Page 96 of Mommy

“Based on your living conditions,” I motion towards the makeshift tent. “I assume you are not equipped to care for these dogs properly. Would you be willing to give them to the local shelter? I’m more than happy to take the responsibility off your hands.”

I pray that he’ll agree, but his smile is still way too pleased for things to go right. He’s nodding.

“You can take him.”

My eyebrows go up in surprise.

I did not expect him to agree to give up the dogs, but he’s already fumbling with the chain.

“Really?” I ask again, because I can’t believe I’ve gotten this lucky.

“Yes, yes, take him.”

He hands me the end of the chain, still grinning. And that’s when I catch on.

“What about the female?”

His smile drops and he shakes his head.

“No. She stays.”

A cold shiver goes down my back and my grip on the chain tightens.

“What about the puppies?”

Another firm shake of his head.

I swallow my defeat and take a deep breath.

There’s nothing I can do right now. Nothing I can do that won’t get me fired. And I can’t afford to lose this job, not because I wouldn’t find another one or need the money that bad, but… Ezekiel can only do what he’s doing because I can cover for him. We’re a team. And we only work well, because we both do our part.

Nodding, I take a step back.

At least I got one out.

Holding on to the chain, I bend down and pick up the dog.

He’s frail and looks almost unresponsive as I carry him to the car.

“We’ll drop him off at the vet.” I inform my younger colleague, who only nods and looks straight up mortified. He doesn’t fight me when I tell him to wait in the vehicle, while I get the dog from the back seat.

“Sam!” I holler the second I get over the threshold.

His hair is tussled and he has his phone in his hands, but the second he spots the dog in my arms, he puts it aside and gets to work.

I tell him about where the dog came from, and he agrees when I say I’ll call Ez tonight.

Ezekiel and Rosemary are busy with the shelter right now, but I’m certain he’ll want to take a look at this one. Maybe he can do what I failed at earlier and get the female out.

Chapter forty nine

Derek

I don’t even make it all the way back inside the mother fucking station, when a slender hand wraps around my wrist, forcing me to a stop.

Sam said he’d call me with news once he’s checked the dog we got away from Skid Row, and the whole situation this morning left me on edge. The fact that I wasn’t able to take the mom makes my skin crawl, and I honestly don’t know how to face Posie tonight.

How will I look at her, knowing that another mom is trying to comfort her puppies under nothing more but a tarp covering a piece of cold asphalt. In the middle of a freezing cold October.