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The man deserves a taste of his own medicine.
“That’s not my dog, and you know it,” Tommy growls, jabbing a finger at Lawson.
“I tried to tell you that.” Lawson shrugs. “It’s not my fault you refuse to hear anything I’m saying.”
“Do I need to go in there and find her myself? Or are you going to bring her out?” Tommy asks.
“You won’t be stepping inside my home,” Lawson says. “Guard.”
Shadow splits the difference between us, pacing the concrete while keeping his gaze locked on Tommy. He whines like he’s begging to be released to mess my ex up.
It feels like things are escalating, and my skin itches with the need to calm the situation.
At the same time, I’m disgusted with myself for ever thinking he was hot.
Oh, he’s always been conventionally attractive. It’s what’s on the inside that makes him ugly. I just wish I had realized that sooner, but if I had, Echo would still be stuck with him.
He doesn’t deserve her.
She’s got so much personality now.
She’s thriving under Lawson’s training, and even when she still gets excited sometimes and misbehaves, he always keeps his cool.
Tommy couldn’t be bothered to do anything more than feed her and let her out in the backyard when he wanted her out of his hair.
“Listen, Tommy,” I say, swallowing thickly. “I’m sorry Echo is missing. Have you checked the—”
“Don’t apologize to him,” Lawson growls. “You didn’t do anything wrong. He’s pissed that you had the audacity to leave, and now he’s trying to force you back with lies about his missing dog.”
“He’s like those creeps who try to lure women and children to their van with promises of puppies,” Bryant calls out from behind us. From the sound of it, he’s still up on the porch.
Shadow continues pacing, whining and chuffing like he’s just waiting for the signal to let him know he can take Tommy down.
“You can keep Abby. I was done with her, anyway. All I want is my dog.” Tommy nods at me. “Am I really going to have to get the cops involved, Abigail?”
“I already told you to call it in,” Lawson says. “Be ready to answer a few questions about how you located Abby.”
Luka’s truck comes up the driveway, and I suck in sharply.
I’m not sure that’s going to help anything. He pulls around Tommy’s SUV, comes to a stop near the garage, shuts off the truck, and jumps out. He makes his way over in long strides. “Who is this? I didn’t know we were expecting company.”
“This is an uninvited guest.” Lawson chuckles.
“Look,” Tommy says. “I’m just going to walk up there and call for my dog. If she’s not here, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Lawson says. “And just in case you get any bright ideas about trying to come back when we aren’t home, you should know what you’ll be dealing with. Shadow, protect Abby.”
Shadow freezes. He’s been walking parallel to my ex, but he turns in Tommy’s direction, growling and snapping.
He’s so loud that I jolt.
Lawson gives me a squeeze, sending reassurance and comfort through our connection.
Shadow backs toward the three of us, and if I was Tommy, I’d be pissing myself. The massive dog doesn’t stop until his hindquarters touch my shins, and he continues growling.
“You want me to haul his ass back to his vehicle?” Luka asks. “I have no problem disposing of the trash.”
“These are the kind of men you chose to bond yourself to for life?” Tommy asks, looking directly at me. “You know what you did. Are you really going to make me take you to court?”
