Page 88 of Thaddeus

“Wife.”

“Come again?”

Ace wasn’t married.

There was a knock at the door cutting off Gumby’s much-needed explanation. “That should be Faith or Declan,” he said and started for the door.

After Gumby’s bombshell, I’d almost forgotten Declan and Faith were both on their way. Faith had arranged the meeting, suggesting that it take place at Sidney and Gumby’s because there was work being done on the shelter she owned. Thanks to another generous donation, Faith was adding more playrooms to help the pit bulls she rescued.

Speaking of pit bulls, I remembered Gumby had adopted one, Hannah, but I hadn’t seen her. My gaze went around the room, noting the empty crate and numerous dog toys, and finally landed on the two women on the deck. Emerson was sitting on the wooden planks with her hand outstretched petting the dog’s head while Hannah sniffed her hair and licked her face.

I was so enthralled watching my woman, wondering if I should ask Faith if she had dogs that were ready for adoption, I hadn’t heard anyone enter the room.

“Oh, good, Sidney is occupied.” Faith’s statement pulled me from my thoughts and I turned to face her.

Declan had arrived as well, and he didn’t make me wait long before he started in with his snarky comments. “I see that woman is going to be the death of you.”

“What?”

“So wrapped up in watching her, you didn’t hear us come in. And, brother, we were not quiet. In my head I killed you ten times before Faith spoke and pulled your lovesick, fool head out of your rectum and you realized you had company.”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, friend. I’m sure we can arrange for a personality transplant and you can find a woman for yourself,” I returned.

“Thanks, but that’s a hard pass for me. Besides, the way you morons are dropping, someone’s gonna have to stand guard since you’re all turning soft.”

I wanted to explain to him that the last thing Emerson did was make me soft, but there was a lady in our presence and I had better manners than that.

“Why’s it good Sid’s occupied?” Gumby asked, cutting off our banter.

“Because I don’t want to worry her. I know she agreed there’d be no more vigilante business and I trust her when she says that, but I also know she cares too deeply not to stress. So I don’t want her to know about this.”

Gumby’s body jerked and he was strung tight when he inquired further. “Know about what?”

“I had an anonymous tip come in yesterday. I searched around and I believe it’s credible. There’s a breeder up in Long Beach, he’s known as a puppy mill, but apparently he’s been trading his litter runts to dog fighters as bait dogs.”

“Trading?” Declan asked.

“That’s what the person said. He trades his runts for his buy-in to fight his dogs.”

“What’s a buy-in?” I asked.

“Some fighting rings make the participants pay the host of the fight. Some call it the house fee. There’s no set of rules every group follows. But it can be a hundred dollars, or the buy-in could be five thousand, or there could be none, it all depends on how high the stakes are and the caliber of dogs,” Faith explained.

“What do you need from us?” Declan asked.

“There’s a fight scheduled tomorrow night here in San Diego. The breeder from Long Beach will be there. I was hoping you could—”

“Yes,” Declan answered before Faith could finish.

The older woman’s lips tipped up and she flashed a knowing smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“No, you knew he’d say that.” I chuckled.

“Not a word of this to my woman,” Gumby instructed. “Faith is right, this information will stress her out. We have less than a month until the wedding and I want her focused on that and finishing the remodel on the house. I swear, if she catches wind and bends my ear, which will stress me out and piss me off, I’m gonna start revoking wedding invitations.”

“Copy that.” I chuckled.

“Great. Now that that’s settled, grab a beer and head to the deck. I’ll start the grill,” Gumby commanded.