Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Are we in danger?
Suddenly, the elevator lurches to a stop, and the man spins around to face us.
I hate that I don’t have full mobility, but I’m grateful I can at least tip my head to see the danger approaching.
The man holds up a strange device I don’t recognize. His voice is deep as he bellows, “Give the pet to me.”
I stiffen. My breath hitches.
Daddy squeezes me tighter. “You don’t want to do this, man. I advise you to get off the elevator on the next floor and never come near us again. If you pursue this route, things will not end well for you.”
The man lunges forward, swinging the black thing in his hand. It makes a zapping sound like it’s electrical.
Somehow, I manage to scream and clutch at Daddy’s shirt with my fists. The burst of adrenaline must be enough to help me regain some control over my movements. There’s no way I could stand if I needed to, but at least I can grip onto Daddy.
“Give me the pet,” he screams. “Now, fucker. Give it to me or you’re dead.”
Holding me with one hand, Daddy lifts his other in a counter swing at the guy’s forearm, keeping the black metal device from touching him. Without missing a beat, Daddy also raises his leg pretty high and kicks something on the panel.
A blaring alarm goes off. It’s so loud that it hurts my ears, but I’m hopeful it will summon someone to help us. The elevator still isn’t moving. Somehow, this man must have rigged it to stop in between floors. I’ve been in elevators that malfunctioned and left me stranded on the space station.
The dangerous man swings again. This time, Daddy jumps to one side. He’s still holding me with one arm and using the other to deflect, but it’s not enough because the man’s hand is already in motion, and the black device hits my leg.
Even through my jammies, my entire body jolts as if I’ve been electrocuted. I go completely rigid, arching in Daddy’s arms at the intense pain that races through my body, rattling my teeth and making my eyes roll back in my head.
Daddy shouts so loud that his voice seems to make the entire elevator vibrate, but that’s probably just lingering effects from the evil weapon.
Everything is a blur of movement as I try to draw oxygen into my lungs. I’m aware of Daddy’s free arm swinging in front of me and then the evil man screaming in pain. Good. I hope he dies. I hope Daddy chopped him in the head or something.
He must have because the guy goes down, collapsing to the floor just as the elevator doors open. I don’t know how or when we started moving again.
“Grab him,” Daddy orders as he tucks his free hand around me, squeezing me almost too tight. He steps over the crumpled body of our assailant to get out of the enclosed space.
His hand slides up to the back of my head, preventing me from witnessing anything behind me. Or perhaps he’s keeping everyone from seeing my face. Either way, he’s protecting me.
More voices join the group until it seems like there must be ten people surrounding the elevator.
I’m still shaking from the effects of the electrical shock. I don’t think I’m injured, but I don’t have enough mobility to be certain.
Someone with the authorities must arrive. He begins questioning Daddy, who tells him the man tried to kidnap me and explains the details.
I’m whimpering now that I’m able to, barely holding back tears, mostly because I’m too freaked out to manage to cry.
“Is your pet okay?” someone asks.
“I think so. He managed to taser her before I took him down.”
They continue to discuss my well-being. This goes on for a while, more questions, more of the same answers. Eventually, Yamal arrives in the hallway. I recognize his voice. Someone must have informed him about what happened. It’s convenient that he lives in the building.
I’m not altogether excited about this new development because I’d bet my last piece of stupid kibble that I’m about to undergo another medical exam. Yay…
It seems like forever before Daddy carries me away from the scene, leaving others to deal with our assailant. Daddy hurries toward our apartment, opens the door, and steps inside with Yamal right behind us.
Yamal is already talking. “Why don’t you set her on your bed? I don’t want to risk her being uncomfortable in case there are any lasting effects from the taser. She could have burns on her body.”
Daddy very gently deposits me on his mattress. His expression is tight with worry as he carefully unwraps the blanket from around me.
Yamal stands to his side, also looking concerned with a furrowed brow and pursed lips.
Breathing heavily, Daddy removes the leash from my neck, leaving it dangling from his wrist. He very carefully unzips my jammies and gently slides the sleeves off my arms.