Keeping Kenzie - Pepper North Page 0,46

and cabinets to make sure everything is packed.” Starting in the master bedroom, she double-checked Osiris hadn’t forgotten anything.

In the back of the closet, she found a sealed cardboard box. Kenzie remembered Osiris accepting the box from a delivery driver. He’d carried it here and tucked it away, explaining that it was a new pair of shoes to take with him to SANCTUM. She set the container on the bed so they wouldn’t forget it.

Each time she walked by it, curiosity got the better of her. Once, she discovered that the label wasn’t from a shoe company but from something called “Special Treasures.” The next time, she noted it had a small crown decoration almost hidden under the tape on each end. The final time, she vigorously shook the box, and it rattled.

“Oh no! I might have broken it. I better make sure it’s okay,” she shared with Lollipop, who woofed his support of this idea.

Setting Cupcake down on the comforter, she carefully opened the carton. Unwrapping the protective wrapping, she found a beautiful box. Kenzie lifted the top to discover a bunch of sparkling jewelry—nothing pricey, but obviously chosen for a Little to play dress-up. The temptation to try them on was irresistible.

“Ooo! Look at these. I’m so glad I started checking to make sure we didn’t leave anything.” She pulled out a glamourous blue necklace and looped it around her neck. “What do you think?”

Lollipop sniffed the necklace and licked Kenzie’s cheek, earning a giggle.

“I like it, too. Look, here’s another. You wear this one!” She looped a glittery purple one around the mastiff’s neck. Kenzie laughed as Lollipop turned in a circle as if modeling for her.

Cupcake looked at her reprovingly. Immediately, Kenzie dug through the box to find a bracelet to fit around his neck. The stuffie looked much happier when she complimented, “You are so handsome, Cupcake!”

Within minutes, all three were wearing several necklaces and bracelets. Kenzie wore a different clip earring on each ear, while Cupcake sported one on his curled tail. “We look so good. Let’s take a picture and send it to Daddy.” She posed them together and snapped a photo.

“Put the phone down, Kenzie,” a familiar voice demanded.

Lollipop growled deep in his throat and moved in front of Kenzie.

Scared, Kenzie looked up to see Dean. He looked bad. Tension etched lines into his overly thin face. “Heel, Lollipop.” She didn’t want the sweet dog to get injured. As she leaned forward to grab his collar, she dropped her phone and heard it thud softly on the carpet.

“W-what are you doing here, Dean?” she demanded.

“I’m here to deal with the problems you’ve created. You’re going to leave a note that you made everything up to frame me, and then you’ll conveniently hang yourself to escape the shame of framing me,” he told her, monitoring the massive beast.

“Lollipop isn’t going to let you hurt me, Dean. Osiris will be back quickly. You should leave.” Kenzie tried to sound brave.

“I can’t leave. They’re going to catch me soon. The only way out is for you to take the blame. Heavens knows no one will miss a cage cleaner at the pet store. Wait, you don’t even do that now, do you?” he sneered.

“My worst decision ever was marrying you.”

“And now you have that black mammoth guarding you,” he taunted.

Kenzie glared at him. She hated Dean now more than ever. How had she been so blind when she fell for him?

“I’m not writing a letter,” she refused.

“Then, I’ll shoot the dog,” he replied, pulling a gun from the back of his waistband.

“That will screw up your story. No one will believe I committed suicide if there’s a bullet in Lollipop.”

“I’ll just take the dog’s body with me and dump it somewhere,” Dean quickly problem-solved. “Tell the dog to stay here, and we’ll lock him in here.”

He backed out of the room after making sure Kenzie would walk forward. She was almost to the door when Lollipop lunged forward. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight. To Kenzie’s horror, Dean aimed at the sweet dog. Acting instinctively, she ran toward Lollipop and pushed her out of the way as she slammed the door shut and locked it.

Holding Cupcake to her pounding heart, Kenzie wrapped one arm around Lollipop to hold him away from the door as Dean pounded on the outside of the door and rattled the doorknob. Her phone was across the room. Unsure whether Dean would shoot through the door, Kenzie froze where