Spike (18 page)

We needed to heal fast.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

* AIDAN *

“And this is Sergeant,” the tall man with grey scraggly hair says. The dog sits at my feet, and looks up at me with his chocolate-brown eyes. His coat is brindle, a mix of chocolate and black. I lean down, and pat on my thighs. “Come on, mate. Let’s have a look at ya.” He jumps up on me, sniffing me, and then gets down and licks my dusty work boots.

“He’s six years old, so still plenty of life left in him. He had a pretty rough start, which is why his ears are a bit worse for wear, but we’re hoping he gets another chance. He’s not the most handsome devil, which is why he tends to get overlooked, but he’s become a bit of a favourite around here.”

He’s strong, and commanding, but seems pretty friendly. On looks, though, if you jumped a fence and landed next to him, you’d be worried what a dog this size would do. He’d have no problems instilling a bit of fear.

“He’s been known to be a bit protective. He didn’t suit the last couple. They were retired, and he used to bark at anybody who popped by. It wasn’t an issue; they just didn’t have the strength to hold him back. They were worried he might attack.”

Perfect.

“I’ll take him,” I say with certainty.

“Great, let’s fill out some paperwork.” After that’s all taken care of and I’ve sorted a kennel, collar and food bowls, we go back to the kennels to get him. This pup is getting another chance, and I’ve always loved an underdog. When it counts, they perform.

“Come on, mate, you’re comin’ home.”

Sergeant could barely sit his arse still in the Ute on the way home. He sat up front with me, as the back was filled with tools. I might just be as excited as him. I can’t wait to see the look on Eevie’s face.

When Eevie gets home, she dumps her bags and keys on the kitchen bench. I do my best to hold back my smile, but by the way she’s looking at me I’m not doing a very convincing job.

“Good day?” she asks, raising her eyebrows as she hooks her arms around my waist. I kiss her softly on the lips, still smiling.

“Yeah, pretty good day. There’s someone out the back that wants to say g’day.”

“Oh? I didn’t see a car out the front.”

“He doesn’t drive.”

“Oh, okay.” I take Eevie’s hand and pull her towards the courtyard sliding door. Sergeant nearly bowls her over with excitement when she opens the door.

“Sit,” I order. He obeys, immediately. Now why the hell couldn’t he do that in the car?

Eevie looks between the dog and I, and then tangles her fingers in knots in front of her chest, like she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
Fuck, please tell me she likes dogs.
Eevie crouches down, and hesitates before stroking him tenderly on the top of his head. “Hey buddy,” she says, and giggles when Sergeant licks her face. “Who do you belong to?”

“He’s ours,” I say like a proud father.

“What? Really, Aidan? I never had a dog,” she says with such excitement. It’s the happiest I’ve seen her in a while. Well, before all this shit started.

“You never had a dog? Are you kiddin’ me? Why not?” I can’t comprehend
not
having one. We always had at least three dogs at the farm, Kelpies mostly.
Every
kid should have a dog.

“Dad didn’t want the responsibility. Not that he was ever around. We would’ve had to do everything anyway.”
What a loser. Who doesn’t let their kid have a dog?

“Well, you do now. Meet Sergeant.”

“Hey there, Sergeant.” Eevie looks up at me. “What made you get him?”

“Bit more security, you know? With all this shit goin’ on, we’ll have someone to keep watch for us. I want you to feel safe, Eevie. I found him on this Adopt-A-Pet website. He’s a bit rough around the edges, but I knew right away he was the one.”

“What kind of dog is he?” she asks, scratching him behind the ears.

“Just be careful of the ears, baby. He had a bit of a hard time when he was a pup, so he’s a bit sensitive with them. They couldn’t really tell me what kind of breed, bit of a mixed bag.”

“He’s just perfect.”

“Yeah. He is.”

“The name’s quite fitting.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I thought that too.” Crouching down, I give Sergeant a scratch under his chin. He huffs a sharp breath out through his nose, and stretches his head back towards his tail. “Speakin’ of cops, can you give me Ryan’s number? I need to call him.”

The smile instantly drops from her face. Maybe during the brief moment of excitement with the dog, she’d forgotten about why we really need him.

