Page 139 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

The warmth disappeared almost instantly. Cold air slipped between us, settling against my skin so quickly it made my arms prickle. My hands suddenly felt empty. I already missed him, his touch, his warmth. Him.

"The sedative's wearing off nicely."

The veterinarian said gently as he crouched beside the kennel.

"His heart rate is stabilising. He'll be sleepy for the next day or two, but physically he'll be fine. Detective, you can take him home today."

I barely heard him. I was already kneeling beside the kennel. The cool floors seeped through my knees as I leaned closer to the wire door. Max lay curled on the thick blanket, his large German Shepherd head resting heavily against the bedding. His eyes fluttered open just enough to find me before closing again, still fighting the lingering effects of the tranquiliser. A neat white bandage circled one of his front paws.

I slipped my fingers carefully through the wire and stroked behind his ears.

"There you are," I whispered.

His tail gave one slow, tired thump against the blanket. A smile broke through the tears before I realised it was there.

"You're such a brave boy."

Another gentle stroke.

"You scared me."

The words cracked halfway out of my throat.

"I've never been so frightened."

His breathing stayed slow and steady beneath my fingertips. I lowered my forehead until it rested softly against the warm fur between his ears. The clinic disappeared. The disinfectant. The lights. The charts. The people. Everything faded except the steady rhythm of his breathing.

"Thank you for staying," I whispered.

A tear disappeared into the thick fur around his neck.

"Thank you for fighting."

Another tear followed.

"And thank you..."

My voice became little more than air.

"For not leaving me alone."

A single, burning tear slipped free, disappearing into the dark canvas of his shoulder. I didn't notice him watching me until I looked up through blurred lashes. Elias was already looking at me.

He stood beside one of the steel support beams, both hands buried deep inside his pockets, his broad shoulders rigid beneath the harsh white lights. His jaw was locked into that familiar, stubborn line that always made him look like he was carrying an invisible weight no one else could see.

He wasn't acting like a detective. He wasn't scanning the room. He wasn't studying evidence or building theories. He was simply watching me. Really watching me. As though he were reading pages from a book he'd never known existed.

It made my chest ache.

Once the veterinarian signed the discharge papers, Elias didn't ask for assistance. He simply crossed the room. He crouched beside Max, one large arm sliding beneath the shepherd's chest while the other supported his hindquarters. The muscles beneath the sleeves of his shirt tightened as he lifted nearly ninety pounds of German Shepherd with effortless care, as though Max weighed no more than an armful of firewood.

No strain.

No complaints.

Just quiet strength.

Max gave a sleepy little huff against the rough fabric of Elias's jacket, his heavy head settling beneath the detective's chin while his tail hung limply behind him.