“Son of a bitch!”

“What’s crawled up your ass?” Luka asks.

“I can’t find Kong anywhere,” I growl, raking my hand through my hair.

“You could take Wacky Linda back to court,” he suggests, sitting at the desk across from me.

“I’ve thought about it, but fuck, dealing with that woman is poison. The more you interact with her the bigger the fucking mess.”

“So you let him go. I know you don’t want to hear it—”

“She could have had him put down.” I finish for him. “I’ve already thought that, Luka and it’s killing me.”

“Sorry man. I wish I knew what to tell you, but I really don’t.”

“Nothing to say.”

“About what?” Petal asks as she walks in the door. She goes straight for Luka and he opens his arms immediately, rolling his seat away from the desk. She curls into his lap and they immediately kiss. There’s no hello, no exchange of words, nothing. Just instant kiss. They’re like magnets drawn together and it just seems to get more intense with every day that they’re together. That’s what I want… or wanted, rather. After the mess with Linda and whatever the hell Addie and I started, I don’t want anything now but peace. It’s clear I don’t have a brain in my head when it comes to women.

There are worse things than being alone.

“I missed you,” Petal whispers with a happy sigh. I watch as my sister clings to her husband and lays her head on his shoulder.

“You too Lo,” he murmurs into her ear. “Love you baby,” Luka adds in a low voice right before they kiss again. It’s enough to make a grown man sick.

“I think I’ll go out on patrol for a bit,” I mutter, feeling like a third wheel at my own damn desk.

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong with you, big brother.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I answer, wincing as I say it because I sound damn defensive.

“Black’s having women problems,” Luka replies helpfully.

“Linda?” Petal asks.

“I still can’t find my damn dog. I’ve torn up half of Texas looking for a clue to what she’s done with him and I’m coming up with nothing.”

“Did you ask Meadow?”

“Meadow?” Luka asks, before I get the chance.

“Leddie’s daughter. She’s moved back and taken over the Mason County Animal Shelter.”

“I doubt Linda was nice enough to put Kong in the local shelter, Pet.”

“Gee, Black. I know that. Smartass. I just meant, she lived in Dallas and volunteered at several shelters there. She also was a foster home too. She may have connections.”

“What kind of connections could she have? Sounds hopeless to me,” I grumble.

“You got any better ideas?” Petal asks and I get up from my chair with an exasperated breath, because she’s right.

I have absolutely no other ideas.

“Fine. I’ll go talk to Meadow,” I tell her putting my hat on my head.

“Oh! You should totally take Blue!”

“Why would I take Blue?” I ask, and even depressed I can’t help but grin. I wonder if Blue realizes the whole damn family knows he has a weak spot for Leddie’s girl?

“Why wouldn’t you?” she asks.

“You’re entirely too much like our mother lately.”

“Black! What a horrible thing to say!” she says, but she’s laughing as she says it.

“Good luck, Luka,” I say with a smirk at my kid sister and walk out to the sound of both of them laughing.