“What are you going to say?” she says fishing her phone from her handbag.

“I’m fixing this, and we’re gonna do it right.” And as much as I hate it, Ryan’s the one person who can sort it out.

Eevie scrolls though her phone and hands it to me, with his name on display. “Ryan just wants to help. I’m glad you’re ringing him. This will all work out,” she says, with such confidence. She trusts me to finish this, and I’m not gonna let her down.

“I’m goin’ for a drive, and I’ll call him. I need to get my head straight.”
And as much as I love you, I don’t want you hanging on my every word. I need to do this … alone.

“Sure. I’ll get to know our boy while you’re gone.” She smiles, but it fades quickly.

“Be back soon, baby girl.” I squeeze her tight in my arms and press my lips to hers, tasting her sweet lip-balm.

“See you soon. I’ll fix us up something easy for dinner.”

“No. Relax. I’ll pick up something while I’m out. Just give me an hour or so.”

“Okay. Well, good luck.”

****

A couple of blocks from home, I pull over and dial his number.

“Hey, gorgeous. How you goin’?” he answers.
How dare he call her that? I’ve got a right mind to abuse the fucker.

“Ryan. This is Aidan Stone.” My commanding voice hopefully puts him in his place.

“Oh, hey, man. I’m glad you called.”

“We need to talk about this shit. How and where can we meet?”

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah.”

“In case you’re being followed, let’s make it look as casual as possible. Meet me at that Irish pub in the city. Grab a beer, and sit somewhere in the back.”

“King O’Malley’s?”

“Yep. How soon can you be there?”

The sooner the better
. “Ten minutes.”

“I’ll be there in twenty.”

“See you then.”

“No worries.”

****

I order a light beer, and move to a timber table in the corner. I don’t even feel like a drink, but I see what he’s saying.
Look casual
. What man goes into a dingy pub and orders a coke?

On time, Ryan walks up to the bar and orders a drink. He’s dressed more casually this time, jeans, with a grey hoodie and sneakers. While he waits, he slowly scans the room. His eyebrows raise ever so slightly when he sees me.

He takes his beer, and walks over and sits opposite me. The tables around us are deserted.

“Hey, man,” he says. He’s called me
man
’ too many times now, but I bite down on my tongue.

“Hey.”

“I’m glad you called.”

I take a long sip of my beer and put the frosted glass down. “I’ve decided to meet with him.”

“Okay,” he says, his brow wrinkling as he slowly nods.

“Eevie’s gotta be safe … and we need that tape. If you want him, when you take him down I want her completely out of sight, otherwise I’m not riskin’ it. And I’ll do it without your help if I have to.”

“So you want my help, then?”

Yes, dickface
. Why the fuck would I have called you? To be mates? The way you look at my girlfriend, I don’t know if you and me can be friends. But as proud as I am, I need his help.

“Yep,” I spit out.

If admitting it gets me the help I need, I’ll eat my feelings of contempt. I’ll ignore the way he growled “Hey gorgeous” when he thought Eevie was calling him. But I don’t know if I can forget the way he looks at her, like she’s naked with a fucking ribbon wrapped around her. I should throat-punch him for that shit.

“So what’s the plan?” he asks, and then gulps his beer.

“When they ring Eevie with details of the meet, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright then. I’ll make some calls and get the task force on standby.” Ryan looks down and toys with the corner of the cardboard coaster beneath his glass. He looks up, his brow furrowed. “You’re doin’ the right thing, Aidan. Taking him into custody is gonna have a flow-on effect and we’ll be able to put Operation Briar to bed. I’m not gonna lie to you though, man. This is gonna be dangerous. The odds of getting the tape are slim—“

“I don’t care. I need that fuckin’ tape. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“I get that, but you’re gonna have to play this smart. Follow instructions. It’s for your own safety, and of course, Eevie’s.”

He’s right.

“Deal.”

“Once they’ve made contact, I’ll meet again with you guys. We need to have the game plan nutted out. We can’t afford any mistakes. Until then, keep a low profile. If you need to call me, just be careful not to make contact obvious. Only call me when you’re in the car, or at a secure location. We don’t know how closely they’re watching you, but I’d say given what they’ve got, they’ll be reporting back to him.”

