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He followed Dane to the kitchen and couldn’t help but smile when he saw Ripley lying on the floor beneath Dane’s daughter’s high chair. The big dog was trying to lick what looked like baby food off her muzzle but couldn’t quite reach it. Emma had her head craned over the side so she could see the dog and kept dropping more baby food all over the floor and the dog.
“Hey, Ripley,” Gray called and the dog quickly jumped up and came to greet him. Gray wiped the baby food off the dog’s face and let her lick the remnants from his finger. “So what’s the verdict?” Gray asked as he skimmed his hand over the dog’s too thin body.
Dane’s expression darkened at the question but he schooled his features so as not to upset his daughter as he began the task of cleaning up her breakfast. “Lister did a number on her. She’s underweight by about twenty pounds and from the condition of her skin and coat, she’s malnourished too. I was able to get some X-rays last night when Jax brought her home. I counted at least six cracked ribs that had healed over and two fresh ones. You can’t see it because of her fur, but her body is covered in scars which makes me think Lister hit her with something sharp – since the guy runs a scrapyard, it could have been just about anything.”
Gray’s heart broke for the dog. “Any idea how old she is?”
“Between two and three.”
Gray shook his head. “Bastard,” he muttered under his breath.
“At least you got her out of there,” Dane added as he pulled Emma out of the high chair. Gray wasn’t particularly comfortable with taking credit for rescuing the dog but he also knew that anything he said to Dane would make it back to Jax.
“You’ll make sure he doesn’t get her back, right Dane?” Gray asked as he rose to his feet.
Before Dane could answer, the front door opened and Jax walked in. Emma began clapping her hands excitedly and Gray swore he heard her say what sounded like “Papa.”
Jax gave him a quick nod as he strode past and then he was gathering his daughter in his arms.
“Morning, baby girl,” he crooned before leaning down to seal his lips over Dane’s. “Morning,” he said huskily.
The scene was so sweetly domestic that Gray felt his chest constrict and he had to drop his eyes back down to where Ripley was leaning against his leg. A family wasn’t something he’d ever imagined wanting for himself but now…well, now it didn’t matter because it was too late.
“Coffee, Gray?” he heard Jax ask and was surprised to look up and find that it was just the two of them in the kitchen.
“No, thanks,” he said. “I’ve put a call in to my attorney this morning but since he’s on Pacific time, he probably won’t be getting back to me for a bit. He’ll want to be present when I’m questioned.”
Jax studied him for a long moment as he sipped his coffee. “That won’t be necessary,” he finally said. “Lister won’t be pressing charges. He’s also relinquished ownership of the dog so you can take her home.”
Gray couldn’t hide his shock. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Jax’s knowing gaze was making him uncomfortable so he turned to leave but he only made it a couple of steps before curiosity overcame him and he turned back. “How?”
Jax seemed to know what he was talking about because he said, “I had a long chat with Lister this morning.” Jax’s demeanor was so calm and relaxed that it had Gray on edge. “I suggested he might want to rethink pressing charges and that maybe owning any kind of pet in the future wasn’t a great idea.”
Gray would have smiled at that if he hadn’t been so preoccupied with what Jax wasn’t saying. “Why?”
If the one word questions bothered Jax, he didn’t show it. But he also didn’t answer, so Gray said, “For Dane?” It was the only reasonable explanation. No way would Jax have gone to bat for Gray – it just didn’t compute. The man hated him.
“No, not for Dane,” Jax said as he refilled his coffee. “Why don’t you stay for some breakfast, Gray?”
“Um, I’ve got to get back,” Gray said. He’d like to think the excuse was about Luke but in truth, the conversation with Jax was fucking with his head. The guy was being too nice and that always meant one thing…he wanted something. “Thanks,” Gray mumbled as he turned to leave.
“Gray.”
Gray stiffened and forced himself to turn around. Here it was – the favor, the request…whatever it was that Jax wanted in return for his assistance.
“Next time, have your story straight before you take the blame for something,” Jax said softly. “The speed limit on the road going past Lister’s place is 55 – no way you would have heard that dog from your truck at that speed.”
Heat went through Gray. So Jax had known all along. And he hadn’t called him out on the lie…
Gray wasn’t sure if he managed a nod or not as he turned and left the house. Ripley followed him without any prompting which was strangely comforting since he’d already found himself getting attached to the dog. Only problem was, he was getting attached to the dog’s new owner just as quickly.
* * *
Luke heard the truck approaching but only glanced up from the hole he was patching on the roof long enough to confirm it was Gray’s. He wasn’t surprised when there was no greeting this time around – just the slamming of the front door. It was exactly what he deserved considering his behavior the night before. If he’d had any sense, he would have tried to explain to Gray the abject fear that had gone through him when he’d heard the car rolling up Gray’s driveway last night. He hadn’t even had time to consider how he’d been found because his first thought was to protect the man who’d offered him sanctuary. His next thought had been about escape. And then Gray had gone and done it again – asked him to trust him for the second time. Hiding had gone against every one of Luke’s instincts but he’d done it anyway. And then that fucking lie about the dog had spilled from Gray’s lips and the combination of shock and anger that had rolled through Luke had him stepping around the doorframe and into the kitchen. He’d locked eyes with the cop instantly and hadn’t missed the way the man’s hand had gone to his gun. He also hadn’t missed the look of fear on Gray’s face when he’d seen Luke.
