Page 53 of Their Stolen Obsession (Phantoms and Obsession Duet #2)

Their Universe

Liv

I couldn’t deny the predators who had saved me when all hope was almost gone.

Hell, I couldn’t even reject the men I had grown to love.

Through all their force, mischief, and mistreatment, I had let them in.

They had promised me I’d give into them, and they were right.

These fuckers knew me better than I knew myself, and they had noticed changes in me I never realized were possible.

After Preston let his pit bull attack me, a transformation occurred in my brain; all the wires became tangled, resulting in a crippling fear of dogs.

Sin and Saint wouldn’t shut the fuck up about their damn revelation and what they had done for me.

These unbearable men who had a tendency to be sweet, caring individuals had wanted to protect me and had gone to see a therapist. My phantoms, these men who had stalked me twenty-four seven, had seen a goddamn shrink. For me .

Jesus fucking Christ!

My men blew me away.

Sin and Saint chatted about all they had learned from this Gen Z guy. I think Dr. Stevens was his name? He had explained to them I had… Wait… What was it called again? Some long ass word I couldn’t even pronounce.

Cynophobia. That racing heart and perspiration mixed with trouble breathing was all from my newest fear of dogs. Thankfully, I could overcome my anxiety by being around the animals that had done this to me. I had to face the mutts head-on, and these men had brought me to an animal shelter to do it.

As soon as we strolled through the front door, I heard barking. Uncontrollably, my heart hammered and sweat gathered on my forehead. I wanted to run, not walk, right back out the way I had come. Dart as fast as possible in the opposite direction and not face my fear.

“It’s okay.” Saint caressed my cheek. “I’m right here.”

“So am I…” Sin touched my other cheek. “You’re not back there. You’re safe.”

I gave Sin and Saint a small smile and they grazed the backs of their hands with mine. My phantoms’ contact gave me strength and certainty that I could stay. I had to if I wanted to move on.

Gradually, I’d come back to the refuge for animals once a week for as long as I needed.

The rescue owner made a deal with Sin and Saint to guarantee the doors would be open for me.

My men would be right by my side to ensure I was getting better.

No matter what they had to do, their dedication to my health was their top priority, and that alone made my heart flip flop.

Hell, my ticker did an entire cartwheel when Saint went over to a cat cage and the feline pawed at his nose.

Sin grumbled something underneath his breath while Saint called him a dickhead, and I couldn’t help laughing.

My giggle at their usual behavior made them gaze back at me with infectious grins that made me blush.

“The dogs are right this way,” a volunteer announced; her name tag read Cindy .

The heat burning through me froze like a deep freeze in the middle of a hot summer’s day, and my entire body chilled, even though my palms were clammy.

Sin went first. Saint locked eyes with me and took my hand while his thumb gently caressed me.

He gave me the will to step one foot in front of the other toward the animals that had changed my life .

The crates lined up one after another, with not a single enclosure empty.

There were dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Different breeds, all with their own unique traits.

Cindy talked to each one as she passed, and she knew every animal’s name.

She gave them all attention, and they responded to her, but they all wanted more attention.

Cautiously, I ambled beside Saint, who was closest to each cage, and gripped his hand until my knuckles were white. I couldn’t fucking hurt him. He was like a huge rhino, and I was a small bird latched onto him for dear life.

Cindy stopped.

“These cuties are next up on the list to eat,” Cindy explained and pointed at a group of dogs.

There were five. One was a pit bull.

Crap.

Saint noticed my uneasiness. “Is there another group we can help? I’m not sure—”

I squeezed his hand. “Saint. It’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” Sin asked as he peered into the cage and locked eyes on the animal that made me anxious. “There’s a fucking pit bull in there.”

“I know. But the shrink said that I need to face my fear.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I should start with the breed that brought me here. ”

“Duke?” Cindy smiled. “He’s the cuddliest pit bull on this entire planet. Aren’t you buddy?”

Duke barked.

I jumped, startled by the dog’s sudden joy at Cindy’s affection, and she reached through the cage to pet his head. He leaned into her touch, and she rubbed behind his ears. He shook a leg like she had hit his itchiest spot, and she giggled at him. She was amazing with the animals.

