All the Missing Pieces

by Catherine Cowles

Tater rolled onto her back, exposing her belly. I knew an order when I saw one. Bending over, I lightly scratched her exposed fur. She purred for a few moments. And then as if a switch had been flipped, she jackrabbit-kicked my arm as her teeth sank into my hand. “Shit! Ow.” I snatched my hand back. “Your love is a little violent for my taste.”

“Law Man,” Ridley greeted. “Chaos,” I returned. Those eyes sparked. “Chaos?” “Can’t say you don’t bring that in your wake.”

“If you two are done with your weird-ass staring contest, Ridley, do you need a refill?”

“Law Man,” she started cautiously. “You okay?” “Who. The. Hell. Did. This. To. You?”

“It’s a bad idea,” I rasped. “We’d be playing with fire.” Those ocean eyes sparked. “Then let’s watch it burn.”

“Jesus,” I muttered. “You’ve got bikers and senior citizens teaming up to off your enemies?”

My eyes flared. “You pulled me out…” Those shadows danced in his dark depths, but there was heat in them too. “What choice did I have? You jumped off a fucking cliff.” My eyes narrowed. “You didn’t have to jump after me.” Colt’s hand tightened around mine. “Always going to jump after you.”