Chapter 19 - The Heart That Kept Returning
"Viper?" Marcus dropped his remaining crutch. "Come on, buddy. Look at me."
The Shepherd lay motionless. Brooks knelt beside him, calling for the veterinary response team. Dr. Chen arrived with emergency equipment and took charge. The smoke had hurt Viper more than anyone realized.
"Give us room," she ordered. "Marcus, I need you to move back."
He couldn't. Four years ago, a medic had said the same thing while Marcus begged to see his dog. This time Brooks held his shoulders and helped him sit against the ambulance tire.
"He's stubborn," Brooks whispered. "He's the most stubborn dog I've ever met."
"He waited for me," Marcus said. "Four years, Eli. He waited."
At headquarters, investigators secured June's recording, the rescued route data, the forged documents, and the authorization trail from that evening. The new convoy had survived. The evidence of the old tragedy had, too. But Marcus couldn't care about reports while Viper fought for breath.
Leah arrived with Ruby under escort. Nobody had harmed them. Ruby took one look at the medical team and ran to Marcus.
"Is he going to die?" she asked.
He had no answer. Leah knelt beside her daughter and pulled them both close.
"Danny used to tell me Viper was too stubborn to quit," Leah said softly.
Marcus shook his head. "Danny said that about all of us."
The veterinary team lifted Viper onto a stretcher. Chen checked the monitor, then listened again. For a moment she stopped speaking. Her assistant moved closer with the emergency kit.
"No," Marcus said. "No, don't you do this."
Chen began working faster. Brooks gripped Marcus's hand so tightly it hurt. Ruby pressed her face into her mother's shoulder.
May you like
The monitor's rhythm faltered, and then the line went straight.
Marcus heard the sustained tone and felt his world come apart for the second time.
