Steal Me (Longshadows Book 1)

by Natalia Banks

  Except it won’t.

  Nothing is ever okay.

  Breathe.

  “Miss, are you okay?”

  I shake my head at the stranger, who I can only see as the one wearing some leather loafers. I bet it’s an older man, some kindly old gentleman from another generation when it was okay to talk to people.

  Someone should let him know that this is the twenty first century and nobody cares about other people anymore.

  “Should I call an ambulance?” he asks, and I shake my head, struggling to lift it to actually look at this person. His watery blue eyes are kind, and the shock of white hair on his head give me the satisfaction that I was right.

  “I’m okay,” I gasp the words out, struggling to pull in a deep breath.

  Breathe.

  “Thank you,” I say, a bit more power behind the words.

  He nods, looking unconvinced, but he moves right along into the store. And I breathe a sigh of relief. And I catch sight of Sentinel. He’s dancing back and forth in the window, tossing his head back to howl at me like I can’t hear him.

  “I’m okay,” I whisper, feeling my lips tingle like I’ve had a ribbon wrapped too tight around my throat for too long. “I’m okay.”

  But he can’t hear me.

  And he sticks his head out the window as I watch on, worried about him. There’s no way he can fit through that narrow opening. He’s a huge dog. The window is open half way at most. And that fall will hurt him.

  I shake my head at him, as if that’ll be enough to stop him. “No, Sentinel,” I say, my voice little more than a sigh as I fight back a nauseating wave of panic. I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of some fishing boat as the ocean plays tsunami. Part of me wants to barf, part of me is afraid for my life, but most of me wants to be free of all of it.

  With a loud yelp, Sentinel manages to wiggle his whole body free of the window. He lands on his feet, the shock of impact coaxing another yelp from him.

  He races toward me.

  Out of the corner of my eyes, I see the little car. It’s a brilliant yellow, like a bee. And it feels like the whole world is slowing down. Sentinel races toward me, not seeing the danger bearing down on him. He’s focused on me.

  The car suddenly sees him and I hear the squeal of bad breaks.

  Sentinel suddenly seems to notice the danger, but he’s still focused on me as if he can save me with a look alone.

  The crack of the car slamming into him reverberates through my whole being as my blood runs cold with horror.

  “Sentinel!” I shriek as he hits the ground and the car whips off. I rush to him, feeling the agony of loss flooding my being. I’ve lost so much. I can’t lose him too.

  “I can’t live without you,” I whisper as he lifts his great head and perks his ears forward, listening to my voice. “Sentinel,” I say, holding onto him as my whole world crashes and burns.

  He whimpers, the little whine breaking my heart. He’s hurting. He’s in pain. And I have no way to help him.

  And my dad’s voice filters back into my mind. I’ll kill the fucking mutt.

  “I love you, Sentinel,” I tell him as his ears swivel. I’m vaguely aware of people, but it feels like they’re all standing and staring, or are merely going about their business as usual. I want to scream at them. How are they so calm and normal while my whole world is falling apart?

  Chapter 2

  Kyle

  It’s been a long day. The bright side was going out to Emma’s place to vaccinate my niece’s horse. My brother, Kieran, had been out. But Olivia, my niece, had been thrilled to see me. And it was good to see her and Emma getting along so well.

  While I’d had a soft spot for Emma since way back before her father passed away, I’d always thought I’d have more time to woo her. I thought I’d give her space while she dealt with her grief while also offering her a shoulder to cry on, a friend to talk to, a rock to keep her grounded.

  But I guess I’d had stronger feelings for her than she’d had for me.

  And once my bastard brother Kieran came on the scene, he’d managed to weasel, lie, cheat, and steal his way into her heart, home, and bed. But it’s good for Olivia. She’s got a good mom figure now, and it’s obvious the two get along like a house on fire.

  The way Olivia lights up when she talks about her horse, Warrior, is adorable. She’s going to train him herself, and I’m watching his temperament to decide when to geld him. The little lady doesn’t need some high-strung stallion jerking her around.

