Page 68 of Speechless

“That is one scary mo-fo,” Sarah said with a relieved laugh. “Where the hell does Cain find these people?”

“Benefit of being a bar owner,” Connor replied and helped her lift Jenna back onto her feet. “Sit down, baby. You’ve gone white.” He stroked her nape, smiled at her as they steered her to the couch. “That was a huge improvement. I’m impressed.”

“Can we not just pick a puppy from the pound?” she implored.

“Let’s see what Mackintyre has up his sleeve first. We need something with training, Jenna. The kind of training we don’t know how to do.” He tapped the end of her nose. “It’ll be a pet, baby, but it’ll earn its keep. Cain highly recommends Mackintyre; he’s not involved with the police, but all his dogs meet their grade system.”

The door opened again, snicked shut, and heavy footsteps clomped down the hallway. Mackintyre’s shadow filled the doorway before his physical form reached the room.

Jenna squeezed her eyes tight against whatever demon dog he’d brought to show them now.

Fingers snapped.

“This one’s younger,” Mackintyre said without preamble. “She’s not met her full potential yet, but she likes her work. Very intelligent little bitch. She tolerates me, is willing to learn from me, but there’s no bond between us. She’ll make a fine guard dog when she clicks with her person.”

“Who’s a pretty girl?” Sarah cooed.

Curiosity got the best of Jenna. Opening her eyes, she fell into a pair of jade green eyes, gentle as a doe’s. Her heart stumbled in her chest, and she looked at Connor with astonishment.

Sarah had asked the right question.

“You’re not going to get the full range of training with her as you would the others,” Mackintyre continued. “Everything you need her to know, she has in her.”

“She’s blue,” Jenna blurted.

Something twinkled in the man’s eyes. “Sure she is. Blue German Shepherd, one of the rarest colors for the breed. That adds some to the price,” he told Connor, “but the bitch is worth it. I was lucky enough to get hold of her and her brother. The dog went to a friend of mine, and I kept her.”

It annoyed Jenna that he didn’t call the beautiful animal by name. It was too reminiscent of her own captivity. She cleared her throat. “Does she have a name?”

Both Connor and Sarah turned sharp eyes on her, but she ignored them. Mackintyre lifted his eyebrow. “I don’t tend to call them by name, aside from Angus. She’s got some fancy name on her pedigree papers. You like this one, girl?”

Jenna’s teeth ground together at being calledgirl. She nodded, not trusting her tongue to say something that would have the hide whipped off her bones.

“Hold out your hand, let her sniff you. She’ll make her own mind up about you.”

He snapped his fingers as Jenna reached out with a shaking hand. She didn’t dare touch the silky-looking fur or the damp black nose; instead she held her fingers a few inches away from the dog’s muzzle, jerking when the bitch leaned forward to sniff.

Those liquid eyes seemed to drill into Jenna’s soul, assessing and considering. Free of Mackintyre’s control, the dog rose slowly, sniffed again, nudging trembling fingers firmly before a long, pink tongue lashed out and began to wash Jenna’s hand.

“Looks like you’ve got yourself a dog. Had her eighteen months and not once has she done that with me.” Mackintyre stepped away in his heavy combat boots, shoving his hands in his pockets. “You know any commands, girl?”

“S-Sit?”

The dog cocked its head but didn’t obey.

“Again. Stronger voice, firm command. No question.”

She tried again. “S-Sit.”

The dog sat; attention riveted.

“D-Down.”

Ears pricked, the bitch dropped onto the carpet and waited.

Nerves calming as she tried different orders, Jenna relaxed and felt a smile breaking through. She slipped off the couch, inched her hand toward the dog’s head, gently fondled the velvety ears.

“She’ll learn what you teach her. There’s two words you need to know; use one, and she’ll take the other into her own hands if she thinks you’re in danger. Tell herguard.”