Rising Storm Read Online Free PDF Page A

now. The tattoo of a pinup woman on his biceps danced as he tried to control his anger by clinching his hand into a fist over and over again.
    "Don't yell at me, you're the one who thought to use him for training with Antony."
    "We can't have anything go wrong, especially now. We've worked too hard to get here. I'm going to find him. Just let the regional director know the fight went off well tonight. That the winner walked away with eight thousand and regionals made another ten thousand. That'll make him happy. But, for God's sake, don't tell him about Caesar."
    Andre grabbed a spare leash from the dirty floor of their training shed and headed out into the woods with his flashlight. He had to find that damn dog before someone else did.
     
    *     *     *
     
    Katelyn looked up from her paperwork and saw it was already ten o'clock at night. She stretched her legs and grabbed her stethoscope. She'd do rounds and then check on the pit bull. If everything were alright she'd go home and get some sleep before coming back and checking on him early in the morning.
    She made her way to the runs and found Ahmed sitting on the floor of the run with the dog. She couldn't help but smile at his kindness. He had wrapped the dog up in a blanket and rested the dog's big head in his lap. He was quietly talking to him while gently stroking his head.
    "How's our patient?" She asked as she listened to his heart.
    The dog opened his eyes and looked at her. She felt his body tense, but at Ahmed's quiet words, she felt the dog relax once again.
    "I don't know much about dogs, but he's awake. He was cold when he came out of the anesthetic and very scared. Whoever did this deserves a slow and painful death."
    She quietly agreed, but was a little worried by his cold and deadly serious tone that if she said it out loud he may actually do it.
    "His vitals are improving. I’ll give him another round of pain medication and then see how he's doing in a couple of hours. But, now, I'm going home."
    "Let me walk you to the car." Ahmed stood and the dog whimpered. "It's alright Zoticus, I will be back to see you in the morning. This nice lady is going to take care of you tonight." He looked to Bekah and Katelyn almost rolled her eyes at the dreamy grin on Bekah's face.
    "Zoticus?" She asked as they walked outside.
    "It's Latin for 'full of life.'"
    "That is a great name for him. I’ll put it on his chart tomorrow." Katelyn reached her car and tossed in her purse. "I will call you if anything changes."
    "Thank you, Doctor. You were amazing tonight. You have a special gift."
    Katelyn blushed and was glad for the dark parking lot. She climbed into her car and looked up at him.
    "Good night, Ahmed."
    "Good night."
     
    *     *     *
     
    Marshall warmed up a slice of leftover pizza and scooped out a bowl of dog food for his vizsla, Bob. The doorbell stopped him from sitting down at the kitchen table. Looking at his watch, he hoped eleven at night was too late for the Belles to be locked out and wanting to be rescued or for them to just be stopping by.
    "Jesus, what the hell happened to you?" he asked as he took in the sight of Ahmed covered in blood.
    "Hello Marshall. Can I come in?"
    "Of course, do I need to call an ambulance?"
    "No need. Not my blood."
    "In that case, I was just about to eat my… Bob!" His plate was empty and his solid rust colored dog sat in his chair as if it was his. "That was my pizza. How many times do I have to tell you, you're a dog! You eat dog food and you eat it on the floor."
    "I don't think your dog believes you."
    "I don't either. I’ve only been trying to tell him for the past four years, but he thinks I'm full of shit. I don't know if he's ever actually eaten dog food."
    "Your dog frightens me. The way he looks at us, I think he believes he's smarter than us," Ahmed said as Bob rolled his eyes at him and then licked his lips.
    "He may be right. So, you going to tell me what's going on?"
    "I found a dog near