I throw back the last of my beer, and stand up. Ryan does the same. I extend my hand to him, and he shakes: a good, solid handshake.

“Thanks, Ryan.”

“We’ll talk soon.”

I leave the pub, not looking back. The wheels are in motion. This shit is gonna end.

****

When I get home, takeaway dinner in hand, Eevie is curled up on the couch watching TV with Sergeant’s head resting on her lap. When I put the bags down, he looks up at me warily, his ears pricking up.

“Hey, boy,” I say cheerfully.

He lowers his ears, and returns his head to her lap. He knows his role in the family already. Protecting Eevie.
Good boy.

“Everything good, baby?” I ask, handing her back her phone.

“Yeah. I was just enjoying some snuggles. He’s like an electric blanket.”

“Well, save some snuggles for me.”

“Come here,” she whispers, tugging at the bottom of my shirt.

I slide in beside her and drape my arm around her shoulders. I run my hand down Sergeant’s back, and he lets out a deep breath. I guess it’s been a big day for him. He’s family now.

Right now, on this couch, is my own little family. Even if one of us is a damn sight hairier, and smellier. He really needs a bath.

“Can I ask you something?” Eevie says, turning her head to the side.

I nod.

“Can you give dogs mints?”

“What?”
Mints?

“Do dogs eat mints, because this dog’s got some serious breath goin’ on, and I don’t know what you’re supposed to … do.”

What a classic. I should tease the hell out of her, but the sad thing is, if her Dad had let her have a dog, she’d know this shit.

“No, baby. They definitely don’t eat mints. You can buy these denta-bone things. They help with that.”

“Sure,” she says, but her voice chokes. “So, what’s the plan?”

Her eyes are glistening, and I hope to fuck she hasn’t been crying. I’m already cut up, and that’s like rubbing lemon juice into it. My girl, sitting here alone …
crying
.

“When they contact you, we call Ryan. Then we’ll go see him and get the finer details worked out before the meet.”

Eevie’s bottom lip quivers, and she bites down to stop it. “Are we doing the right thing, Aidan?”

I fucking hope so.

I pull her into my chest, and kiss her on top of her head. “It’s gonna be fine,” I promise her. “Come on, let’s eat.”

****

* EEVIE *

On the day we’re expecting
the call
In the middle of getting our groceries, my phone rings. Aidan freezes beside me, as I fumble to answer it.
Blocked number.

“Hello?” I say, fearful of the voice on the other end.

“Miss Lawson, your time’s nearly up. I’m hoping you’ve got good news about my son, or shall I just do something with the tape now?”

“He’s agreed,” I blurt out. I resist the urge to plead for the tape. He knows he’s got me, but I’m not about to be a blabbering mess, begging him for it.

“See. I told ya you were talented. Both of you come to Griffith. I’ll ring you early in the morning and tell you where to meet. And
don’t
forget the money.”

I already have the money in my handbag. And I
hate
it being there, knowing what it represented. Aidan had refused to let me use my money. I didn’t fight him like I normally would about paying for stuff. He needs to do this. Surely we’ll get it back.

“Okay,” I say as I exhale.

“It’s a bit of a drive, so I’d get goin’ if I were you,” he says, his voice growing rougher. The line goes dead.

“What did he say?” Aidan asks, holding my free hand.

“We have to leave tonight, for Griffith. He’ll call us early in the morning to arrange where to meet.”

We abandon our shopping and get straight in Aidan’s Ute.

“I’ll ring Ryan.” He takes my phone and dials.

“Ryan, it’s Aidan. Eevie just got off the phone with him. We need to leave for Griffith … tonight … yeah, he’s callin’ us early for the meet.” Aidan listens for a while, the gear stick in his Ute holding his gaze. He says “uh-huh” a few times before hanging up.

“We’ve gotta go, baby. We’re meeting Ryan at McDonald’s in Yass in half an hour.”

“Can we go home and get some clothes?”

“There’s no time. We need to go. We’ve still gotta work out all the details with Ryan.
He
probably thought he’d spring it on us so we didn’t have the time to involve anyone. Goin’ home will only waste precious minutes we can’t afford.”

“Okay, let’s get this over with.”