen and, after another second, she finally released him, a crying whimper leaving the man’s mouth.
She licked her lips, her tongue dripping in blood as she panted and forced herself to stand.
The man slid out from between us and Lucy, slowly and with a limp, walked over to me, sniffing my hair, my neck, my hands. Finally, she licked my face and sat right beside me, turning to the man, her ears folded back, favoring her left side.
With one arm still wrapped around my stomach, I gently ran my hand down her right paw, her whimper of warning telling meexactly where she had hit him.
My eyes hardened and I finally looked over, finding Everett and Evelyn standing yards away, Evelyn hoisting the man up, guns in both of their hands. “Break his wrist,” I told Everett, meeting his eyes. “Shatter it.”
