Diggs pulled Audra’s foot into his lap and stroked his thumbs firmly and smoothly up her arch, marveling at how soft and dainty her toes were. Dainty? He’d never thought about that word before. He really was losing it. Then again, next to him she seemed small, and the alpha inside him savored that part of her. Even though he knew it wasn’t politically correct, she made him feel strong. She made him feel capable of overcoming any obstacle in his path. And right now, reclining together in his bed, surrounded by his pillows and sheets, she made him feel unstoppable.

But it didn’t matter how confident he felt. Without more information on the threat approaching her, he wouldn’t be able to protect her. The last thing on earth he wanted to do was bring the hurt back into her voice, but he had to know more about her brother. He had to find out what she’d done to stir up this wasp’s nest.

Reclining on his side, his grip firm on her foot, he asked in a gentle tone, “Tell me about Jeremy.”

Her eyes darkened with pain, just like he knew they would. She tried to draw her foot from his grasp but he didn’t let her. He felt her need to talk about her brother’s death. She’d been keeping it bottled up inside and that wasn’t good. He worried that keeping something that dark buried deep would eat away the goodness inside her. It could turn her bitter and sour and that wasn’t something he could stand.

“Audra, talk to me,” he gently probed again.

After a few tense moments, she relaxed back against the pillows. “Jeremy is . . . was the perfect big brother. I always looked up to him. He was one of those people that was meant to do something big with his life, you know? Even when he was little, we knew he’d be famous.”

Her chin wobbled and she crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture. Diggs wanted to yank her into his arms and shield her from the hurt, but she needed her space as much as she needed to talk about her brother. So, he stayed right where he was, gently massaging her foot and patiently waiting, knowing the reward would be well worth the sacrifice.

“He was going to go into professional baseball. He’d already signed a contract in the minors. He had everything.”

It didn’t take a genius to fill in the gaps. “But he joined the military.”

Her gaze flitted to his and away. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen. If he had a flaw it was unrelenting stubbornness.”

“Something I see is a familial trait,” Diggs said lightly.

Her lips curled for just a moment. “Maybe.”

Diggs snorted, “Definitely.”

“Are you calling me stubborn?” She scowled at him and his amusement soared.

“Never. I’d call you strong-willed.”

Her chin tilted down and her deep red brows dipped low over her emerald eyes. Diggs’ heart did a little flip-flop in his chest.

“Maybe,” she said.

Even though he wanted to kiss that pout right off of her plump lips, the goal of this conversation wasn’t sex—although he had every intention of pursuing that subject thoroughly later. First and foremost, he had to keep her safe. He gave a firm stroke down the arch in her foot. “So, he joined the Marines?”

The light died in her eyes and Diggs wished he could chase the shadows away. She didn’t deserve any of this, and he would do everything in his power to see she was free from the threat.

“Yes, and I can’t even say it was because some recruiter talked him into it. He went of his own free will. He said that he didn’t feel right not doing his part to serve the country that had given him so many opportunities.” Tears welled in her eyes. “But he couldn’t see what I could. Jeremy never did anything halfway. I knew if he joined he’d volunteer for the most dangerous missions. He’d put his life at risk. And I knew the military would take everything he had to give and in the end, they did. They took his life.”

Even though he’d guessed that’s what she’d been thinking, Diggs’ body still reacted as if she’d dealt him a blow. Every man or woman who joined the service did it with the full knowledge that it may mean their life, just as he did. But he also knew there were forces out there greater than himself, and he was happy to make that sacrifice if that’s what was required to ensure that good conquered evil. He’d never be able to sit idly by knowing he hadn’t done his part.

For some reason, maybe miscommunication, lack of education about the military, or just pure hurt, Audra didn’t see it that way. His gut tightened reflexively. He needed to set her straight—for both of their sakes.

“Audra, do you think your brother would’ve lived a full and happy life if he really was that type of man? Because that’s what he sounds like to me—a man willing to do what it took to ensure your safety—hell, our entire country’s safety.” He fought to keep his voice level, even though she’d struck a nerve.

“He shouldn’t have gone,” she said flatly.

