Chapter 35
“VIOLENT” BY CAROLESDAUGHTER
Leaning back against the building, I watched my stupid dog run happily around the large, fenced-in field behind my work. There were other dogs outside with him, but my attention always found its way back to the goofy Doberman.
He bit my father protecting us. As much as I didn’t want a dog, I’d had him for a few years and never saw him bite anyone to defend us. I guess it made sense now that he was bonded with Estelle and me, though I didn’t like it. I didn’t like him feeling on edge in our home.
Last night, he paced my daughter’s bedroom and refused to leave when I put her to bed. I trusted he knew something I didn’t, so I left him there and kept a close eye on the cameras as I did homework.
“He’s not aggressive.”
I pressed my lips together and looked to the back door, where Amanda was leaning against the banister. She smiled at me, but I shook my head and kept my eyes peeled on the dogs.
“Quinn, dogs bite. It’s what they do when they feel threatened,” Amanda tried to reassure me.
It was stupid of me to come up here the next day with questions about aggressive dogs. I had thrown Lukas in a muzzle three sizes too small and kept him on a tight leash, only for her to release him into the back with her own dogs to show me there wasn’t a single thing she could see wrong with him.
Amanda didn’t know the entire situation. I told her some guy in our family was being pushy with my daughter and when I stepped in, Lukas had bitten him and refused to let go. She was alarmed at first and offered to evaluate him, but it didn’t take long for her to dismiss my worries.
I got she was the dog trainer. She was certified and worked with all sorts of dogs, but I never imagined I’d be here, begging her to give me something negative about Lukas. Then again, I thought he’d lash out and bite me or Estelle before my father.
“He’s a good dog, protecting you. He’s well mannered, has great recall, never forgets a command,” she continued, stepping down the stairs. “Why don’t you believe he’s good?”
“He was trained to kill. When I—” I looked down and sighed. Amanda knew I was here for probation, and if I gave her too much, something might slip during her weekly calls with my probation officer. “My father gave him as a gift to me after I got out. Papa believed in old school protection.”
“I get that, but—” Amanda shrugged and motioned to Lukas as he rolled over and let two other dogs sniff at him.
“He’s a good boy. Just because he was raised to be a fighter does not mean he needs to be.
Not all dogs are bad just because they make bad choices.
Some dogs make bad choices because the world is bad to them. ”
Amanda shot me a look with a teasing smile.
I rolled my eyes and looked away. She always had some shitty, uplifting speech to give me. Sometimes, I wished she’d just shut up and teach me how to train these dogs. Then I’d get out of picking up dog poop and scrubbing kennels a little longer.
I’d worked here for the past few months, completed most of my community service.
It seemed excessive, all these hours to give back to the community that turned its back on me the moment I got pregnant.
I’d probably stay working here afterward if I could.
I couldn’t afford to launder money from jobs within the mob, but I’d have to learn.
Every hit got a payment. Estelle’s safety was important to me, but I secretly hoped if I had to take out Sally, it would be worth it. I wanted to prepare in case Estelle and I had to run.
It might be wrong of me to believe my grandfather, but my deduska had a heart. I wouldn’t put it past him if he honored his promise or tossed me to the curb the second he could. Only time would tell.
Rules and oaths never applied to those who ruled. They should have, but they didn’t. The kings on top only made rules to control those below them and ensure we would forever be submissive.
“I have a client coming within the hour.” Amanda’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Bite case with high aggression, according to the father. Do you mind meeting them out front? I’ll put the dogs up. Just take Lukas to the back with you.”
“Alright,” I agreed and pushed off the building.
Calling Lukas in with no trouble, I waited by the door for him to fly up the stairs. He still had a ball in his mouth, wiggling around and prancing the halls as I guided him to his kennel in the employee break room.
There were a few other dogs here. Amanda brought her three German Shepards every day, Sam had his golden retriever, Cynthia’s old fart of a Yorkie slept literally all day, and Max’s Great Dane puppy had everyone drooling over his big eyes and long ass legs.
It was nice of Amanda to let them stay at the Barkin’ Babe while we worked.
I never even considered bringing Lukas regularly until recently, seeing how happy it made him to play with the others.
Even if he was just some stupid dog, I liked seeing him happy.
I locked Lukas in his kennel with a bone and tossed the ball in the used toys bin. Cynthia was in there, feeding her Yorkie, Connie, so I had the pleasure of being growled at by that toothless shit before heading up front to wait for Amanda’s next client.
There was a chart up front with the lists of incoming clients, meetings, and intake forms. Surprisingly, Amanda hadn’t filled out much on the upcoming dog besides a name.
Scrabble.