Betrayals (Cainsville 4)

The hound stopped. It lifted its eyes to Ricky, and the hope in them was heartbreaking to see.

"Who would do this?" Ricky whispered. "Who would dare...?" He shook his head and crooned, "Come here. It's all right."

I turned off the penlight. The hound started at the click but then crept forward, still belly to the ground, gaze fixed on Ricky's face.

"That's it," Ricky said. "Come on."

The hound crawled closer, good ear pricking forward. Then a car skidded around the corner, tires squealing, music blaring, and the hound wheeled and took off running.

"No!" Ricky shouted. "Come back--"

He ran a few loping paces after the beast, but it disappeared down a side road.

"Fuck," he said, shooting a glower at the car as it sped past. "What the hell happened to that hound? Who would do that?"

Rage pulsed from him, his eyes glowing with it. Rage and indignation, that one of his hounds could be so mistreated. Yes, his hounds. Arawn's hounds. That's what he felt--the fury of Arawn for his beasts.

"Go after it," I said. "It was coming to you. It knows you."

He shook off the idea. "No, it was just--"

"It knows you, Ricky," I said. "At the very least, it recognizes your blood. Go after it, and I'll take care of this."

"You got a mysterious call in the middle of the night," he said, already crossing the road, headed for the drop-in center. "From a freaked-out girl. Remember what happened the last time?"

"She's not a girl."

"Yep, which only makes her more dangerous. The hound can wait. I'll talk to Ioan. See how the hell something like that can happen."

He was pissed off enough that he nearly strode through the front door. It was only when I caught the back of his Saints jacket that he halted.

"Fuck," he muttered. "Sorry. Have you got--?"

"Gun out, switchblade and tusk in pocket."

He nodded and took out his blade.

"We should circle the building," I said as he reached for the knob. "See if the lamia is around."

"Right. Sorry. Distracted."

"I know, so fall in behind and watch my back."

I added a "please," but he was already moving behind me. We conducted a full circle of the building. There was no sign of Melanie or anyone else.

"Before we go in," Ricky said, "text Gabriel, presuming you haven't already."

"I don't want to bother him."

"When he came after you the first time you were here, he texted me so someone knew where you both were. We should do the same."

"I'll leave a message at the office--"

"He didn't ignore your cry for help when you were trapped, Liv. He ignored what he thought was just you trying to get in touch after your fight. He won't do that again, either."

"I know. I--"

"You don't want to be proven wrong. You'd rather tell yourself he'll never repeat that mistake, cross your fingers, and hope you never have to test the theory."