This time Diggs didn’t resist the urge to pull her into his lap. He scooted up to the headboard next to her and drew her into his arms, capturing her face between his hands and forcing her to look at him. “Where would we be if everyone thought like that? It’s only because of brave men like your brother that we’re able to live the life we do now. I never knew Jeremy, but from the way you talk about him, I understand him. He needed to do his part.” Just like I do. “He wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night if he’d stayed home and taken the easy route. He would’ve lived a half-life, always regretting what he thought he should have done but didn’t.”

The small pool of tears in her eyes ran down her face unchecked. “But they took him from me. He was all I had left and now he’s gone. I know something bad happened, something that wasn’t supposed to, and it wasn’t because of some random bomb. They had him killed.” Her voice broke on the last word and a deep sob spilled from her lips. “I should have stopped him.”

Diggs drew her head against his chest and held her, rocking back and forth as she cried out her anguish in his arms. More than anything he wanted to take this from her and give her peace, but there was no magic serum to make grief disappear. Only time.

When her sobs finally eased, and the small hiccups and some of the tension left her body, Diggs said, “It’s not your fault.”

“I should’ve tried harder,” she said, her voice hoarse.

“Audra, all you could do was love him and let him be who he was.”

“I do love him. I love him enough to see justice done.” She leaned away and swiped her eyes, then looked up at him with a new level of determination. “I intend to find out what happened. I know they’re not telling me the truth.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because Jeremy told me.”

Diggs paused. “How?”

She took a ragged breath and he felt relief. He could research for hours and find out every detail recorded about Audra and Jeremy, but he’d rather hear the truth from her lips, knowing firsthand how things can get twisted around and hidden if there was foul play involved like Audra suspected.

“Jeremy was set to return home the day before he was murdered. That night his commander ordered him on a last-minute mission. I know because Jeremy sent me a video call and told me something was off.”

Another day in the military in his eyes. Following orders often meant saving the life of your team and the men and women around you, but in this instance, it hadn’t worked out that way. Diggs urged her to continue, “Go on.”

“He’d already bought the plane ticket from Fort Benning back home. I was going to meet him at the airport. But the next phone call I got was from his unit chaplain telling me he’d been killed by an IED.” Her chin wobbled and he saw her fight for control. “I’m sorry. I haven’t talked about this since his death.”

“Because talking about it would make his death real.”

She nodded.

“I’m so sorry,” Diggs said quietly. “I haven’t lost a brother, but I lost my best friend. He was murdered in the line of duty. I still haven’t completely gotten over it, and I still think about him every day.”

“How?”

“I’d been injured badly and couldn’t get to him. I watched him die,” Diggs felt his own voice go hoarse with emotion. “And I live with that guilt every day.”

Audra put her hand on his chest, her green eyes bright with an understanding that made his chest ache. “If you were injured that bad, then how is it your fault?”

He swallowed. Because I should have found a way.

“Was your team there?” she asked.

He nodded, “They were close but they couldn’t get to him either.”

She leaned into him, placing her head on his chest. “That doesn’t sound like your fault. It sounds like there wasn’t anything else you could have done.”

She stroked his abdomen, a feather light caress that seemed to ease him enough so that he could speak. “I feel like I should have found a way.”

“Diggs, I may not have known you for a long time.” She leaned back and took his face between her hands. “But what I do know is that if there was a way you would have found it.”

Diggs shuddered in her soft touch, the deep chasm of guilt he’d been carrying on his shoulders eased a little. “Just like you would have with your brother.”

Unable to resist the temptation of her lips, he dipped his head to hers and feathered a kiss across her mouth, seeking more of the comfort she offered. She made him realize that maybe he couldn’t do it all alone and needed the support of his team. And of Audra.

He needed her just as much as she needed him. “Audra, you can’t do it all alone. I can help you if you let me.”

“What about your team?”

“My team will help too.”

Her eyes flashed with uncertainty and Diggs drew in a breath, knowing he’d have to tell her about their past if he would ever gain her trust. “We were betrayed by our commander. He’s the reason my teammate is dead and he’s the reason Quantum is in a coma.”

“Oh, Diggs,” she gasped, “I’m so sorry.”

“If anyone on this planet would believe things in the military aren’t always what they appear, it is me and my team.”

She trembled in his arms and he pulled her closer.

“Thank you for telling me,” she said in a soft tone.

“I want you to know everything so you can trust us. You can trust me. We are going to help you.”

“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt,” she said.

