“I think you just passed it,” Penny’s voice drags me out of my daydream. “There was a vet on the right.”
“Shit, yeah.” I make a U-turn and pull into the vet’s parking lot a few minutes later.
Penny gets out with me, and together we walk into the vet’s clinic Mojo has been at for the last few days. I pay the lady at the front, and she has someone else go get my dog from the kennel in the back.
When the guy walks my 150lb Rottweiler into the lobby, I smile. Mojo looks like shit, groggy as hell, and there is a good-sized shaved spot on his side. The scar still looks angry and red, but when he sees me, he perks up a little.
“Hey, bud.” I get down on one knee and run my hands through his fur, giving him a good behind the ear rub. He nuzzles his face into my chest, just as I see Penny kneeling down next to us.
Her small hand reaches out and pets him between the shoulder blades. He waddles closer to her and goes to lick her face with his slobbery tongue.
“We took the stitches out and left the cone off. He hasn’t messed with the incision so far, but if he does, he’ll have to wear the cone again.”
“Got it.” I nod as I stand back up, and the guy hands me Mojo’s leash.
As soon as we walk out through the front door, I see him.
Maddox is sitting on his bike, parked right next to my truck.Fuck!
“Get in the back seat with Mojo,” I tell Penny.
When I glance over at her, I see her face has gone pale, and her shoulders are slouched, almost like she is trying to make herself smaller… invisible.
“It’s going to be okay, just do as I say,” I tell her. She moves closer to me and slows her walk, so she is positioned a little behind me as we approach my friend.
Opening the back door, Penny scurries inside, then I lift Mojo onto the backseat as well.
“How the hell did you know when I was coming?” I ask after I shut the door. I’m not really mad at him, but I am annoyed that he is here. I shut down my phone for a reason.
“Called them this morning, asking when I was supposed to pick up Mojo.”
“Of course, you did. Look, I know this is not how it’s done, but I’m leaving town for a few weeks–”
“I know where Tucker is,” Maddox interject.
“Where?”
“If I tell you, what are you going to do with him?”
“You know what I’ll do. He deserves to die.” I lower my voice a little at the last part. Don’t need someone passing by overhearing me.
“He does.” Maddox nods. “And then what? Are you still going toleave town for a few weeks?”
“If Tucker is taken care of, there won’t be a reason for me to leave.”
“What about her?” He points at the cab of the truck.
“I’ll send her back home.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” I repeat.
Maddox studies me for a few moments before continuing, “Come stay at my house. Mojo and your girl will be safe there. We’ll take care of Tucker. Just you and me, like old times.”
“I don’t know.” I look down at the ground. “Penny doesn’t like you.”
“Most people don’t like me.” Maddox chuckles.
