POISON IVY

CH 22

Dimitri

I know a place where we could hide his body

Old man

Don't you worry about your father Belikov, he's a dead man.

Old man you're not going to kill Dimitri's father

Kiz he was warned a long time ago to stay away. Obviously he didn't learn his lesson

I just met you old man, I'm not going to visit you in prison

That would never happen

I should have gotten more than one punch in

Guys can we please not talk about anymore violence

I need a drink

I need two

No you don't

That's what it was like for the past hour. After we left the police station we all conveind at Abe's house except for Ivan and Tasha, she wasn't feeling the best so they went home. We had ordered takeout and we're hashing out what to do. We all had solid alibis for where we were at the time Jesse got beat up, except for the ones that did it. Once we talked it over with Croft he felt that he had enough evidence that he could get the charges on us dropped. The question now was where my father fit in all this.

Rose was in complete awe over Abe's house, well a mansion. I could tell she was completely overwhelmed. I knew she grew up just getting by and after her mother died lost it all. To have her father living in luxury while she struggled was bothering her more than she wanted to admit. It had been a long day and emotions were high so I decided we needed a break. I took her outside to the heated gazebo in the backyard.

"Thank you. It was getting tense in there."

"I told you, he would do anything for his family."

"Yeah, but he was talking about offing Jesse, like for real killing him."

"He didn't earn his reputation for nothing." I tried making a joke.

"Dammit comrade, I'm serious."

"I know you are, but so am I." I grabbed her by her waist and pulled her closer.

"Would a kiss help?"

"Maybe?" She said with a pout on her lips.

"How about we test that theory?" I took no time in pressing my lips to hers. It was a short sweet kiss because I knew we were being watched. If I let it go any longer I wouldn't be able to stop.

I would be lying if I said I didn't want to take her back to my place and do things that Abe would murder me for. But true to my word I would wait till she was ready, I wouldn't push her.

It was still early enough in the afternoon I thought I would take up her idea and head to the animal shelter. She had planted the seed last night about me getting a dog and the more I thought about it the more I loved the idea.

"How about we head out of here? There isn't much more we can do today. I have somewhere I would like to take you."

"A surprise?"

"Yes, but it was your idea." She looked totally confused.

"My idea?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you it's a surprise."

"Please." She looked up at me with those big brown eyes of hers.

"Nope, that's not going to work."

"Please." She pleaded again.

"Stop it." I said playfully back.

"Are you going to make me get on my knees and beg." I leaned in real close and whispered in her ear.

"You do that and I won't be able to keep my promise and keep my hands off of you."

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Rose's face lit up when we arrived at the shelter. It took a good ten minutes before I could get myself together so we could walk back in the house. We left with Rose making her dad promise he wouldn't do anything stupid, for the rest of the day. He said tomorrow is a different story.

I had no idea what kind of dog I was looking for. I figured once I saw them I would know.

"I was never allowed to have a pet growing up. My mom said I wasn't responsible enough for one. Sparky is my first and as you saw, he's still alive."

"Well Betta fish aren't too hard to take care of." I teased.

"I hate you." She stuck out her tongue.

"No you don't."

"What can I help you guys with today?" A young girl asked when we walked in.

"I'm looking to adopt a dog. I live in an apartment. I have a little bit of a backyard that's fenced in, but not large enough for a dog that needs room to run.

"Ok, follow me and I'll show you where we keep the dogs." We followed her to the back, I could hear barking before she even opened the door.

"Walk around and take a look. If there is one that you would like to see, let me know. We have a room where you can spend some time with them. If you find one that you would like to adopt we can start the paperwork today." She left us alone and we walked around. Rose walked up to every cage putting her hands through the bars so she could pet the dogs. All of them came right up and licked her hand. She would analyze, then move on to the next. I had a feeling I would have no say in which dog I chose and I was ok with that. She was smiling and that was all I needed.

"This one, I want to see this one." I came up behind her to see what she had found. In the back corner of the cage was this little thing of a dog shaking. I looked at the tag on the outside of the cage. She was a two year old Chihuahua that had been rescued from a hoarding situation. It looked like she had been here for some time. I walked out of the room to get the girl, so she could open up her cage.

"Ah yes, sweet little Scarlet. She's been here for about six months. She gets passed over all the time, no one wants to put the work into her. She doesn't trust people, her last owners abused her." She told us as she opened the cage. Rose didn't even ask and walked right in. She sat down so she could be at scarlet's level and put her hand out. At first she backed away from Rose, but Rose just sat there holding her hand out being patient. Then slowly scarlet put her head up, and started to sniff Rose's hand. Inch by inch the dog got closer to her till Rose could pet her head.

"I think she likes you."

"You're such a sweet girl aren't you" She said to Scarlet then picked her up and put her in her lap. She looked up at me and I knew this little scrap of a dog would be going home with me.

Just a little fluff piece till we get to some of the heavy stuff that's going to come next.