“And venomous?”
“One of the deadliest.”
A violent curse crosses the phone line.
“Nothing we didn’t already know, but confirming it still pisses me the fuck off,” he adds.
“I hear you, and I’ll have the guys keep working through the list of dealers. There’s a fuck-ton of them in the city, especially when you include the black market names. Surely, one of them will give us a lead.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“Next question is, what’s our response?”
Renzo lets out a weary sigh. “It’s been a week, and no one has taken accountability. I don’t think it’s right to endanger the entire Moretti organization when there are doubts as to the origin of the threat.”
I hate to admit it, but he’s right. “What then?”
“We need to see if we can finally make contact with this Reaper lunatic. I’m going to put out some aggressive feelers and see what we can accomplish.”
“You need me to put my ear to the ground?” We both know I’m good at protection, but my specialty is intel. I can track down a person better than most bloodhounds.
“Yes, but I want to wait until we see where this inquiry gets us.”
“You’re the boss,” I say grimly, not envying his position.
He gives me a commiserating grunt, then ends the call. I consider stewing in my office, but give in to the grating curiosity and go in search of Terina to see what she’s been up to all morning.
The answer is, corrupting my dog.
She has Bonny on the sofa, again, and as I approach, I realize it’s so much worse than that.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I gape at the two.
A triumphant grin brightens Terina’s face. “Doesn’t she look pretty!”
Bonny bounds off the couch and prances in circles as if showing off. I know the dog had no say in this, but hell, if she doesn’t look proud of herself.
“You painted her goddamn nails?”
“I sure did, and they look so pretty, don’t they, girl?” She welcomes Bonny back to her, further exciting the dog. “That’s right! The most beautiful girl in the city! Yes, you are.”
Un-fucking-believable.
“Heel.” My clipped command whips through the air.
Bonny races to my side.
“Alert,” I add quietly, pleased when my purebred Rottweiler begins to growl, and Terina’s eyes go wide as saucers. I’m about to give theSteadycommand to call off the threat when the shock on Terina’s face melts to pure joy.
“Oh, youarea good girl, aren’t you?” She lowers herself to the floor and opens her arms in welcome. My treacherous dog ends her warning without my command and bounds to Rina like a lost puppy. “So scary and strong and the very best protector there is.”
Then she’s giggling and rolling on the floor as Bonny licks her from head to toe.
I’m speechless.
And not because I’m outraged. It’s the damn cutest thing I’ve ever seen—like the two are long-lost soulmates. My preferences in the matter have zero chance of relevance, and I’m not even mad about it.
Fuck, this is bad.
