Chapter Forty
Rob was sitting on our stoop looking grim when we got back to the house. It was two hours before dawn. “Carly’s been murdered. A witness described a male coming out of Carly’s driveway. The description fit Antoine perfectly. I’m sure he wanted to be identified, otherwise he would have escaped using vamp speed. Carly was beaten and drained. Samson was knocked unconscious.”
Garrett reached out for my hand. “Have you called her family?” he asked, draping his arm around my shoulders when he felt me start to tremble.
“Yes. They’ve asked me to tell you the service will be held at Trinity Chapel on Sunday evening.”
“Is the rest of the team safe?”
“Yes, I’ve given everyone else a heads up. They’re all staying the night with Peter and Kyle. Fortunately, their house is warded.” Rob looked toward the SUV. “However, there’s another rather large problem needing immediate attention.”
“What?” Garrett
“Samson doesn’t get along with anyone except you, Jackie. Carly’s family doesn’t want him and he doesn’t like me either. I don’t want to take him to the pound.”
“I’ll take him.” I looked at Garrett pleadingly as tears continued to chase each other down my cheeks. He dabbed at them gently with his shirttail.
“Yes, we can take him. He seems to tolerate me fairly well and no dog can resist Liam. Carly would be happy to know Jackie has him. Not too sure about me, though.” He shook his head sadly.
“She’d want him to be cared for. He’ll be happy here with us. Where is he?” I glanced around.
“In my truck.” Rob tossed me the keys. Samson started to whine pitifully as soon as I got close.
I could hear Garrett’s angry tone as he spoke to Rob. “This is obviously part of Eleanor’s strategy. She wants to break our concentration before the duel. Also, Antoine got a good dose of two-hundred-year-old shifter blood.” Garrett was pacing back and forth. “I don’t think there’s much we can do about it. It’ll be up to Jackie to avenge Carly.”
They both looked at me with concern as I walked back holding Samson by his leash. “Do you think he needs a vet?” I couldn’t see any obvious wounds as I crouched to give him a hard squeeze around the neck. His enormous tongue laved my cheek. I giggled, which was totally inappropriate, but neither of the guys seemed to think so.
“No, he wasn’t hurt. The big brute has a hard head. But he’s going to miss her terribly.” The renewed vision of Carly beaten and drained brought on another crying spell in Garrett’s arms while Samson lay at my feet, his huge head resting on his paws. Rob returned to his car and brought out Samson’s bowls, food, blanket, and toys, and carried them to our door. We filed in and Rob put Samson’s few possessions on the floor in the living room.
“I’ll call you in the afternoon. I’m sorry you had to hear about Carly like this.” Rob left, his face tired and drawn.
We put water in one of Samson’s bowls and a little dry food in the other and left them in the kitchen. Garrett and I decided to let Samson sleep in my room this morning, thinking he might be more comfortable if he wasn’t alone. We laid his blanket on the floor by the foot of my bed and put one of his toys near it. He settled in and seemed to make himself comfortable, although his eyes looked so sad. We left a note for Liam explaining about the dog and that I would probably not make my lesson at nine. I changed into pajamas and dragged Garrett into bed with me, desperately needing to cuddle up and feel safe in his arms while we mourned the loss of a gentle spirit.
Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series Page 40