A Leap in the Dark (Assassins of Youth MC Book 2) by Layla Wolfe Page B

practitioner ?”
    Shumway responded, “That’s what I’m saying. What a beautiful dog.”
    Deloy and I shared distressed looks as the inspector bent to pet Lazarus. Lazarus knew no boundaries between friend and family and moronic fucktards who meant us harm. He tilted his massive head toward Shumway and half-closed his eyes as the douchecanoe scratched behind his ears.
    “That’s insane,” I told Shumway. “Krav Maga is a self-defense art developed for the Israeli Defense Forces. It’s hardly anything mystical. It takes principles from judo, from boxing and wrestling. We award belts like the judo ranking system. Do you call judo occult?”
    “We don’t even meditate or do yoga,” said Deloy.
    “If it’s from the Orient, it’s occult,” said Shumway, standing tall again with his clipboard. “Meanwhile, I’m not going to bother with these checklists. I wouldn’t expect a January fourth grand opening if I was you.” And he sauntered out.
    Deloy was open-mouthed with shock. “That’s crazy , Levon. They’re out to get you, just like you said they’d be.”
    I was already speedily texting.
    Gideon. Need to talk ASAP.
    Hey Levon. I’m at the mine. Come on up.
    Be there in fifteen.
    Since the sidecar was still hooked up, I decided to give Lazarus a little ride out of town. He didn’t need a leash to walk the short distance to the small back parking lot. He just followed me naturally. I used a leash on busy streets in case he saw a cat and dashed across the road. It was when I turned to pat the sidecar, indicating he should jump in, that I noticed him swaying on his feet.
    My heart thudded. Falling to my knees, I saw his tongue lolling from his mouth in an unnatural way. He panted, so I immediately felt under his thick undercoat for a heartbeat. Too fast. I got him belted into the sidecar, but just barely.
    I wasn’t going to the mine. I was taking him to Urgent Care.
    I ran and got Deloy, who took one look and agreed something was wrong. “It was that building inspector, I tell you, Levon! When he bent over to pet him, I saw him give him some treats of some kind.”
    “Fucking hell. Did they look like regular biscuits?”
    Deloy frowned. “No,” he said immediately. “White. Small round white things.”
    “Fuck me dry. Breath mints. He must’ve poisoned his mints. Stay here to make sure that fucktard doesn’t come around.”
    I hated to waste valuable seconds, but before I took off, I had to call Oaklyn with one hand while examining Lazarus with the other.
    She answered, thank God.
    “Oaklyn. The building inspector gave Lazarus poisoned mints. Call your Dr. Lee and warn him we’re coming.”
    “Yes, that’s the closest doctor.” We’d already discussed how there were no veterinarians in the Avalanche area. We’d decided to take Lazarus to Lee in case of emergency. “They might not’ve been poisoned, Levon. Lots of breath mints contain xylitol, a fake sweetener which is deadly to dogs. How long ago did he eat it?”
    “Maybe ten minutes.”
    “You could induce vomiting then.”
    “If I knew how. Look, I’ve got to ride. Lee’s only ten minutes out of town. See you there.”
    I didn’t wait for a response, just flogged it down the frontage road toward Urgent Care. Halfway there I realized Lazarus was vomiting. I’d had to put his goggles on him to protect his eyes, and puke got all over them. His head rested against the edge of the sidecar. I prayed maybe he’d puked all the poison out.
    It wasn’t until halfway there I realized I was crying. Big, strong, macho old me had hot tears dripping from my eyes. I can’t remember what else went through my mind on that horrible ride. A giant black pool of doom had flooded my brain, making me unable to think logically. I felt like the one about to puke. I ran stop signs and lane split between cages, always dangerous with a sidecar. When the medical building was within sight I could barely see, my eyes were so blurred.
    Oaklyn must’ve