Red blurred before his eyes. He was gonna strangle her. “Are you kidding me right now? If I was someone else, I could’ve shot you! You look like a fucking burglar. You’re stealing a dog from someone’s house, a serious crime, and you’re concerned about who tipped me off?”
Her lower lip trembled. “I had to. I came back just to check again. I swear I was careful! I found her right away, lying in the mud. She’s severely traumatized, and if I didn’t get her out in time, she’d die.”
Stone swallowed. Dragged in another breath. Calm. He needed to be calm. “You could’ve called me! Or the animal shelter, or the abuse hotline, or something! You broke the law. You cannot go sneaking onto someone else’s property and kidnap their dog!”
“Calm down,” she hissed. “Lower your voice or someone will hear you. Besides, you’re scaring Pinky.”
Stone shook his head, sure he heard wrong. “You did not just fucking say that to me. I’m the police. I have to call this in and arrest you for kidnapping. Do you understand how bad this is? And what if someone else had found you? My God, does anyone else know about this crazy plan you concocted?”
“No. I’m the one who decided to take Pinky. No one else.”
Pinky? He would’ve called it Rat Fink, the creature was so ugly. As little as the thing was, Stone still didn’t want to get near it in case it broke out from its trance and bit the hell out of him. He’d heard little dogs were just as vicious as the big ones. He fought a shudder.
He would’ve bet she’d shrink back, apologize, and kiss his ass. Instead, she did what she did best. Annoy the crap out of him and challenge him to the teeth.
“Why are you here? You’re suspended! Did you just decide to stroll the neighborhood or are you following me?”
He shot her an amazed look. “You have got to be kidding me right now! Like I have nothing better to do than follow you to your yoga classes and monitor your criminal dog activity? I was getting myself some damn donuts and figured I would do you a favor and check the place out. I told you to wait for Devine.”
“Donuts at this hour? More fast food, Stone? Do you know what sugar does to your body late at night?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? Changing the subject to foods that cause stress is not the way to calm me down right now, woman!”
“Use your breathing exercises like I taught you. Besides, I don’t think you’re an idiot. I think you’re extremely smart.”
He groaned and rubbed his face, trying to make sense out of the whole nutty situation. “Yeah, flattery will get you everywhere now.” What the hell to do? He better move fast before someone else came. “Put the dog back and get in the car,” he finally said. Stone knew it was a stretch, but maybe he could pretend he didn’t find anyone on the property. The dog wouldn’t tell. Yeah, he’d save her ass and then ream her big-time.
“No. I can’t leave her.” Uh-oh. Her usually serene face turned fierce, and she had the nerve to jab her finger in the air at him. “If you make me put her back, she’ll die. Can you live with that?”
“Yes. Get in the car.”
“No.” Her jaw set. “You can arrest me, but I’m not leaving Pinky.”
A vicious curse escaped his lips. The muscle in his eye ticked with fury. “Okay, now I’m pissed. If I arrest you, you’ll have a record. Charges will be brought against you. You’ll be written up in the Verily paper, and the dog will be returned anyway. Everyone loses. Do you understand? Now get your ass in the car!”
Then it happened.
His worst nightmare came true.
Her entire body shook and tears filled her eyes. “Please don’t do this.” Her voice broke. “Please let me save her. I’ll do anything. I can’t leave her behind.”
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Even though he hadn’t known her for long, Stone sensed she didn’t fake tears. No, this woman didn’t cry easily or use emotion for manipulation. Genuine distress and fear was written on her face, but it was for the rat fink dog rather than herself. She probably didn’t care if she went to jail and lost her job. She just wanted the dog to be safe.
A headache pounded at his temples. Think. If he decided on his next course