“You can’t do this on your own. You’ve seen that now.” The image of her in that house, tied to the chair flashed in his mind and his grip tightened reactively. She’d had blood all over her, just like Trigger when Diggs had rescued him on the road.

Another thought struck him, “The man with the bat, that was your dad?”

“Unfortunately, he’s a blood relative. But I haven’t thought of him as my father in a very, very long time.”

“And your mother?” He didn’t remember seeing anything about her mother in Jeremy’s history.

“She left us when we were little. I used to hate her but now I understand why. We heard a few years ago that she’d died in a car wreck. We went to her funeral together, but we didn’t stay and talk to anyone. It was too strange.”

Even though his mother had been hard-pressed to give him her undivided attention, she’d always been there when he needed her. He couldn’t imagine growing up without one. “I’m sorry you didn’t know her.”

Every word she spoke made him realize that Jeremy really was the only family she had left, which helped him better understand her anger and fear.

“So, what about your family?” She started rubbing her cheek against his chest, and the friction was driving him crazy. Diggs had to fight to concentrate on their conversation.

“My family history isn’t really that interesting. I’m the youngest of six brothers. Mom and Dad worked hard to provide for us, they always made sure we had what we needed.” He’d never lacked for anything, but he also never felt full.

“You had that many brothers? Geez, I feel sorry for you.”

Her sarcastic comment took him back. “Why would you feel sorry for me?” From everything she’d told him, her family life had been no walk in the park. She made him feel ashamed for feeling like he didn’t have enough. Compared to what she’d gone through with her mother and father and brother, his family life was a fairytale.

“I love Jeremy more than anything, but when I say he was protective, I mean he could drive me nuts. When one of his friends asked me out on a date in high school, he nearly got into a fist fight. Let’s just say having an older brother seriously limited my social life. Having five of them?” She gave a shudder. “I can only imagine.”

Diggs frowned. He’d never thought of it like that. He’d never really thought much about anything except the fact that he’d always measured up second best and had to work harder to get the same results.

“I guess I never thought of it like that,” he said honestly. “They were always just a part of my life.” At least they had been before he’d become a part of Project Mayhem. Now he couldn’t even contact them for fear General Rainier would have trackers on them. Diggs would die before he became the reason his family was executed or used against him or anyone on the team.

“I bet they’re so proud of you.” Audra blushed and looked down at their hands where he’d joined them. “I mean I guess most people are proud of their family members for being in the military.”

Diggs’ throat closed off, choking the words he longed to confess. His family didn’t know anything about him. They were probably ashamed of him, the black sheep. The rogue son. As far as his family knew, he had been dishonorably discharged from the military a few years ago, around the time he went to forces recon and had been adopted into the black ops unit. God, he wished he could tell them that he’d made something of himself—that he’d saved lives.

He fought to contain the dark emotions but somehow his lips opened and the words spilled out. “They don’t know,” he said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

Why was he telling her this? He’d never told anyone about this part of his life. His teammates knew he’d disappeared, but they had too. It was a sacrifice they’d all made willingly. “I became a part of the military that no one can know about. They think I’m a wanderer. A guy who can’t keep a job and hops from state to state.”

“Oh Diggs, I had no idea.”

He tried to shrug it off like it wasn’t a big deal. “I knew exactly what I was sacrificing when I made the decision.” And he’d never looked back.

This time Audra took his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. “I think I may have had it easier than you,” she said in a soft whisper-like tone.

“Easier? My family is still alive.”

“And they sound like amazing people. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you to know they’re out there, but you can’t pick up your phone and call them. That takes incredible strength to deny yourself such a basic need.”

She thought him amazing and strong?

He didn’t know what to say. His mouth wouldn’t form words, and neither would his mind. She was turning his entire being upside down. He wasn’t supposed to feel this way, so off balance. She was the one in need of help, not him. He’d known what he was doing when he signed up for Project Mayhem; he was the one responsible, no one else.

But the way she was looking at him, not with pity but with awe, humbled him. So, he did the only thing he could—he kissed her, long and hard, putting everything he couldn’t say out loud into his actions. When he drew away they were both breathless and trembling.

And he was aroused. Again.

But the purple shadows beneath her eyes told him she needed to rest, and if there was one thing stronger than his need to take her, it was his need to take care of her. “You need to rest.”

Audra yawned, stretching her arms overhead, and the sheet fell to her waist revealing her glorious breasts. “I’m not sleepy anymore.”

