Page 32

Chapter 32

Ruth

Tobias's warnings echoing in my head, his sexy but stern face, brow furrowed, those dark eyes intense with concern about me working late. But sometimes stubbornness overrides good sense. I didn't get time today to do the wedding quotes and I was already late getting them back to the brides. So, like it or not, I had to get these done.

And I don't appreciate my head constantly showing me his face as a reminder to me being here. I know what he said but that doesn't mean I have to obey. I can do what I want. Plus, after the last event, I'm not listening to anything he says. The big jerk.

The shop had been quiet for hours. Joey curled up on his cushion in the corner of my office, occasionally lifting his head when I moved around too much, then settling back to sleep. The only sounds were the hum of the coolers, the occasional drip from the sink, and me paging through catalogs.

I glanced at the clock, it read eleven seventeen. I'd promised myself I'd leave by ten. So much for that. It couldn't be helped, two of the weddings were complicated and it took me longer to finish their quotes.

"I'm trying to hurry, I only have this small one left," I said softly to Joey. He thumped his tail twice without opening his eyes.

I flipped through the floral catalog looking for arch holders when a sound froze every cell in my body in place. An explosion so sudden, so violent, so loud that for a moment I couldn't process what was happening. The floor trembled beneath my feet. I heard glass hitting the floor. Joey leapt up, ears alert, the hair on the back of his neck rising. He ran to me and I scooped him up. A tiny growl rising in his throat.

"Shh," I hissed, terror freezing me in place. "What the fuck was that?" I stood straining to listen, what I heard was even more terrifying. Heavy footsteps crushing glass and male voices.

"Spread out. Make it look good."

"Don't forget the register."

"Doesn't matter. Just wreck the fucking place."

Joey's growl turned into barking. I put my hand over his mouth but he wiggled and turned so much I couldn't hold him. When he landed on the top of my desk he took off. I lunged for him, but he was already charging toward the swinging door that led to the main shop, barking ferociously. The force of the initial explosion had caused the door to swing open slightly, and Joey squeezed through before I could grab him.

"Joey, no!" I whispered desperately, but he was gone, his frantic barking joined by startled exclamations from the intruders.

"What the hell?"

"Is that a giant rat?"

"Yeah, numb nut's ‘cause rats bark. Come here pooch, come here."

My heart lodged in my throat. I couldn't let them get Joey. Frantically, I looked around this back room, no exit, no weapon. Shit. I had no choice but to go out and try to save my dog.

I grabbed the heaviest object within reach, a small ceramic flower pot. Grabbing it I pushed through the swinging door.

The scene that greeted me was out of a horror movie and I felt like the girl going down the basement stairs to check on a noise. Everything was dark, the room illuminated only by my two coolers. Most of the shop's front windows were shattered on the floor. The glass shimmered and was almost pretty in a stained glass sort of way. Three muscle bound men dressed in black, faces covered with ski masks, stood amid the wreckage of my shop. All three turned their attention from the furry one darting between them. To me standing there wide eyed and terrified.

"Joey, come here." I called. "Get out of my shop!" I swelled up trying to make myself look intimidating.

Three pairs of eery eyes seemed to glow in the dim light from the refrigerator cases.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," the tallest one said, making a show of licking his lips with his tongue.

My blood ran cold. What had I done?

"Oh boys, aren't we lucky," another added, taking a step toward me. "Boyfriend not here to save you, sweetheart?"

I backed up instinctively, Joey putting himself between them and me, still barking. My back hit the edge of the workstation. Nowhere to go.

"He'll be here in just a few minutes. So, you should leave now." I said, desperate for them to leave. "JOEY COME HERE!"

"Humm," the first man ran his hands down his body stopping at his zipper to adjust himself. "Just how is that pig cop of yours?"

"Seems fitting the pig is fucking a pig." the second one said, adding grunting noises.

"Naw, I like her hair, I'd still do her." The man stepped closer. "Is that what you want, piggy, you want a real man?"

I forgot to breathe.

"I don't know. Fucking fat girls is like fucking on a water bed." He made some distorted gesture that looked like he was drunk trying to hump someone.

There was no way I was going to let what they were thinking happen. I scanned the area around me for some sort of weapon. Nothing. Damn.

"Guess your big bad sheriff isn't going to save you is he?" The tall man said his words almost dripping with anticipation.

"You two, keep your damn zippers up, you know we're not here for that!" The third guy who was the biggest of the three yelled. "And would someone shut that damn dog up!"

"Come here, you little shit," the shorter man lunged for Joey, who dodged, still barking wildly. The man tried again, and missed. I was trying to grab Joey but he was scurrying around growling and barking. As if he was kicking a goal, the man drew his foot back and connected with Joey. Sending him flying into the wall with a sickening thud. Joey yelped once, slid down the wall, then crumpled to the floor, silent.

"SCORE!" He yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed, hurling the ceramic pot at the tall man. I took both hands and grabbed the nearest thing to me, a half-full five-gallon bucket of water we'd been using for lilies. With strength I didn't know I possessed, I swung it by the handle, connecting solidly with the head of the man who'd kicked Joey. He went down hard, sprawling unconscious on the floor in front of me.

"You fucking bitch!" the first man snarled, lunging toward me.

I raised the bucket again, but he was faster, knocking it from my hands. Water splashed across the floor between us. Then searing pain burst across my face as a fist connected with my mouth. I tasted blood as another blow followed, this one to my ribs, driving the air from my lungs followed quickly by another in the same spot. I bent, gasping, trying to draw breath, as an uppercut caught me squarely in the side of my chin.

"Hey, we've got to go! The hardware store alarm went off, the scanner said cops are on the way!" Another male voice yelled.

Another punch landed against my temple and stars burst behind my eyes, then darkness flooded in as my head bounced off the floor.

The world returned in fragments. Searing pain. Bright lights. Hands touching me. Voices.

"Ruth, can you hear me? You're going to be okay. We're taking you to the hospital."

I felt like I was moving. The ceiling of my shop slid past, then the night sky, then the interior of an ambulance.

"Joey," I mumbled through swollen lips. "Is he—"

"Officer Edwards is taking him to the emergency vet now. He's alive but needs care."

Relief washed through me, followed by a fresh wave of pain. I tried to lift my head but couldn't. "Did–"

"No more talking," the paramedic said, adjusting something on an IV.

The words faded as darkness pulled me under once more. But before I succumbed completely, one image surfaced: Tobias's face, close to mine drawn with worry, telling me not to work late. Telling me I wasn't safe.