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Bile rises to my throat and I cover my mouth. “Oh my God… ”

“Fucking douchebag has had this dog chained to the back of his warehouse, with no food or water for who knows how the fuck long. The chain’s been wrapped around his neck for months slowly strangling him.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

He pulls me into his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Angel. I should have warned you about this one. Let’s go, we have to get him to the vets.”

We climb into the front seat and I can’t help but peer in the back seat as we pull out of the parking lot. The dog is so weak he can barely move, and his eyes are lifeless, glazed and defeated. Tears roll down my cheeks as I say a silent prayer for him. This is the worst abuse I’ve ever seen.

“I think he’ll be okay,” Tor says reassuringly, putting his hand on my leg. “I know it looks nasty as hell, but once they get the chain out and clean it up, get him on some antibiotics, and get some food and water into him, he’ll start to slowly recover.”

“You really think so? He looks bad, Tor. Really bad.”

“I know. But I think he’ll pull through. That fucking asshole was warned a year ago when he had another dog chained up back there that another rescue pulled.”

“What did you do to him?” I ask. He dragged the guy away by his throat and I didn’t see him come back.

His eyes shift up to check the rearview mirror, his jawline clenching. “You don’t want to know.”

“Tell me.”

“I cut the chain to free the dog and then wrapped that end around his fucking neck and left him there, chained to the ground like he had this poor dog.”

My heart almost seizes at the ferocity of his voice and actions. Tor can be the sweetest guy in the world, but he’s got a ferocious streak when it comes to abuse of an innocent animal. He wants vengeance.

“Don’t worry,” He says to my gasp. “He won’t die. His buddies will find him. I just want to teach that fucker a lesson. He’ll never hurt another animal again.”

Kenzi

Me: Hey you, how is your morning? I love you xoxox

I switch from my message app to a browser app, then back to my text message app to see if it will refresh, but there’s still no reply from Tor, and it’s showing as not read. I sent the text almost four hours ago, at eight a.m. We always text each other first thing in the morning, and Tor always replies within an hour.

Always.

Even before we were dating, he would always quickly reply to my messages.

I wander through the mall, trying to remember where all the stores I like are in what seems more like a maze than a group of stores. I don’t shop often, and when I do, Chloe is usually with me and she steers us around the mall like she was born here. I finally find the lingerie store and pick out some new sexy bra and panty sets that I think will make Tor smile. The price tags practically scare me into next week but the fabric is so rich and soft and accentuates my curves much nicer than anything else I own, so I can’t resist buying them.

Next, I find the craft store and load up on paper, ink, and little embellishments like lace, glitter, and gems that I’ve started to add to the paper of my hand lettered work.

I glance down at my phone again as I wait in line to pay, but there’s still no text from Tor.

When I get to the parking lot, I call his cell phone and leave him a voice mail:

“Hey, honey, where are you? I’m getting a little worried. Call me when you can. I love you.”

I send another text, hoping I’m not being annoying as hell, but I’m worried.

Me: Are you okay? I just bought some lingerie I think you’ll like. ;-) I love you bunches and I can’t wait to see you. xo

I start up my Jeep and my phone rings on the passenger seat next to me just as I’m about to reverse out of my parking spot.

Finally!

I grab the phone with a big smile on my face.

“Hey hon, I’ve been missing you all morning.”

“Kenzi?”

“Dad?”

Crap.

“Who did you think I was?”

Shit.

“Chloe.”

“Oh. Where are you?”

“In the mall parking lot. I needed a few things.”

He’s silent for a beat. “I don’t want you to panic, okay?”

My heart instantly starts to pound. “Well, Daddy now I am panicking. What’s wrong? Is it Mom?”

“No, it’s Tor.”

My breath catches in my throat and my stomach plummets as I try to deny away the words I just heard.

“Are you there?” He asks.

“Yes…” I swallow over the lump in my throat choking my airway. “Is he okay?”