I grabbed his wrist and twisted it until he dropped the knife with a cry, then swept his feet out from under him. He dropped to his knees, and Sugar jumped on his back with a snarl, taking him the rest of the way down.
“Shit! No!” he cried. “Don’t let her fucking eat me!”
Sugar took hold of his jacket and gave it a good shake, jerking Snake around like a rag doll. Loki darted in and grabbed a sleeve. Oreo locked his jaws around a shoe and tugged at it.
Taz was fiercest of all, getting in his face, snarling and snapping inches from his nose.
“Please!” he gasped.
“You going to stay where you are?” I asked as I picked up the phone I’d dropped in the scuffle. The call had cut off.
“Yeah, man. Yeah. I promise! Just get them off me!”
I whistled sharply, then again when the dogs didn’t acknowledge me. “C’mon, Sugar! Come here, girl. Show everyone what a good girl you are.”
She released him with a final warning growl and trotted over to me. I patted her head. “There we go. Everyone, calm down.”
The other dogs followed her lead, one by one, until only Taz was snarling and snapping. Snake tried to swat him away, and Taz bit his pinkie hard enough to draw blood.
He yowled. “Get this fucking demon the fuck off!”
I grabbed Taz and held him against my chest, making soothing noises. “Okay, listen. Here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to sit there nice and calm while I call the guys.”
“Don’t do that, man. Just let me go. I’ll leave, okay? These fucking dogs are a holy terror I can’t get past. I give the fuck up.”
“Yeah, no. I don’t think so.”
I raised the phone, and Snake rushed to say, “I know a lot of shit about you. What you did. Who youreallyare.”
I hesitated, phone in the air. “So?”
“So, I heard you’re dating the youngest brother. You really think they want him with a fucking killer?”
His words were like a kick to the chest. All my fears. All my worries. So easily made into a threat.
“Fuck you, Snake. I oughta let these dogs tear you apart.”
“But you won’t,” he said. “That’s not you.”
“Thought I was a fucking killer?”
He spread out his hands, looking apologetic. “I don’t want to tell them, but you’re not leaving me much choice. I can’t go back to prison, man. Let me go, and they’ll never know. I won’t come back.”
I didn’t believe him. He’d been too desperate to get access to the junkyard. Someone had leverage on him. It was only a matter of time before he came back with more weapons. Maybe next time, he’d just shoot the dogs instead of hoping to poison them.
Maybe he’d bring a whole crew and take out anyone in his way.
I couldn’t take the chance.
“The guys don’t care what got me into prison,” I said. “They believe in second chances.”
“Sure.” He snorted. “That’s what they say, anyway, when they think you knocked over a liquor store or some shit. When they find out you killed, though…” He shrugged. “Sorry, brother, but they’re going to kick you out of here so fast your fucking head spins.”
My thumb hovered over the Call button. My stomach churned. What if he was right? I’d lose Bailey. I’d lose everything.
“Work with me, man, and we can both leave here with the means to start a good fucking life. Hell, you can even take the dogs, if you want. Maybe that cute little piece of ass will leave his brothers for you, huh? He probably loves that big dick you’ve go?—”
I balled a fist and swung, rage screaming through me. Nobody talked about Bailey like that. Nobody questioned his fucking loyalty.
