When he doesn’t react, it only fuels my anger.
“What would you have me do, Ken?Go on the run with you?How would that have solved anything?What kind of life would that be?I already have a life, right here.I have friends, people I care about, a business I built by myself.I don’t want to run.I want to stay and fight to keep it.”
Savvy nudges me when nothing from my brother is forthcoming.“Come on.”
Grudgingly, I allow her to lead me out into the hallway where I let my emotions get the better of me.
Mom always taught me not to rely on any man but to carve my own path in life.Well…looks like she was right.In the span of an hour, the two men who hold my heart—for whom I would easily have done anything—chose to turn their backs on me.It’s not even that I’m all that disappointed: how could I be if I was already half expecting this for an outcome?
But I am hurt, although that might be a bit of an understatement.Heartbroken is probably closer to the truth.
“I don’t know why I’m bawling,” I mumble, keeping my head low so my hair covers at least part of my face from nosy passersby.
“Well…let me see,” Savvy offers.“Your business was torched, your home is unlivable, a violent gang is on your heels, your brother was kidnapped before your eyes, your boyfriend walked out on you—probably just needed some time to process, but still—and now your brother is laying yet another guilt trip on you.I say you’ve earned a good cry.”
I wipe my nose with the sleeve of my sweater.Not exactly ladylike, but neither is walking around with tears and snot running down my face.
“I know what you need, a good hug,” my friend declares, abruptly turning to wrap me in a tight hold.
I indulge for a moment before disentangling myself.“What I could use is some puppy snuggles.”
Oh no…Ragnar.
We left home this morning thinking we’d be back by lunch.That poor dog has been alone all day.With everything going on, I totally forgot about him.I wince at the thought of all the damage he could’ve done to Hugo’s house in that time.
“I’ve gotta go,” I blurt out, beelining it for the exit.“Ragnar’s been alone all day,” I add over my shoulder.
“Hold up,” Savvy calls behind me.“I can’t leave your brother and you can’t go alone; you don’t have wheels.Let me call someone.”
Ten agonizingly long minutes later, when I see KC pull up outside the hospital in his patrol car, I dart outside and jump into the passenger seat.KC was about to get out, but I tap my hand on the dashboard.
“We’ve gotta go.”
“Just a minute.”
Savvy followed me outside at a slower pace and walks over to the driver’s side where KC rolls down his window.
“Give her a ride to Hugo’s place and walk her to the door.Then I want you to wait outside until Battaglia’s guys show up, and after that I need you back here.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“You…” Savvy points at me.“Stay inside and lock up until Hugo gets there.Understood?”she orders sternly.
“Yeah, yeah, fine.Can we go?”
The smell hitsme the moment I walk in the door, and I brace myself for what I’ll find as I punch the code to set the alarm.
Walking through to the living room, I groan when at first glance I notice white fluff on the couch and the floor around it, and trailing down the stairs is a strip of toilet paper.When I move farther into the room, something crunches under my foot, and I bend down to pick up about two-thirds of a well-chewed remote control.
There is evidence of Ragnar everywhere, including the big dump he took in front of the back door, but no sign of him.I quickly clean up the poop and turn on the exhaust fan over the stove, hoping it’ll help get rid of the smell.
Considering he’s been alone for about eight hours now; the damage is relatively minimal.At least down here.A throw pillow, obviously the remote, somebody’s gym sock, a Tupperware container holding butter Hugo kept on the counter—the butter eaten, I presume— and, so far, one toilet roll, but I haven’t been upstairs yet.
I gather the toilet paper as I head up the steps, discovering a half-chewed bar of soap on the landing.The bedroom door I distinctly remember closing is open.Scratches in the paint mar the bottom of the door and the post.I hold my breath as I stick my head inside, and am surprised to find the room virtually untouched, other than the dog, splayed out in the middle of the bed, comatose on top of my sleep shirt.
At my, “Hey, boy,” he flips over and lifts his head, one ear inside out.Then with a happy bark, he leaps off and almost knocks me on my ass.
“Do you need to go outside?”I ask him as I give him a good rub.
