Page 94 of Taking the Pitch
“Perfect.”
We work together, tying the man’s hands and securing them to his feet, making it impossible to escape.
“Watch him. Just to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere, will you? I need to check on my girl.”
Jake gives me a nod and stands over the man, arms crossed.
I move around the back of Amelia’s car and see her and Eric crouched next to Bruno a few feet away in an empty parking spot.
“He needs a vet now. He’s losing a lot of blood,” Eric tells Amelia. She’s on her knees, leaning over Bruno’s head, petting him and whispering to him.
“There’s one a few blocks away, right?” I ask, crouching down next to them.
Amelia looks up at me and nods. “That’s his regular vet.”
“Let’s go, we’ll take my car. Mills sit in the back. I’ll lay Bruno’s bed in the back next to you and you can keep pressure on his wounds.”
Amelia should see a doctor too, but we need to get Bruno help first.
Running back to my Jeep, I pull it forward next to where Bruno is. We make quick work of setting Amelia in the back and Eric, and I maneuver Bruno into the back next to her, trying not to hurt him more.
Sirens sound off in the distance, and I look at Eric and John. “Tell the cops we had to take Bruno to the vet.” I grab a paper and pen out of my console and quickly write down my number, handing it to Eric. “Give them my number and tell them to call me.” Eric nods and I get back into the driver’s seat, looking in my rearview at Amelia, who is pale even in the dim light. “Hang on, Shortcake. We’ll be there soon,” I tell her, taking off out of the garage and going as fast as I can the few blocks to the vet’s office.
Praying the whole way there, Bruno makes it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
amelia
As soon asthe tech’s take Bruno back for emergency surgery, it starts.
The shaking.
The racing thoughts.
The uncontrollable heart rate.
“I, I can’t breathe,” I manage to get out before the room spins around me.
Strong arms keep me from face planting on the floor, guiding me to the nearest chair. Judd squats down in front of me, taking my face between both his hands. I stare into his eyes that are the shade of my new favorite color. “Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it,” he whispers.
“I can’t,” I choke out.
“You can. Breathe with me. In,” he says, inhaling a deep breath through his nose. I do the same, forcing air into my lungs.
“Good. Now, out through your mouth.” His voice is low and soft. He slowly releases his breath, and I copy him.
We repeat the process over and over until I can feel my heart rate slow, but my body still shakes from a mixture of adrenaline and anxiety.
Judd’s thumb traces a path back and forth over my cheeks. I grab onto his wrists, trying to anchor myself. “I can’t lose him, Judd,” I croak, my throat raw. The pain in my body increases now that the adrenaline rush has worn off. My shoulder screams at me. My knees burn and I look down to see my leggings torn and scratches litter my legs, dried blood coating the skin. But I can’t leave Bruno. Not yet. Not until I know he’s okay.
“You won’t.”
“How do you know? There was so much blood, Judd. Too much.”
“He’s a fighter, Mills. He’s going to fight to stay with you.”
“Will you stay with me? I know there are things we need to talk about but–”
