I nodded before hunkering down in front of Lord and grabbing the sides of his neck gently. “Go with Scooby and be a good boy.” I kissed his head, then handed Scooby his leash. “You can release the leash once you’re outside. He won’t go far. He knows to do his thing and then come right back.”
“I’ve got him,” he promised.
“Maybe I should wait here.”
“Get,” Scooby ordered, but smiled, softening his order. He leaned down and kissed me, then stroked my cheek. “I’ve got him, baby.”
“Okay,” I whispered, before heading up the stairs to my apartment and locking myself in.
* * *
Scooby
I watched Rowan ascend the stairs, then waited until I heard my brothers’ pipes before walking out the door with Lord, heeling perfectly beside me.
Rocky gave me a chin lift as he walked toward me, Sundance’s son, Orion, behind him. Tango brought up the rear, and to say I was surprised to see him would be an understatement.
“Didn’t see anyone while we were ridin’ in,” Rocky said. “Wrath and Jekyll are doin’ a perimeter search.”
“Jekyll doesn’t need to do shit,” I hissed. “Neither does Wrath. What the fuck are they doin’ here, anyway?”
As far as I was concerned, both Jekyll and Wrath could jump off a highway overpass. Together. They were the reason my brother was dead, after all.
“They’re stayin’ out of your way,” Rocky said.
I scowled, but unfortunately, I wasn’t drunk enough to tap into the rage that was so easy to draw on after a few shots of bourbon.
“Who’s this?” Orion asked, approaching Lord.
“Rowan’s dog.” I instinctively tightened the leash, but I shouldn’t have bothered. Orion charmed everyone and everything and had Lord on his back within seconds.
“Who’s a good boy?” Orion crooned, running his hands over the dog’s belly. “What’s his name?”
“Lord,” I said.
Rocky chuckled. “Seriously?”
Before I could respond, Lord was on his feet and growling.
“Settle,” I ordered, gathering up his leash as Jekyll walked out from behind the trees, dragging one guy with his hands zip-tied behind his back. Wrath followed closely behind with another. However, his prize was out cold and over his shoulder.
Wrath dumped his guy on the ground, and he let out a cry of pain as his shoulder hit the pavement. “What the hell?”
Wrath shoved his foot in his neck and snarled, “I’d highly suggest you shut the fuck up.”
“Were these the same guys givin’ Rowan’s cook issues?” Jekyll asked.
“No,” I said, and frowned. “Did you ask them who they were, or just swing first?”
“We asked.” Jekyll grinned. “Once.”
“You’re messing with the wrong people,” the guy on the ground warned.
Wrath kicked him again. “Jesus, do you have a death wish or are you just stupid?”
“What’s going on?”
I turned to find Rowan standing just outside the door, wearing thin pajamas, fluffy slippers and no fuckin’ jacket.