Quin was with me when I found this one-bedroom apartment right on the outer edge of Glory. The month’s rent cost more than I usually liked, but after everything that happened with Cain, I had to splurge on myself. I couldn’t do another shitty hotel room.
I deserved more.
Squeak. Squeak.
Quin begged me to stay with Mimi and her. However, I needed my space. I was still trying to mentally process everything that had happened.
Squeak.
So, Quin gave me her huge rottweiler, Boss to help with security. He was a pleasure, besides his little hobby.
Squeak. Squeak.
I wish he would leave that damn thing alone so I can think.
Squeak.
Quin had explained that the odd toy was called a Hotdoll. It was this large plastic doll shaped just like a big dog. However, the feet had flat stands to make sure the object stayed in place, while the dog humped it from behind.
I’d been horrified, but Quin explained that dogs had enormous sexual appetites that couldn’t be controlled easily. So this artificial object served as a natural way to satisfy Boss’s sexual impulses.
Additionally she’d named his hotdoll, Queen.
Squeak.
Quin had a passion for stray dogs. She loved to rescue them from the streets and train them.
She’d found Boss as a puppy. The owner had slung him in the dumpster. His hindlegs were broken. The first few months, she focused on healing him. Once he could walk again, she got him over the fright of her and me. He’d been a terrified little creature, jumping and whimpering anytime we came near.
His previous owner had definitely abused him.
A year later, Boss could be found right next to Quin, unable to be too many feet away from her. That was when she began teaching him basic commands. Quin always had Boss in Victory Park playfully racing after the kids. She never had to keep him on a leash. He immediately came when she called. He sat when she ordered. He jumped up high when she flicked her hand to the left. He barked in rhythm to the tapping of her hands.
The little guy grew into a massive monster coiled in muscle.
She moved on to showing Boss how to defend her and attack others. Boss served as her most protective dog out of all her strays. Anyone tried anything and he would send shivers of terror through their body.
Squeak. Squeak.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Alright, Boss. You’ve been at it for twenty minutes. Surely, everyone is good to go.”
Squeak. Squeak.
“I mean really, Boss. Queen may be plastic, but she deserves a rest.” I clapped my hands. “Come on, boy.”
Boss whimpered from the bedroom and then trotted into the tiny living room.
Someone knocked at the front door.
Boss’s heavy barks filled the space.
Holding my breath, I grabbed my gun and took the safety off.
Whoever it was knocked again.
Please, don’t let this be Cain.
I tip toed toward the door and pointed the gun in that direction.
Quin’s voice came next. “It’s us, Nix.”
Sighing, I lowered the gun, got to the door, and opened it. “Is everybody okay?”
Quin looked annoyed while Devin appeared shaken.
“That motherfucker Cole is big.” She carried her helmet in along with a torn-open present. Ripped red paper dangled from it. She set both the gift and helmet on the table and rushed to Boss. “Hey, papi.”
The rottweiler went crazy as soon as he saw her, jumping up and licking her hands. He wagged his tail and barked.
“Yes, papi.” Quin lowered to the ground with Boss. “What’s my baby been doing while I’ve been gone?”
I grimaced. “Fucking the shit out of that doll. That’s what he’s been doing.”
Chuckling, Quin scratched his ears and lay on her back while Boss licked her cheeks. “Why is your auntie lying on you like that?”
Devin handed me a shot gun and walked in. “Can I get something to drink, Phoenix?”
“Of course.” I shut the door. “Check the fridge. You can have whatever you want.”
His face brightened. “Hell yes. You got gin or vodka? I can do brown liquor too or even a nice cold beer—”
“You better get a glass of milk and sit your young ass on the couch.” I put the shot gun next to the door. “By the way, where did you get this shotgun? It looks familiar.”
“Milk?” Grumbling, Devin went over to the fridge.
Quin rolled around with Boss. “It was in my stash in the alley near 9th street and the Z Freeway.”
“What were you doing that far out?” I quirked my brows. “That’s the shotgun you have in that large hole in the brick wall behind the dumpster?”
“That’s the one.” Quin laughed as Boss tried to nip at her cheek. “You want to get rough, papi. I’ll show you something.”
He wagged his tail as she flipped him over.
Barking, he jumped back up, grabbed the bottom of her shirt, and tried to wrench it away.