Chapter Two
“Hey, hey, hey,” Jock said softly, holding his hands out in front of him.
“What a pretty boy. Shhhh.” He moved slowly and squatted low in an effort to make himself seem smaller, less intimidating.
And this is a skill I haven’t had to use in a while.
Not since coming home. “Look at how pretty you are,” he whispered, wincing as his gaze traveled over the body lying in the alley in front of him.
The cream-colored dog lay on its side, ribs moving with each labored breath.
Its skin looked burned in spots, blistered and raw, and Jock knew it would be painful to the dog to touch it.
A thump of the twisted tail elicited a whine from the dog, but that didn’t stop the slow rat-a-tat of welcome aimed at Jock.
“Oh, you’re a pretty boy. Hey, hey. What happened to you? Huh? What happened to the pretty boy?”
An aborted lift of the dog’s head accompanied another whine and a long sigh as it settled back on the ground.
Jock held out a hand, fingers curled into his palm and knuckled a slow stroke between the dog’s eyes, confounded when the dog sighed again, eyes closing in what looked like peace.
Yup. You’re coming with me. “I’m gonna get you some help, pretty boy. Gonna get you outta here.”
He mentally ran through his available options, which were slim.
Jock was out on his bike today, and carrying a dog in this condition on that machine would be impossible.
He rested one knee on the greasy alley floor and dug his phone from his front pocket.
Eyes still on the dog, he dialed one of his best friends, who was not in the Incoherent MC but a close club friend and a man who had taken him under his wing.
Since he’d moved to Louisiana, Ace had become so much more than a friend, and Jock knew he was building up a debt owed he’d probably never be able to repay.
He also knew Ace was a dog lover, and if possible, he would be here before Jock could blink.
The call connected, and Ace greeted him with a rumbling “Brother.”
Jock smiled because that sound, that word, meant the world these days. They might not share a patch, but what he’d learned over the past months was that the single piece of fabric didn’t always define where a man found his own brotherhood.
“Hey, brother,” he said, then paused a breath. “I got a need. Where are you?”
Ace, as he always did, gave Jock everything. “I am wherever you need me, brother. Where do I need to be? All you gotta do is tell me.”
Jock rattled off the address and took a deep breath before he passed along to Ace the why of the need.
“Bring a cage and a dog carrier.” He considered a moment.
“One that can accommodate about forty pounds, give or take. I’ve got a dog here that’s hurt bad.
Malnourished and hurt real bad. You’ll see my bike out on the curb.
We’re up here in the alley right next to Miss Danielle’s shop.
” He paused and shook his head and then continued.
“Not sure what happened to the poor mutt. Looks almost boiled alive in spots. He’s a good boy.
” Jock reached out and trailed his fingers on the dog’s face again, one of few places that still had a continuous thick coat of fur.
Too much of the rest of the animal’s body was covered only by patches, alternating with shiny, weeping flesh.
“He’s a real good boy, Ace. We need you.
” When he heard himself, he knew he’d spoken into existence his ownership of this beast and would be the dog’s advocate in whatever fight lay ahead.
Ace’s voice was filled with gravel and rage when he said, “I’ll be right fucking there.”
The call disconnected, and Jock immediately dialed again.
The answering voice also simply said, “Brother.” Another reminder of found family loyalty.
“Wildman, I need a good vet here in Hammond. ASAP. Got any recommendations?” Wildman had been Jock’s sponsor into the Incoherent MC.
His partying might live up to his name, but Jock had found that underneath that facade was a steady and true friend who was unflappable under stress, and his amusing persona masked a man who’d suffered unimaginable loss.
“The fuck is wrong with Tank?” He heard a rattle of keys. “Where are you? I’m coming to you.”
“No, man. It’s not Tank. I found a pitty who’s taken some abuse, looks like. I want to get him in to a good vet before it’s too late.” He hesitated, then finished with “It’s stomach-turning, brother. How are humans this vile?”
“Because they don’t have a connection with a single good person in their lives.” The keys rattled again. “If you need me, say the word.”
“I have Ace coming with a cage. I just need to know where to take the dog.”
“I’ll text you the information and let him know you’re calling. Just in case he’s feeling all ignory, given it’s the weekend. Bastard can’t escape me.”
