Page 9 of Chaos & Carnage

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“You eaten today?”

She shook her head. “I forgot.”

“You forgot to eat?”

She nodded; her eyes still fixed on my t-shirt. I nudged her backwards, my fingers still wrapped around her wrist, my hand relaxing from around her waist.

“How have you forgotten to eat?”

“It’s been hectic. Lots to do. I’m fine. Really. I’m going to pack up here and then I’ll go get something to eat.”

“Promise?” I don’t know why I cared.

But I needed a vet to look after this dog. That’s why I cared. Because Kinobi staying alive was in the hands of a well-fed vet.

Alice nodded. Silent acquiescence. Or so I hoped.

“Ok. Well, I’ll let you get finished up here and go get your tea.”

She nodded again, her pale blue eyes pinning me to the spot. Inside my jacket, my mobile vibrated.

“Gotta go, Alice,” I mumbled as I pulled the black handset free and glanced at the flashing display with my brother’s name on it.

“Cade?” she called out to my back, stopping me in my tracks. “If you’re coming by tomorrow night, could you ring the number on the front of the building? It’ll come straight to my phone. My heart can’t take another fright like tonight.”

She offered me an apologetic smile. It was uncertain, unconfident, and it was the best fucking thing I’d seen all night.

*****

“Where you been?” Caleb muttered from alongside me as we sat in a booth in theDog.

“Went to check on Kinobi.”

“She doing ok?”

I shrugged. “She’s still alive. Other than that, I don’t really know. Too early to tell. Al…the vet said she could still get an infection. It’s early days. Anyone heard how Demon’s doing?” I changed the subject swiftly.

“Suzy said he’s awake. But sore. Risk of infection, and they don’t know how much damage it’s done to his bowel.” Magnet ran his fingers down the condensation clinging to the side of the pint glass he cuddled.

“Fuck. And where is Suzy?” I asked, glancing around at the brothers that packed out theDog on the Tyneonce again.

“Home. She’s been feeling sick all day. Every little smell is turning her stomach. Said she couldn’t cope with all you lot.”

“Suzy saying we all smell?” Caleb complained.

“Aye mate. The great unwashed. The lot of yas.”

The pub suddenly hushed, every voice filtering to a whisper, every head turning, every set of eyes on Indie as he stalked through the building. And everyone he passed silently fell into line, every one of us filtering from our seats and through the door behind the bar, filing into the huge room above.

“How’s Demon?” Big Red’s booming voice took over the room.

“In and out of consciousness. They’ve removed the bullet and stopped the bleeding, but there’s a big infection risk. And now the police are all over it.”

“Shit,” Big Red cursed.

“I’ve got the bullet from the dog.” I dangled a plastic bag in the air.