Passing the Torch (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 1)

Chapter Twelve

Reva

The hum of the buzzers grated on my nerves.

“We are never drinking on a weeknight again, Tucker.”

Tucker looked up at me with his big brown eyes. His tail wagged, and he licked his lips. The pretty little sheltie was such a good boy, and he was putting up with me complaining to him. Not like he could tell me to shut up or anything, but he really seemed to be listening.

Hero had woken me up at eight thirty with a steaming cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich. The smell of the bacon made my stomach roll, but I knew I needed to eat something. I had managed to choke down half of the sandwich and the coffee as I dragged my butt out of bed and got ready for work.

Thankfully, Hero kept the talking to a minimum and didn’t bust my balls about being so hungover. Though his eyes sparkled with laughter, and I knew he thought it was pretty damn funny when I had tried to put lip gloss on and instead grabbed my mascara. I had wiped off the smear of mascara from my lips and decided I wasn’t capable of putting on any makeup. I managed to get dressed without putting my underwear on my head and my shoes on my feet.

He had driven me to work and promised to be back at five to pick me up to take me out to dinner.

Tucker was my last dog for the day, and I was waiting for my second wind to hit me.

The bell dinged above the door, and I assumed it was Hero.

“Hey!” I called.

“Well, hey there,” a female voice called.

I glanced over my shoulder, surprised that it wasn’t Hero. “Greta?”

She slid her sunglasses on top of her head and smiled. “You mean you remember me?”

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t that drunk last night.” At least at the bar I hadn’t been. When I had gotten off the motorcycle, that was when the booze had really hit me. Thankfully, Hero had been the only one to see that.

“Honey, you were drinking those amaretto’s like they were water.” She leaned against the front counter. “Cute pup.”

I petted Tucker’s head. He was pretty adorable. “He says thank you.”

“Oh,” Greta laughed. “You’re one of those people.”

“Uh, excuse me?” What did she mean? I simply conveyed what Tucker thought.

“You speak for them. I bet you talk to them, too.” She raised her hands. “Nothing wrong with it. I do it when I’m examining them.”

“Look at this face,” I cooed. “You can just see that he says thank you for saying he’s cute.”

Greta laughed. “I don’t think anyone could say you didn’t like your job.”

I finished grooming Tucker’s hind end and grabbed a brush. “I enjoy what I do,” I replied simply.

“You about done?” she asked.

I glanced at the clock. “Uh, maybe ten minutes more. His owner should be here soon. Why?”

“I’m your ride, sweet cheeks. I have orders to take you out to dinner, make sure you don’t drink too much, and then deposit you at your house.”

“Uh, what?” Hero had said he was going to do all of that. Well, at least picking me up and taking me out to dinner. I could make sure that I didn’t drink too much. Two nights in a row was not my style.

“Something came up, and he had to take of

f. He thought he would be home in time but he called me and asked me to pick you up.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Greta’s taxi service at your disposal.”

But what hadn’t Hero told me?