Page 29 of Dolls & Daggers

“Oh my god,” she whispers with a watery rasp. “Baby, what happened to you?”

My heart clenches, skipping a beat as she lifts her gaze to mine.

“Why would you do something like this?”

She’s actually crying now, andfuck—why do I feel so bad?

“It’s just a prank, Dove. You dyed my hair, I just?—”

“He’s an innocent animal!” she cries.

Her face crumples as she buries it in Fang’s rainbow-colored fur. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into this,” she whispers to him, voice breaking.

Her sobs are deep, ragged, and gut-wrenching. Fang whines, his little tongue swiping across her cheek as if to reassure her.

If I felt terrible before, now I feel downright fucking awful.

I hate seeing her cry. It doesn’t just make me uncomfortable—it makes me angry. Angry at myself for being the cause of her tears.

A woman like her shouldn’t be crying because of a bastard like me.

“Dove, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Her head snaps up, eyes blazing as they lock onto mine. “You’resorry? He’s an innocent animal!” she repeats, voice rising. “What kind of monster are you?”

Her breathing turns erratic, her chest rising and falling too quickly. She’s shaking, struggling to get air. My stomach drops.

Shit.

She’s either about to pass out or have a full-blown panic attack.

Alarmed, I gently take Fang from her arms and set him on the floor before gripping her shoulders. “Breathe, Dove. It’s okay. It’s animal-safe dye—otherwise, they wouldn’t have used it. It’ll wash out.”

She doesn’t respond.

I guide her backward, one hand steady on her hip, pushing a chair out of the way before lifting her onto the desk. Smoothing her hair from her damp cheeks, I grip her face gently, forcing her to look at me.

“Dove. He’s okay. You need to breathe. Can you do that for me?”

She stares at me, eyes wild.

I inhale deeply, demonstrating. “In. Out. In. Out.”

Slowly, her breathing evens out. I wipe away her tears, wondering what the hell just happened.

I expected anger.

Not this.

Something about this triggered her, and I want to know why.

“Shh. It’s okay. He’s okay,” I soothe, pulling back as soon as she’s breathing normally.

Seconds later, her fist flies straight into my nose.

Pain explodes across my face. My vision blurs, eyes watering as a metallic tang fills my mouth. I glance down. Blood drips onto my lip, pooling in my hands.

Fang barks as Dove hops off the desk, roughly wiping her tear-streaked mascara from her face.