Page 104 of A Snowy Escape

Bryant helps me off the couch and pulls me into his chest.

“Ed is an old friend,” Lawson repeats what he said to Tommy. “I’m going to call and let him know what happened. I’m hoping he’ll come out and help us go over your car to check for trackers.”

“I agree,” Luka says. “There has to be one on your car. If he was tracking your phone, he would have shown up here days ago.”

“Won’t that backfire?” I ask. “What if he tries to arrest me? I really did commit a crime.”

“Come here, sweetheart.” Lawson chuckles, holding his arms out.

I cross the distance between us and face-plant into his chest.

“I would never let that happen,” Law says, wrapping his arms around me.

“Me neither,” Luka chimes in. “If I had to, I’d testify that I picked you up from your ex’s house and stole Echo myself while you begged me to leave her behind.”

“I’ll say I drove the getaway car,” Bryant says, his voice growing closer.

Luka’s and Bryant’s scents hit my nose as Lawson lowers his arms. The two join in the hug, and my system revels in being surrounded by all three of them.

“I need to go let Echo out.” Lawson kisses the top of my head. “Honestly, I don’t think he’ll bother us again. I wouldn’t even worry about calling Ed, but I want to make sure that fucker can’t track you from here on out.”

“I can understand that.” I squeeze him back. “I’m updating my Christmas wish to hoping Tommy never bothers us again.”

Bryant or Luka slaps my ass as they both step back.

“Way to break my heart, pretty girl.” Bryant laughs. “I could have sworn your Christmas wish was for the three of us to dress up in reindeer costumes so we can act out that one scene in Sleigh My Heart.”

“Damn, man,” Luka says. “I told you that was my Christmas wish. You suck at keeping a secret.”

I snort, my forehead falling against Lawson’s chest as my shoulders shake.

“I’ll let Santa know that I’d like to amend my wish,” I say, laughing.

Lawson chuckles. “If we don’t have a Santa costume around here somewhere, I’m ordering one. You can sit on my lap, tell me all your Christmas wishes, and I’ll decide if you’re on the naughty or nice list.”

And just like that, all thoughts of Tommy are forgotten.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Luka

Abby’s ex slinks back to wherever he came from, and he doesn’t bother us again. That might be due to the fact there was a tracker on her car.

We had it removed by an officer and a report drawn up, which protected the chain of custody.

It might be a little hypocritical, considering how Echo came to join the family, but after talking to Ed, we wanted that documentation in place in case he ever comes back around.

As far as canine custody goes, legally speaking, it can get murky.

Even though Tommy owned Echo before he and Abby got together, those cases often become a he-said, she-said type of situation.

There’s technically no proof that Tommy didn’t tell Abby that she could take the dog when she left.

The fact his name was on Echo’s vet records was a strike against her, but like Ed said, the police are reluctant to get involved in pet custody cases because they’re just too messy.

In the vast majority of situations, they consider it a civil matter. They wouldn’t come onto our property to repossess a pet. The supposed owner would have to file and take it to civil court.

The judge would be the one to look at all the documentation. He or she would then make a ruling.