Page 41 of Vabar

I huddle in a ball, willing Daddy to find me. I don’t want to be passed off to whoever bought me from these men. That can’t be good. Only evil people would kidnap another being. Whoever it is can’t possibly be a kind, generous owner.

A very loud sound causes me to screech and cover my ears. Yet again. I don’t dare close my eyes, though. I’m stunned to see that the three men who were just arguing around me have dropped to the floor. They aren’t moving. I think they’re dead. Were they shot? All at the same time?

More shouts, accompanied by heavy footfalls, cause me to panic all over again. Is someone else kidnapping me?

I’m nearly hyperventilating, my hands over my ears, as someone squats in front of me.

Daddy!

TWENTY

In record time, Daddy opens the door to my cage. He reaches in and hauls me out, pulling me into his arms. He’s even careful to keep the blanket covering my naked body.

He rises from the floor, gripping me so tightly that I can’t take a full breath. But I don’t care. He’s here. He found me. He’s alive.

Daddy rocks me, patting my back and kissing my cheeks. Eventually, he leans me back just enough to look at my forehead. “You’re bleeding.”

“It’s okay. It’s just a cut.”

His brow is deeply furrowed as he secures me, with one hand tucked around me, and lifts the other to touch the wound.

I wince.

“We’ll have the doctor look at it.” He meets my gaze. “I’m so sorry, Little pet.” He pulls me in again and rocks me.

I feel loved and secure. Cherished. He came. He found me. I’m important to him. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on so tightly no one would be able to separate us.

Someone comes up behind Daddy. He’s holding something similar to my harness, and he helps Daddy put it on, threading one arm first and then the other through the straps.

Daddy pries me a few inches away from his body.

I whimper, unwilling to release his neck.

He meets my gaze. “It’s just for a few seconds, Little pet,” he says gently. “Trust Daddy.”

I sniffle as the man secures the straps around Daddy’s front, snapping it together in several places before he finally hooks the front of Daddy’s to the front of mine with a very short connector.

“There,” the man says, smiling at me. “No one can get you now.”

I realize it’s Longi. One of Daddy’s daytime employees. Why is he here?

Daddy pulls me in against his chest, adjusts the blanket over my shoulders, and tucks the material around me so no one can see an inch of my torso.

Hugging his neck again, I finally begin to believe I’m safe.

As I look at my surroundings, I see dozens of Venkorians rushing around us. They are all doing a job. It looks like a crime scene out of a movie people on Earth used to watch.

It is a crime scene. Three people kidnapped me. They’re now dead. Someone has covered their bodies with tarps. A few other Venkorians are in handcuffs across the room. They’re complaining and arguing their innocence. I assume one of them is the one who bought me today. The others are undoubtedly his accomplices.

Daddy brings his lips to my ear. “I was so worried you were killed when they blew that huge hole in the floor to break your chain.”

“I wasn’t, Daddy. I was just scared, and my ears were ringing.” I gasp, my eyes going wide. “Is Trobu okay? One of those men kicked him so hard, he went flying.”

“I think so, Little pet. Someone is tending to him and the other animals.”

My eyes widen further. “Did you find Suzy? She was so scared that she escaped my arms and ran out of the kennel.”

Daddy slowly smiles. “Suzy, huh? I guess you named the tiny marn.”