Diggs’ mouth went dry. She’d thought him strong? She was certainly testing his willpower.

Before his body could overtake his mind, Diggs pressed her shoulders firmly into the mattress and pulled the sheet up, covering her gorgeous form. “Your body needs sleep to heal.”

“What about you? Don’t you need sleep?” She lifted up onto her elbow casting him a saucy grin.

“Not as much as you do.” Diggs resolutely gave her his back and went in search of his pants. “I’ll be back. If I’m going to help you, I need to catch the team up. And tomorrow, after you’ve rested, you’re going to show us the video from Jeremy.”

Storm clouds formed behind her eyes, but she said, “Okay. Can you check on Trigger for me?”

“Of course. He’ll be my first stop.” Diggs yanked on his pants and a T-shirt. “If you need me, there’s a phone on the bed stand. Press the pound key and it will buzz me down in the lab.”

“Okay,” Audra said in a sleepy tone.

He paused at the door, turning to look at her one last time. She lay with her hand on the pillow next to her face, eyes shut and lips curled in a contented smile. Diggs scrubbed a hand down his face and left, muttering to himself. With her in his room he’d never get any sleep again.

He took the stairs slowly, mentally shifting gears from the siren in his bed to the mission ahead. He trusted Audra’s instincts, and they all thought Jeremy’s classified profile had seemed odd. It wouldn’t take him long to get more details on his death, and he intended to dig until he could find any hint of a clue that they might need.

And then there was the video message Jeremy had sent Audra. She’d been looking at the message through the eyes of a brokenhearted sister, but he and his team could see things not visible to the untrained eye.

By the time he reached the lab his emotions had returned to near normal. Dr. Averton was standing in the main lab, the large exam table in the middle of the room covered in crumpled bloodstained paper.

“Where’s Trigger?”

She jumped and spun, obviously startled, her hands landing on the bench behind her. Her large sapphire eyes were wide and bright. “You scared me.”

Diggs paused at the door as he felt a tingle of apprehension work its way down his spine. “Where’s Trigger?” he asked again.

Melissa sucked in a deep breath and began ripping the dirty paper from the exam table, balling it up into a wad in her hands. “He’s over there. He’s going to be fine.” Her tone didn’t sound fine, and Diggs noticed she was avoiding his gaze. She went to the trash can in the corner, keeping her face angled just out of sight.

Diggs stepped farther into the room, catching a glimpse of Trigger and his bandaged leg. He was crouching in the corner, teeth bared in Diggs’ direction. “He doesn’t look fine.”

The damn dog was staring at Diggs like he was ready to rip out his throat. Diggs took a cautious step forward and Trigger’s lips curled back along his canines.

“Look, I did what I had to do. He’s going to live.”

Diggs froze on the spot, craning his head as slowly as possible in the direction of the doctor. She was standing at the far counter with her head lowered and her fists clenched on the tabletop.

“What exactly did you have to do?” Diggs kept his tone gentle even while his insides rolled.

She lifted her head and stared at the wall, her normally perfectly straight hair hanging in a mess around her shoulders. “He was going to die, Diggs. Is that what you wanted?” She spun, facing him with defiance and . . . guilt.

Reality hit him like a bolt of lightning. “You gave him the serum?”

“I had to! He had massive internal bleeding.”

“You gave him the serum,” Diggs repeated quietly, unable to believe what he was hearing. They’d all suffered severe side effects, learning to cope with countless migraines and unexpected seizures. “Quantum is in a freaking coma from that shit. Dawson is dead. Whatever made you think that was a good idea?” He shoved his finger in the direction of the dog half cowering half growling in the corner. There’s no telling what kind of reaction he was having to the changes inside his body. Diggs can’t even remember his first month after he’d entered the experiment.

“I couldn’t let anyone else die.” Melissa lowered her chin and stared at the floor. “It’s because of Dawson and Quantum that I gave him the serum.” As if coming to some internal conclusion she lifted her gaze. “No one else is going to die because I couldn’t save them. I don’t care what I have to do.”

In that moment, Diggs both hated and respected the doctor. She had to make life and death decisions that he’d never want to make, but the thought of anyone or anything else going through what he and his team had had to go through with Project Mayhem turned his stomach just the same.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I disgust you.”

