Page 35 of Broken Moon

The pup looked around two yearsold, maybe a little older, and I was willing to bet he’d spent his entire lifeon a chain.

I remembered his incessantbarking when I’d arrived the night before, and honestly, I believed he’dsmelled my wolf and had been calling out to me.

I unwrapped the bacon sandwich,tore it into small bits, and hand fed him until he’d gulped the sandwich down,and then wished I hadn’t eaten the other one. Poor little guy, I could see hewas still hungry. I crumpled the bag and stood, then stared down at him.Dammit. If Short would give him to me, I could find him a great home.

The dog yelped and hurried tohide behind the tree when the back door of the house was yanked open and a manstomped out onto the tiny back porch, his cell phone in his hand. “If you’re afucking reporter, the fucking kid was in the house on the next street. I’m sickof you assholes walking onto my property like—”

I held up a hand. “I’m not areporter. I’m here to talk about Jessie.”

He shut his mouth, opened it,then narrowed his eyes and walked down the steps, advancing on me slowly. Whenhe stood right in front of me, he gazed at my lips before taking a leisurelytrip down my body. He paused on my blade before lifting his stare to my ownbored and not at all intimidated stare.

I lifted an eyebrow. “Finished?”

He flushed, and I didn’t missthe way he clenched his fist. “What do you want?”

“Jessie tells me you’re makingtrouble for her and her new baby.”

He slid his cell into hispocket without taking his stare from mine. He sneered and crossed his arms. “Yeah?None of your business. That’s my kid and if the whore thinks she can leave,she’s not taking it with her.”

I really didn’t need any moreproof that this man was an asshole. “You don’t care about the kid, though, doyou, Trevor? You just care about teaching Jessie a lesson.”

“You need to get the fuck offmy property before I call the cops, bitch.”

I laughed. “You’re not going tocall the cops. You’re high right now. Also, I checked. You’ve been in sometrouble with the law, haven’t you?” Complete lie, but I was nearly certain thatat some time in his adult life, Trevor Short had jumped over the line andgotten caught. I stepped into his space and got in his face. “No? Then go aheadand call the cops,bitch.”

He backed down, like any bullywould when confronted with a challenge. “I’m leaving this shit city. Alreadygot my house packed up. One week, and I’m out of here.” He was back on theporch now. “And I’m taking the brat with me. It’s up to Jessie if she wants tocome or not, and you can tell her that.”

Even if a judge didn’t awardhim full custody, he was bound to get visitation, or even shared custody. And Ibelieve Jessie. This was absolutely the type of man who would beat his wife,his kid, and…

I glanced down when I feltsomething pushing against my leg. And a dog. Yes, he would beat a dog.

I jogged toward the porch. “CanI come in?”

He turned to face me, surprised,his hands loose at his sides. Once more his stare flashed over my body, andthen he stepped inside and held the door open, waiting for me. “That’s a good idea.Come in. We can talk about it.”

After I was inside, I watchedhim stick his head out the door and dart it to the left, then to the right,scanning the area for witnesses. Idiot.

The dog began barking.

Trevor took a second to yell atit to shut up before slamming the door and turning the lock, then facing mewith a whole different attitude than he’d had in the yard.

“You really shouldn’t come intoa strange man’s house alone, you know,” he said.

I smiled. “I’m not the one indanger, Trevor.”

He hesitated, then took anotherstep toward me. “You’re a brave one, I’ll give you that. Why are you in myhouse, hmm? You want something.”

“You’re right. I do wantsomething.”

“Drugs?” he asked. “Money? I’llgive you twenty for a blowjob.” His laugh was low, contemptuous, and mean.

“It’s really simple, Trevor. Iwant you to agree to leave town tonight, and I want you to never think ofJessie or her baby again.”

He put a finger to his chin andpretended to think. “You have five thousand bucks? I’d do it for that.”

“I want you to do it out of thekindness of your heart.”

“No kindness in this heart.” Hethumped his chest. “If you’ve got no money, I’ll have to think of somethingelse to seal the deal.”