  I pull into the little locally owned market, noticing that the overflow from the farmer’s market found its way here. Perfect. My mother would be proud if she knew how much her words about eating right stuck in my mind.

  Thinking about her, I decide to call her later on tonight. All the thoughts of Kieran often leave me wanting to clutch family close. Getting out of my car, I head into the store, hearing the chirp of my car alarm setting.

  A few spaces down, I see a beautiful German Shepard watching something. He’s proud and tall, his ears perked as if intent on something I can’t see. His windows are down about halfway and I suck in a breath at the owner’s daring. It rains on a whim here, so the thought that someone would let the inside of their car get drenched surprises me.

  That’s someone dedicated to their animal right there.

  “Good boy,” I murmur to him. He doesn’t so much look at me. He’s still as a statue, watching the store still and something nags at me. But I head into the store. Not my business. I don’t need some hot headed asshole yelling at me for fucking with their dog.

  At the doors of the market, I grab a basket.

  I move from spot to spot, gathering fresh vegetables – red cabbage, leeks, water chestnuts, and other fixings for a homemade stir fry. I can’t pass up some beautiful strawberries, and grab another bunch of bananas.

  I’m ready to leave in record time. As I round a corner, a pretty girl floats into my field of vision. Her medium skin is oddly pale, and there’s a sheen of sweat on her forehead. She bumps into me as if she hadn’t seen me standing there.

  “Sorry,” she mumbles as I grab her and keep her on her feet.

  “Watch where you’re going,” I say, and her shocked brown eyes meet mine. With my hands on her arms, I feel her trembling. Her wide brown eyes leave my face and she stares at the floor while I release her arms.

  In her hands she’s got some crappy store made sandwich and I want to tell her it’ll be dry and stale. Don’t people know how bad that crap is for them? We get one god damned body, fucking respect it, people.

  But she still stands close to me, which feels awkward. I notice the soft waves of her light brown hair. It’s almost blond, but not quite, and looks natural. And her scent, something slightly sweet, tickles my nose.

  “I, uh, don’t usually come in here without my service dog,” she says, her voice breaking over the words. I sense she’s feeling embarrassed, but it’s none of my damn business.

  “Okay.” It’s all I can think of. Why is she telling me this? Is it an excuse for walking into me? I don’t care, I just want to shop so I can go home and make myself some dinner. It’s been a long damn day.

  But I see her chest rising and falling quickly. At the base of her throat her pulse is thumping a bit too quickly. And I sigh.

  “Do you need help?” I ask, struggling not to sound as short tempered as I feel. I just want to get on with my life, get home. Why can’t people just handle their shit?

  She shakes her head and I give her a terse, “Okay. Have a good day.”

  There’s a mere nod from her as I walk away, internally annoyed. She freaking slammed into me, yet I’m the one with manners here. What the actual fuck?

  I ignore the checker as they ring up my groceries. Toward the door, I see the girl leave, as if she’d been hurried through the express lane with her vomit sandwich. What a weird interaction.

  Putting her out of my mind, I try to one word answer the checker who’s trying
to engage me in conversation.

  Yes, I found everything alright.

  Yes, I’ll donate a dollar to the Humane Society. It’s the smallest donation I’ve made to them in a long time.

  No, I don’t need help out. Are you fucking kidding me?

  When I can finally leave, I feel the charge in the air. Out the door, I see the milling crowd. I see the little blond on her knees in the parking lot. In her arms, that beautiful German Shepard.

  And it clicks.

  That beautiful dog was her service animal. No wonder it was acting so oddly. I push through the crowd, heading her direction as I set my groceries on the pavement, all thoughts of dinner leaving my mind. This animal needs help.

  That’s all I can see; this dog with labored breathing whining softly in pain. Dropping to my knees, I begin to check him over.

  Chapter 3

  Victoria

  The guy who’d been so rude to me in the store, the one who triggered that panic attack, now kneels before me and begins to touch Sentinel.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, feeling numb.