Diggs shook his head. “You don’t disgust me, but I’m going to need some time to wrap my head around this.”

He started to pace, his restless energy returning in full force. He could feel the dog’s eyes following his every move. “Did you do any experiments on animals? Were there side effects? Did they go crazy?” Was he going to have to worry about Trigger attacking Audra?

“Some on rats and monkeys. No canines.” She paused allowing him to digest that information. Then she continued, pushing off from the counter and pacing in a small circle on her side of the room. “So far, he’s only shown signs of healing and some paranoia, but we can’t be certain that’s just a result of the serum. He was a bomb-sniffing dog, his handler was killed in the line of duty and he was severely injured, and he’s been physically abused. He more than likely has some post-traumatic stress as a result of all that trauma.”

“And we know from your team that the serum tends to exacerbate certain tendencies, especially until you learn to control them. It’s likely Trigger’s going to need some rehabilitation. And some more training.”

Training he could handle. Rehab? For a dog? “And how exactly are we supposed to go about that?”

“I will do some research and get you some details. I’ve heard of plenty of cases of dogs fully recovering from PTSD, even becoming service dogs to wounded veterans. I can develop a treatment plan for him, if you’d like?”

“Hell, yes, I’d like. Audra won’t recover if Trigger doesn’t make it. He’s the only connection she has left to her brother, and I promised her that I’d do what I could to protect him.” If that meant doing K-9 therapy, so be it.

“Great, then you can start by getting him into that cage over there in the corner.” Melissa tilted her head indicating an almost man-size wire cage with a huge pillow completely covering the bottom of it.

For some reason he got the feeling Trigger would not like being locked up. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Melissa paused in her pacing and stared at him. “We can’t let him run loose around the lab. I don’t know how he’s going to react over the next 24 hours, and it’s safer if we keep him in a controlled environment.”

Trigger was watching the two of them as if he could understand every word they were saying. And if the hair rising on the back of Trigger’s neck was any indication, the dog wasn’t liking their plan one bit. “I’m just saying, he’s not going in that cage, not unless you sedate him.”

Melissa threw up her hands, her frustration palpable. “So, you want me just to leave him out in my lab? What if he destroys it?”

Diggs glanced around at the stainless-steel tables and chairs and drawers. “I’d say it’s a risk I’m willing to take. If he chews through the legs of a table, we’ll know he definitely got a boost of strength.”

Melissa gave him a frown. “Your sarcasm is not appreciated.”

Diggs shrugged. “You think you can get him in the cage?”

Trigger’s half snarl had turned into a full-out growl.

Melissa blew out a long sigh. “No, I guess not. But we’ll need to limit access to the lab, then. At least I can observe him through the video cameras while I do my research on treatment options. You can go find some food and water for him.”

Melissa grabbed up her laptop, a few supplies off the counter and walked out of the room, leaving Diggs alone with Trigger. They stared at each other for a long moment, Trigger’s fear and deadly determination becoming more obvious by the second. He was now actually leaning toward Diggs, his hind legs crouched prepared to spring. Diggs didn’t get the feeling that the dog wanted to attack him, but that he was going into a panic and was scared for his life.

Diggs lifted up his hand and slowly backed from the room, pulling the lab door shut with a soft snick. Through the window, he saw that Trigger seemed to be okay with being left alone, and his top lip had stopped curling.

Juarez came strolling down the hallway, gave Diggs a once over and a grin. “She chew you out?”

“Dr. Averton?” Melissa never chewed anyone out. She was always calm and collected.

“The redhead.” Juarez came to a stop a few feet away, amusement obvious in his black eyes.

Diggs scowled at his teammate. He knew the ribbing would start, but he wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Don’t go in there.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the lab. “The dog isn’t taking too kindly to strangers right now.” Diggs strolled down the hall heading back up to the kitchen.

“Where you going?” Juarez asked from behind him.

“Gotta find the mutt some food. If he chews up Dr. Averton’s equipment she’s gonna blow a gasket.” Diggs slapped his hand on the scanner and ran upstairs, needing to get away from Juarez’s all-too-knowing gaze. Diggs didn’t doubt for a second that his teammate knew exactly what he and Audra had been up to.