“Where’s the grub?” Sin asked.

“Oh, the kibble is right in that cabinet.” Cindy pointed to a row of cupboards. “After feeding time is over, you’ll take these five out for playtime.”

Cindy stopped petting Duke. He lay down with sad eyes, and he released a long sigh.

Duke wanted more love from Cindy, but she had a job to do.

She gave us simple instructions to head out through a door on our right with the pooches, and she showed us a glimpse of the fenced-in yard.

There were dog toys scattered across the ground and bowls of water we were to fill up during their exercise, which was about an hour long.

“I’m not picking up dog poop,” Sin said.

Cindy thrust some doggie poop bags into Sin’s chest. “Think again.”

Sin grumbled, “Ah, crap.” He took the bags and shoved them in his pants pocket .

Sin remained unimpressed. He ran a hand through his hair, gave me one long stare, sighed and headed for the kibble. As unenthusiastic as he may be, he was in this for me.

My heart swelled.

“Make sure you give each bowl a full cup of food,” Cindy expressed.

Sin heaved a bag of kibble into his arms, and Saint let go of my hand. I missed his touch, but he had to help his best friend. He ripped open the bag of food, grabbed a white scoop and brought it over to me.

“You do the honors, darling.” Saint said.

“Okay.” I sighed and took the scoop.

I gathered the dry dog food into the cup and turned my attention straight to Duke.

Immediately, he sat up as his tail wagged and his tongue licked at his jaws.

Saliva dripped down onto the concrete floor, and my anxious breathing took over.

Fear gripped me, my legs trembled, and a flashback overwhelmed me.

Teeth. Sharp, pointed, and red. Blood dripped along with drool after chomping down on my arm. The pain was unbearable, but I still had to fight to survive.

A hand grazed my arm.

I screamed. Kibble fell to the floor, but I still held the scoop. The grip around the handle was tight and my knuckles were pure white .

Saint asked, “Do you want me to do it?”

“No.” I shook my head and bent down to retrieve the dry food I had dropped. “I need to do this.”

“Okay.” Saint backed off.

“I’ll open the cage when you’re ready, Liv. Just give me the word.” Sin held the latch on the metal crate.

I locked eyes on Duke. “Okay.”

Sin asked, “Ready?”

I blew out a breath. “Yes.”

The cage opened. I froze. I couldn’t move, no matter how much I wanted to. An instinct I had become accustomed to with dogs, and I thought Duke would lunge at me. Barrel into me at full force and take a bite into my skin, but he didn’t. He nudged his empty bowl with his nose and sat behind it.

“Ah, Liv? I think you should feed poor Dukie here.” Sin cut into my fearful daze. “He’s fucking drooling all over the place.”

I giggled, “He is, isn’t he?”

Duke wasn’t charging at me with his jaw snapping. He didn’t bark while leaving me screaming. The damn pit bull waited patiently like a good boy, starving with an empty belly.

I poured the kibble into Duke’s bowl and watched him attack the food. He didn’t bite at me. Not one growl came out of his mouth, and he burped while I fed the other dogs, who waited for their turn. All the dogs were sweet and happy to be taken care of.

We left all the cages open because we’d be heading outside.

The dogs all gathered around us while we petted them, and they’d nudge us with their wet noses.

A German shepherd named Scotty dug Saint.

He’d jump up against him until Saint bent over and the pooch licked at his face.

I laughed uncontrollably at Saint—his face was all scrunched up while slobbery kisses of gratitude lapped into his mouth.

Saint rubbed his fur playfully and stood up.

Sin made a friend with a husky, its eyes each a color of their own.

One was blue, while the other was brown.

The dog’s markings were beautifully unique, and she was a stunner.

He’d sit on the ground, petting her, and he didn’t even give a fuck that she playfully bit at his leather jacket that probably cost a fortune.

She’d roll over, and he’d give her a long belly rub while her tongue hung out of her mouth in enjoyment.

Dogs barked happily, but I didn’t jump. I was far too consumed with my men having way too much fun with these damn animals. Saint loved cats but had found a new love for man’s best friend, and Sin never was a fan of any animal. Until he got to know them .

“Now that everyone’s acquainted…” Cindy opened the door. “Let’s take this party outside.”