  He glances up at me, those incredibly intense light blue eyes focused on my face. “I’m figuring out how to help him. I’m a vet.”

  This guy helps animals? Really? I’d have assumed he was some suit wearing CEO or something with his attitude. He sure as hell doesn’t give a damn for anyone but himself. But as he pulls his phone out, I stare at him like an idiot.

  “Yeah, Sam, I need you to prep for surgery. Young German Shepard, ETA, five minutes,” he says tersely before hanging up the phone.

  But my heart is stumbling in my chest. “I can’t afford it,” I say.

  He hesitates, staring into my eyes like he’s searching for the reason I would have said this. But he seems to push whatever thoughts he has out of his mind. “Help me lift him. Under his flank like this,” He says, showing me to scoop up Sentinel’s back end.

  I do as he says and he lifts my dog’s front end. “He’s heavy,” I mumble as we both lift. Sentinel whines again, the pained sound breaking my heart. Tears flood my eyes as I hold him, but I can’t wipe them away. Not without dropping him.

  “Toward my car,” The guy says, jerking his chin toward a nice little car in the lot a few spots down from my truck. His eyes capture mine and he seems flustered. “I’ll take good care of him,” he says, and I nod, feeling my heart shattering into billions of little pieces. What if we’re hurting him, torturing him only for him to die on the way to wherever we’re going?

  Lowering my face, I stare at the thick fur on Sentinel’s haunches as I carry him. Every step feels like it’s taking ten years but I know we’re moving quick. It feels like the guy is hurrying me, his steps are short, quick, yet measured and smooth.

  It can’t end like this. This is my best friend, the only creature in the world that loves me, that cares for me. He’s the only thing keeping me sane, keeping me grounded, keeping me safe from my biggest enemy; myself.

  The tears are too much as they stream down my cheeks. I suddenly notice other people walking along side us. A lady asks how she can help as another guy comes and carefully locks his arms under Sentinel’s ribs.

  “Here?” The stranger asks the rude guy who’s helping me.

  “Yeah, careful.” The rude guy glances at the woman, his thoughts seeming far away. “Can you grab my keys, front right pocket,” he says and she hesitates only a second before reaching into his pocket while he moves.

  “Unlock the car, please,” he says and she does. The car chirps as she opens the door for us. The rude guy goes first, backing right into the back seat of his car with Sentinel’s front still held gently. “Lower him carefully,” he tells me as I duck in and the other guy backs off a step.

  I do as I’m told and pull my arms back.

  And notice the blood. Thick, crimson liquid coats my arms and I stare at it in shock. He’s bleeding. A lot. He’s going to die. There’s no way he can live through this.

  “Hey.” The rude guy suddenly breaks into my thoughts while grabbing my shoulders like he had in the store to keep me from falling. I focus on his incredible blue eyes. In their depths, I see something that I feel I can trust. “I need you to keep it together, okay?”

  I nod, mute. I feel something like shock settling like a fog on my brain, but I’m studying the guy now, trying to zero in on his words. “Get in.” He guides me to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

  I sit down as he hurries around the front with a long, swinging stride that belies the tense situation and the set of his shoulders.

  With him in the driver’s seat, I glance over my shoulder at Sentinel. His head is down, his ears in the most defeated position I’ve ever seen them in. And I reach back to offer him my fingers.

  “I love you,” I whisper, my throat aching with tears, “Please don’t go. I need you.”

  He sniffs my fingers, his ears shifting slightly. He lets out a sigh that sounds like exhaustion and I vaguely hear the guy beside me on the phone.

  “Bring Jax. Thanks.” There’s quiet and I focus on Sentinel. Something in me tells me he’s fading fast and I try to memorize every second that passes. Memories of him as a playful puppy come to mind and I can’t help but smile as I think about it.

  He used to trip on his ears. He’s get running so fast he’d lower his head and step right on those then floppy ears.

  I reach out to touch one of those ears now. He grew into them. They’re tall and dark, velvety soft and fuzzy. They match his dark muzzle.