Jock laughed softly. “Nobody can escape you, Wildman. Thanks, man. I knew you’d have a contact.” His phone pinged twice, and he looked at the screen to see a message from Ace and one from Wildman. “Got it. I’ll call soon as I hang up with you.”
“Tell Tank he’s a good boy from me and Jussy.”
“Will do, brother. Thanks again.”
The call ended, and he looked at the messages. Ace’s was an update stating, “on the way.” Jock stroked the dog’s head again. “Won’t be long, boy. Hang in there.”
The other message was a name and a number that Jock read and clicked on immediately. Kent, no indication if it was first or last, and coming from Wildman, it could be the name of the vet’s dog. The call connected nearly before he could hear the ringing.
“I told you I’d do it, Wildman. Cut me some slack.”
“Not Wildman, but sounds like he’s already paved the way for me.
” Jock found himself slowly stroking the dog’s head again.
At this point it’s to soothe myself as much as to reassure the dog.
“If there’s anything you need me to pick up on the way, let me know.
” He smiled when the dog pressed its nose into his palm.
“I’m Jock, and I’ve got a dog that’s in a bad way. Found it in an alley downtown.”
“Dammit. Damn Wildman to hell. I’m Kent, and I’ll send you a link to maps for my address. It’ll get you here faster. We’ll be at my vet practice. I should have everything I need here. See you soon.”
Jock laughed as the phone clicked again. “They might be brothers, for as straight a shooter he is.”
Speed dial pressed, he held the phone to his ear.
“Wrench.” Wrench was the president of the Caddo Hobos, a man with strong connections through the community, and his club was the official owner of this territory.
They never contested any IMC members coming into the area because there were a half a dozen businesses downtown that all the local bikers frequented.
What was good for the town was good for the club.
“I’ll update more later. This is just a courtesy call to let you know I’m removing an abused dog from your patch.
Ace is on his way to provide transport, and Wildman’s got me set up with a vet, but I wanted to let you know.
This is straight-up abuse, and it’s fuckin’ bad, man.
Gonna be something I want to follow up on. ”
“No worries, Jock. I’ll see if anyone’s heard anything. Let me know if you need anything from me.”
“Will do.” This time it was him who hit disconnect on the call. He shoved the phone back in his pocket and stayed down on one knee near the dog’s shoulder, gentle hand on its trembling head, and hoped the beast wouldn’t die before he and Ace could get him to a good vet.
It seemed like he’d been waiting an eternity before he heard the grinding of tires on gravel as Ace’s truck pulled up to the curb behind his motorcycle. “Brother?” was called from the street, and he responded, “Here.”
“Jesus, fuck. That’s...” Ace’s voice hardened as he got closer and could identify the injuries, his rage growing deeper at seeing the dog lying in the alley.
“And people wonder why I like animals better than I like people. Fuck. You see who did this to him?” Ace squatted next to Jock, their shoulders brushing as he crowded in to get a better look at the dog.
“Goddamned assholes. I hate this shit, brother.”
“I did not. Wildman has a good vet on standby. We just gotta get the dog there.” Jock shook his head.
“Dog fuckin’ licked my fingers a while ago, like he was thanking me for staying beside him, Ace.
I don’t understand people any more than you do, and this?
” He shuddered. “Makes me sick. I know this area belongs to you CoBos, so I went ahead and called Wrench. He’s gonna see if there’s been anything of note reported in this area.
We find out who did this, we’ll deal with them then.
Right now, we gotta see if we can get Maynard fixed up. ”
“Maynard?” Ace held out a hand and let the dog sniff him, then caressed the fur across the top of the dog’s head. “Good name for a good dog.” He stepped away and reached back, bringing a carrier out from the shadows. “Lemme break this down, and we’ll lift him inside.”
They got the dog loaded without incident, Maynard’s head lolling awkwardly, turning Jock’s stomach as it wobbled back and forth.
Jock followed Ace’s truck across town, sticking tight to Ace’s back bumper through the traffic, ignoring safer options.
It bothered him being separated from Maynard, those hairs standing on end at the back of his neck.
Some asshole had turned a good dog into a bleeding punching bag, and that just wasn’t going to stand.