Chapter 18 Guard Dogs #2
“Let’s go,” I murmured to Reaper, giving the command with a nod.
The dog sprang up, his body tensing in anticipation as I released his collar.
Together, we slipped into the flow of bodies outside the bar.
The trio’s laughter was loud enough to carry outside, and I could hear their obnoxious chants about some ridiculous bet they seemed to be losing.
I shifted into the shadows, calculated my steps, my body acting like a spring ready to release.
There they were, the two goons trailing a few feet behind him. Reaper responded to my silent command, following my lead as we sauntered through the crowd, our eyes glued on the unsuspecting target.
A premature grin tugged at the corners of my mouth, a rush of adrenaline washing through me as fear and anger mingled, creating a thrilling potion coursing through my veins.
I felt alive, more alive than I had in weeks, and it was in that moment of clarity that the shadows creeping around me felt a little less suffocating.
“Let’s go,” I whispered again, my voice barely audible beneath the blanket of noise surrounding us.
I guided Reaper towards the alley, careful not to lose sight of the target. In a matter of moments, the trio turned to head down the darker side street loomed ahead—perfect. My pulse raced as I signaled to Reaper. This was not just a hunt; this was a reckless dance with revenge.
The two friends cackled as they eventually went their own ways, leaving the target alone and within reach, oblivious to the storm brewing behind him.
“Hey, man, you lost something?” I called out, my voice veiling my intent with false lightness.
The target turned, narrowing his eyes. The moment of shock flitted across his face as he took in the mask covering everything but my eyes, and time subtly stuttered as his brain registered the forthcoming threat.
“Who the—” he began, but I didn’t wait for him to finish.
With a jerk of my leash, Reaper surged forward, a streak of muscle and fury, instinctively knowing what to do. The world erupted into chaos: the growl of Reaper's indignation fused with my own bubbling rage. The alley was narrow, and the shadows danced wildly as adrenaline coursed through me.
“You want to hurt her?” I growled, feeling Reaper’s warm body at my side, prepared to keep him in check just long enough to get what we needed. “I’m here to show you the consequences.”
I let Reaper go and I lit a cigarette as he tore into the man and dragged him over to the waiting truck. I gave Reaper the command to stop as Hunter and Kellin got out of the truck. They picked up his bloody body and threw him in the bed of the truck on top of a few plastic liners.
I took a moment to catch my breath, the thrill of the encounter still sizzling in my veins.
My heart raced, but it felt good—a reminder that I still had something within me that was alive and responsive.
I crushed the cigarette out against the pavement, and as I glanced down at the writhing body in the back of the truck, I felt a cruel satisfaction swell inside me.
"Nice work, Jax," Hunter grinned, revealing a flash of white teeth against his grim demeanor. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else, but the exhilaration of the moment sparked a rugged energy that brought the edges of his rough features to life. "Reaper did great. We can use that fire."
Kellin climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine, his eyes flicking back and forth between the chaos in the bed and the street ahead. "We’d better move. Cops will come sniffing around here soon. Got enough problems without drawing unwanted attention."
I climbed into the back of the truck with Reaper, the dog's panting breath cutting through the tension.
The target thrashed on the bed, trying to gather his wits among the shock and pain.
I scoffed as I secured my grip on Reaper's collar, keeping him close.
The man was in no position to fight back, yet the sight of him struggling ignited another flash of adrenaline within me.
Kellin turned to me then, his expression hard. "You keep that dog of yours ready. If you let him out more than once, he’ll taste blood, and that just makes him hungry for more. We might need him—"
"I know how to handle my own fucking dog," I snapped, cutting him off, feeling that creeping anger twist within me.
It was difficult to balance the surge of vindication with the protectiveness I felt for Reaper. Yes, he’d been trained to hurt, but it was my responsibility to keep him from losing control entirely. He was too much a part of me now; the weight of that thought bore down on my shoulders.
The truck rolled forward, navigating through the dark streets as my heart thudded in concert with the engine's growl.
We sped past flickering streetlights, shadows stretching along the pavement.
With each bump in the road, the man's groans echoed ominously in the back, a reminder that I hadn’t just captured a target—I had unleashed a whirlwind of retribution.
Pulling into the church parking lot, the familiar building loomed ahead, its shadows shifting gently, beckoning to the remnants of faith and redemption.
But tonight, we were far from saviors; we were just shadows moving through the darkness.
As the truck came to a halt, Reaper seemed to sense the shift in energy.
I slipped off the leash, leaning down to murmur into his fur.
“Ready for a bit of fun, boy?” He responded with an eager nuzzle, fire igniting in his eyes that mirrored my own turbulent resolve.
I stepped out, leaving my doubts behind for the moment, focusing on the task at hand.
The truck bed opened, and the guy thudded against the floor, a whimpering mess who would soon join the chaos of our reckoning.
Fear began to blend with determination, the thrill of justice laced with the ache of uncertainty.
For Scarlett, for Reaper, for everything that had been stolen from us.
As we dragged the man out of the truck and into the church basement, the lights flickered dimly around us, casting long shadows that felt strangely alive—as if the very building was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come.
And amidst it all, I realized that the darkness was no longer just an obstacle; it was a testament to our strength, to the fight we were willing to endure for those we loved.
Tonight, the shadows would give way.