  He was the best friend I could ever have hoped for. The best dog I’d ever had. The best friend I could have ever hoped for. He was far better than I deserved. His liquid brown eyes meet mine and I see the light fading out of them.

  “Please don’t go, I whisper again. I know he’ll hold on for me as long as he can. I know because he’s never been the type to give anything less than one hundred percent. His ears twitch a little bit as if he’s focused on the sound of my voice. “I’m right here,” I say, the whisper of my voice barely any sound at all. But I can’t talk. I can’t say anything at all.

  Chapter 4

  Kyle

  I’m not sure she knows she’s talking out loud. That she’s begging her dog not to die.

  “I love you,” I hear her whisper, her voice choked with emotion. “Please don’t go. I need you.” She’s straining back, fighting against her seat belt to touch him, to be as close to him as she can while I fly over these streets. If I get pulled over, I’m going to keep driving.

  Sentinel is going to die if I stop.

  I pull out my phone, needing to make sure I have what I need on hand. “Bring Jax,” I tell Sam, who agrees to quickly get my dog. “Thanks,” I say, glad for the billionth time at least that I live so close to the office, that I have a key where Sam knows to find it.

  Jax is strong. He’ll be perfect for a transfusion.

  Next to me, the girl begins to mumble about how he used to trip on his ears as a puppy. I sense she’s not fully aware she’s speaking out loud, and I stay quiet. Her words break my heart. The German Shepard must have been a particularly adorable puppy, but it’s the love in her voice that’s wrecking me.

  She’s droning on about how he’s the best friend she could have ever hoped for and I know she’s looking for closure. She wants to get it all out so he can hear how much she loves him before he slips away.

  “Please don’t go,” She whispers, and I blink back tears. Bloody hell, if he dies now, I’ll never forgive myself. Not because she’s anything special, but because I know the dog is.

  “I’m right here,” She assures him as we pull into the office lot.

  I park quickly and jump out of the car. Headed to the back, I reach under the giant dog. Sam comes rushing out with a carry stretcher and I thank god for her again. She’s the best damn assistant I could have ever hoped for.

  Sam comes to my side and I position the stretcher as Sam hurries around the car. She’s quick and we count.
>
  “One, two three.” In unison and lift Sentinel in tandem onto it. With one side in my hands, I slide him out and the girl takes one side and I hold the other. We’re quick to rush the Shepard indoors toward the room I know Sam would have prepped for surgery.

  I rush past the reception desk and down the hall. On the right, we bump into the room that’s already ready. I place the stretcher on the ground and look into the girl’s eyes.

  She scoops up his haunches and leads the count. “One, two, three.”

  We lift him and place him on the stainless steel table. Sam is quick to bring in Jax as I set up to anesthetize Sentinel. While she’s working on him, she’s talking to the girl.

  “Were going to put Sentinel under so we can get a transfusion going,” she says, knowing her stuff. “What’s your name?” she asks, and I listen up.

  “Victoria,” The blond says. She jerks her chin toward the dog on the table. “He’s Sentinel.”

  “Pretty,” Sam says. “I’m Sam, this is Kyle. He’s really not so bad once you get to know him.”

  I glare at her, and she shrugs before focusing back on the task at hand. I tune them out, prepping Sentinel. I’m praying to every god I’ve ever heard of that this goes well. I feel broken ribs, but I know the dog isn’t too old, the bones should mend quick. I’m hoping none pierced his lungs. If they did, this is going to get much harder.

  Sam works around me, setting up the transfusion. Jax sits patiently, having done this before. I offer him praise and he stops panting long enough to give me the look. The look that reminds me I own him treats and an extra walk after we’re done here.

  And he’ll get treats, but have to wait a bit for the walk. This is going to be a big transfusion. I’m playing with two lives, Jax’s and Sentinel’s. As Sentinel gives up to the anesthetic, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s a double edged sword, though. He went down quick, that’s a bad sign.