The pantry didn’t lend much in the way of dog food, but there was a package of hot dogs and some leftover slices of bacon in the refrigerator. Diggs pulled out both, along with some lunchmeat and a couple of cheese sticks. He found two large bowls and filled one with water and dumped all the food in the other, except for the bacon. It had been cooked, but it was cold so Diggs wrapped it in a paper towel and shoved it in his pocket, intending to use it to distract the dog if necessary.

He managed to make it back down to the lab without spilling the bowls. When he opened the door and went inside, he found Trigger in exactly the same spot where he’d left him, alert and wary in the corner.

“Trigger, I come in peace. Thought you might like something to eat.” Diggs eased the water bowl to the floor first and scooted it a few inches from him.

Trigger didn’t even glance down at the bowl, his intense black gaze locked completely on Diggs.

“Brought you some food too. I think you’re gonna like it.” Diggs kept his voice as calm as possible and eased the bowl of food before him, pushing this one a few feet away because he wasn’t worried about it spilling.

Trigger’s gaze fell to the food but it bounced right back up to Diggs, his expression baleful. Diggs took a couple of steps back, giving Trigger plenty of room, making sure he didn’t appear threatening at all. He found a stool close to the door and eased onto it, sitting there without moving.

Trigger lifted his nose into the air and sniffed, obviously tempted by the assortment of meat. He hopped forward a step and stopped, looking at Diggs then back at the food.

“It’s all yours, buddy.”

Trigger gave him a snarl but then he hopped forward closer and closer until he was standing directly over the bowl of food. He stared up at Diggs as he lowered his head, keeping an eye on him as he devoured the entire bowl in under a minute.

Hopeful, Diggs eased a foot to the floor and rose into a standing position, keeping his hands out at his sides and his shoulders relaxed. He didn’t want to give off any threatening vibes. Trigger kept his head low, his chest over the empty bowl. “It’s okay – “

The door clanged open behind him and bounced off the wall with a loud boom. Trigger started to growl, his black and tan lips curling back from his canines, drool forming at his mouth.

Hicks froze on the spot in the doorway. “My bad.”

Trigger let out a ferocious snarl, muscles bunching thick and tight under his fur.

Diggs kept his voice low. “Back out, slowly.”

For the first time in his life, Hicks kept quiet and did as Diggs ordered, grabbing the doorknob and easing the door shut behind him, leaving Trigger alone in the room with Diggs.

“Easy boy, he didn’t mean to startle you.” Diggs’ words seemed to have no effect whatsoever—he could smell the sanity slipping from Trigger’s mind. He had to do something fast, or that bite on the hand he’d gotten earlier was about to make a ferocious repeat. Or worse.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bacon, slowly unwrapping the paper towel. There were four slices. Diggs ripped one in half and tossed it to the dog. Trigger somehow managed to snarl and scarf up the piece of food off the floor at the same time.

“Good boy, there’s more where that came from.” Diggs held up the other half, dangling it for the dog to see before tossing him that piece too.

Trigger devoured it with his eyes on Diggs the whole time. He gave the dog the next piece and watched as the hair down the dog’s back smoothed from standing straight up. He felt the waves of madness recede slightly. The bacon seemed to be working, but he only had two pieces left.

Diggs tore the next piece in half, and tossed it a little bit closer between them, forcing Trigger to come off his guard over his empty bowl of food to get it. The bacon lay on the floor between them untouched for long, endless minutes. Finally Trigger limped forward, on what was left of his bandaged front leg, moving slowly as he walked.

Diggs held tense and ready to spring for the door if Trigger turned the least bit violent. He had no intention of going head-to-head with the dog, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to stand there and let him bite him again.

He leaned down and scooped up the bacon, giving Diggs a long stare as if he were trying to figure out his game.

Diggs tossed him the other half of the piece, cutting the distance between them again. Trigger limped closer.

“Good boy, that’s it. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to help you.” Diggs gentled his voice and held out the last piece of bacon, keeping it between his fingers this time.

Trigger moved closer, stopping about a foot away. Diggs slowly stretched out his arm, inch by torturous inch, keeping his gaze locked on the dog the entire time. He did his best to put off as many waves of friendliness as possible, hoping the dog could read his intentions.

Trigger stretched out his neck, took the piece of bacon between his front teeth and pulled it from Diggs’ hand before scurrying back to the corner.

Diggs blew out a tense breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Knowing Trigger had trusted him enough not to attack meant there was maybe hope for the dog’s future after all.