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And I can't help it. I think of the anxiety and panic I felt last night at Sully's house alone wondering if Thad was outside somehow watching my every move through the covered windows, and I want to ask to borrow Havoc for the nights Sully isn't there. I shake my head at myself.

"You want to try a few commands?"

I frown up at Lawson. "He'd listen to me?"

"If I put him under your hand, yes. He obeys who I tell him to obey. Come on, let's give Chopper room for his beauty sleep."

We leave Chopper snoozing there in front of the office and walk close to the mats. I feel Sully's gaze on us, but I doubt he's able to hear the conversation with all the activity throughout the room.

Once in an open space, Lawson says something in a language I don't understand, and without hesitation, Havoc comes to stand in front of me, staring up at me as though waiting for instruction.

"Give him an order," Lawson says, lifting his chin toward the sleeping Chopper.

I swallow hard and find my voice. "Havoc, guard Chopper," I say, pointing to the dog.

Havoc shoots across the floor and places himself before the sleeping dog, scanning the room for any potential threat.

"Buzz!" Lawson calls out. "Come out and be your creeper self."

"Aw, man, seriously?"

I see a large man emerge from the office. He gives us a resigned glare and walks close to Chopper. Havoc begins growling, and Buzz stops.

"You can do better than that," Lawson taunts.

"I don't need a dog bite, man," Buzz shoots back but he inches closer, and Havoc gets more aggressive, barking enough that poor Chopper wakes up to look around in befuddlement at what the fuss is about.

Buzz immediately backs up. "You owe me a drink at the Pelican for that," he calls as he goes back to the office.

"Release Havoc and call him to you," Lawson says softly. "Release means his job is done."

"Havoc, Release. Come," I say, feeling awed and even a bit breathless at how well the dog behaved. I give Havoc all the pets as he rubs up against my legs, a very different dog than the one I just watched work. "You're a good boy, aren't you? You're amazing. I need a furry friend like you," I say before I can call the words back.

"Just remember—Havoc is a tool. A very expensive one but a tool all the same. He's trained, but he needs instructions to know what to do, which means keeping my head in a bad situation so we aren't hurt."

I understand what he's saying, what he's teaching. "But how do I keep fear from taking over if I'm being attacked? That's impossible." I think back to the years of my marriage when fists landed by my head and things were thrown, where anger was the tool used to frighten and strength used to control physically. To make it clear I had no choice but to obey.

"You choose it, Violet. You get one second. Two. That's all survival is sometimes. You choose to keep your head. If you don't, you'll be the victim."

Chopper snorts loudly and releases an ongoing grumble that lasts several seconds while he rolls to his stomach and plants his face on his paws, eyes half closed as he inhales deeply and sighs again.

"Havoc works," Lawson says, his voice tinged with amusement, "and Chopper supervises."

I huff a laugh, but my gaze lingers on the big dog reveling in my welcoming touch. And I come to terms with the fact that when I grow up, I want to be brave like Havoc and face the fear of Thad with the courage of a bulldog.

Chapter 38

Sully

* * *

Over the next four days, my girl insists on going back to Safe Harbor to train daily before we head to the bar. Ty's back in the hospital due to breathing issues, and the docs are worried about pneumonia from his broken ribs. They've admitted him again for some heavy duty IV antibiotics, which leaves Violet looking visibly guilty and worried for all her boss is going through.

I know I'd feel the same way, but I hate that Violet feels responsible. It's not her fault her ex is who he is. She doesn't need one more thing weighing her down.

With the Saints covering the burger bus, Violet insists on keeping the Pelican open for Ty. I help out wherever I can, as do the guys from my crew. Jameson Dean has bartending experience and proves extremely useful, while Hudson makes a fool of himself flirting with all the women while delivering drinks.

That's the thing about Carolina Cove as a community. The locals take care of each other. Whether due to flooding or hurricane damage or illness, help is always available in a boots-on-the-ground kind of way.