That damn fighting dog of the prez was still here, Max. I think that’s what she’d named him.
I squinted at the dog, which had its head lowered, staring at my hand on Taryn’s neck. “She was mine first, so you can cut that shit out.”
He tilted his head at me in question.
“That’s right, she wasminefirst. We’re going to have to come to an understanding, or you’re going to come up missing.” I raised an eyebrow.
I ran a hand through my hair and sat back slightly, trying to think.
My head didn’t feel right. There wasn’t exactly pain, more like pressure. It was almost as if something inside it was… expanding.
And everything around me was too loud and too sharp.
“How long was I down?” I murmured, looking at the dog.
He yawned, then lowered his head to Taryn’s lap.
“Fine. Don’t answer me.” I pushed myself to my feet, then swayed slightly, and grabbed the edge of the mattress to steady myself.
Max stood suddenly, his body going rigid, head low, eyes locked on the door.
“What is it?” I cocked my head.
A dull thud echoed down the hallway.
Then another. Much closer this time.
Max froze. Ears forward. His growl was back and infinitely more threatening.
“Yeah…” I muttered. “I hear it.”
Another slam. This one was much louder than the first.
Shit. The sick people locked in that room must have changed and were trying to bust out.
I grabbed Taryn’s bat that was leaning next to my bed and stuck my pistol in the waist of my jeans. Lifting Taryn, I put her on the bed and tucked the covers around her.
“Hold on, Fox. I’ll be right back.” I whispered in her ear, then kissed her forehead.
Max jumped on the bed to lie at her feet.
“Good dog.” I reached to scratch his head, and he snapped at me.
Now it was my turn to growl, but the big mutt didn’t seem the least bit intimidated.
Seeing the dresser pushed in front of the door gave me pause.
I glanced at Taryn. “What happened while I was out?”
Of course, there was no answer.
Pushing the dresser out of the way as quietly as I could, I stepped cautiously into the hallway and shut the door firmly behind me.
The smell hit immediately.
Blood.
Rot.
