Chapter Thirty-One
Raven rested herhead on Muerto’s shoulder as they drove home from the restaurant. Their dinner was delicious, and being with him was always amazing. She couldn’t get enough of him. The night before, she’d told her dad she’d found a wonderful man, and he was so happy for her. She left out the part that Muerto was an outlaw biker, but when her dad met him and got to know him, she’d tell him.
“I had a great time,” she said softly as they approached the duplex.
He kissed the side of her head. “Me too, babe. And I’m gonna show you an even better time in about fifteen minutes.” She giggled.
As they pulled into the driveway, she saw a dog on the front lawn. “That’s Teddy,” she said.
“Who’s Teddy?” A frown crossed his forehead.
“Mrs. Kilpatrick’s dog. She’s always taking him for walks. I think she gets lonely staying in so much.” She got out of the car and went to the front yard. Teddy backed up a few steps, his tail wagging. Muerto came up to her and Teddy started to growl.
“It’s okay, Teddy. He’s with me, and even though he looks rough, he’s really a big softie.”
“Only with you,” Muerto said.
A shudder went through her as she thought about his words. The truth was that she rarely thought about what he and his club members actually did when they went out on “club business.” Since finding out that he was in an outlaw club, she’d read a ton of articles, watched many documentaries, and read a few memoirs of government agents who’d infiltrated the clubs, and they made her hair stand on end. So she decided to just not think about it. Muerto was so loving and attentive when they were together that she couldn’t imagine him as an outlaw. But every once in a while, when she’d see the hardness in his eyes or see his anger directed at someone, she’d remember what she learned from her research.
Teddy’s barking jerked her back to the moment. “He must’ve broken his leash.” She pointed to the powder blue leather leash dragging behind the dog. “I’m sure Mrs. Kilpatrick must be distraught. I have to bring him back to her.”
“Who is she again?”
“She’s a widow who lives on the next street in the red brick house with yellow trim. Do you see it?” He nodded. “Stay here. I’ll go over to Teddy. He knows me.” In a soft, friendly voice, she coaxed the dog to come to her. When he came over, she snagged his leash and walked back to Muerto. “I’m going to take him home.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said, and she saw his eyes dart to the trees across from them.
They walked up the stairs to Mrs. Kilpatrick’s porch, and Raven rang the doorbell. She waited several seconds, then rang it again. She looked through the window on the side of the door. Lights were on, but there was no sign of Mrs. Kilpatrick. “That’s strange.” She rang the bell another time.
“Maybe she’s out looking for her dog. Let’s take him back to our place and wait for her to come back. Do you have her phone number?”
“I do. I insisted she give it to me. She’s such a nice lady. I know she must be worried about Teddy. She treats him like he’s her son.”
They walked back to the duplex and as they neared the front porch, Teddy ran forward, taking Raven by surprise. She dropped the leash and Teddy ran to the alley. “Teddy, come back!” Raven started to take off after him when Muerto pulled her back.
“He’ll be back. He’s probably looking for his owner.”
“I just don’t want him to get hit by a car,” she said, tears lacing her voice. Then hysterical barking came closer and Teddy rushed over, barking and staring up at her. Before she could grab his leash, he dashed back to the alley, then came back barking. Teddy kept up the pattern for several minutes.
Turning to Muerto, who was checking his phone, she said, “I think Teddy’s trying to tell me something. Maybe Mrs. Kilpatrick fell and she’s hurt.”
He looked up from his phone. “He does seem freaked out. I’ll go look, but I don’t want you staying on the front lawn or porch. You have to go inside and lock the door.”
Before she could argue with him, Walter came out on his porch. “Why does that fucking dog keep barking?”
“He belongs to Mrs. Kilpatrick. Do you know her?” Raven asked. “I think she may be hurt.”
“Never heard of her.” He swiveled to go back inside.
“She lives a few houses down on the next street. You can see her house from here.”
Without looking at her, he growled, “I told you I don’t know the old lady.” Then he closed his front door.
“He’s lying. If he doesn’t know her how does he know that she’s old? Why would he lie about it?”
“I don’t know or give a fuck. Now go in the house and lock the door. I’ll be back.”
“I’m going with you. And before you tell me no, I’m the one Teddy trusts, not you. If you go alone, he’ll just run off.” Teddy kept running to her, then to the alley and back to her, his barking filling the expanse of the neighborhood.
