Free Damned and Desperate by Tara West Page A

mind.
    I noticed the box of cookies had been shredded, bits and pieces of cardboard strewn all over the floor, but not a crumb in sight. Hmmm. Now I knew why Jack was so eager to go out. He probably had a monster cookie bomb ready to explode.
    Luckily, my headache had subsided to a dull throb. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was something I could manage. Maybe a strong cup of coffee would chase it away. Jack bounded out the door as soon as I cracked it open, his tail wagging constantly as he raced for the stairs. I trudged behind him at a much slower pace, feeling as if I was marching toward my own funeral. Odd analogy, considering I was already dead.
    After Jack left several recycled cookie droppings all over the back yard, and I secretly hoped Mar would step in one of them, we went back inside. I was relieved to find only Cam in the common room. Jack made himself at home on Cam’s lap, soaking in as many pets as he could get. My heart slammed against my chest when I saw the way they were looking into each other’s eyes, almost as if they were silently communicating.
    I moved toward them, feeling as if I was walking on a cloud as this weird tingly feeling raced through my extremities. “Do you know him?”
    Cam scratched behind Jack’s ears as he continued to stare into his eyes. “He’s a guardian to be sure.”
    Omigod. This could be the moment I learn the identity of my dog.
    But did I really want to know? Did I want to associate a human spirit with my canine companion? Because once I figured him out, then what? Would he go back to being human? Would I lose my best friend forever? I was a selfish bitch for wanting to keep Jack as my dog, but I couldn’t help it. I’d missed Jack for so many years. I wasn’t ready to give him up yet. I needed him, and yet I knew I’d have to find out his identity eventually. If Jack was meant to be human, he deserved to be free.
    “But do you know who he is?” I asked with a shaky voice and held my breath, awaiting his response.
    “No.” He frowned before patting Jack on the head. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
    I sighed, though my relief was short-lived. Someone had to know who Jack was. “Well, how do I find out?”
    Cam shrugged. “Start by asking relatives.”
    Uncle Mikey and Grandma would have mentioned something if they’d known him. Then I thought about Mar. Even though I was loathe to accept it, she was a relative, too. Maybe she knew who Jack was. But the thought of asking Mar to do me any sort of favor, other than to go fuck herself, left a sour taste in my mouth.
    “Do you know how long he’s going to stay my dog?” My voice sounded small, even to my ears. I searched his eyes and crossed my fingers as I awaited his response.
    His wings fluttered open as he flapped to his feet. He pulled a beeping cell phone out of his pocket and frowned at it. It was weird seeing cell phones in Purgatory. We seemed to have nothing but hand-me-down technology from 1995, as in big, clunky computers and ancient corded telephones.
    “There’s no telling with guardians.” He trailed off. “Excuse me,” he said and walked out of the room.
    No telling? So he could be my dog one day and my long lost uncle the next? I hated this uncertainty. Well, one thing I did know. I was going to make each day with him count. Jack slapped the sofa cushions with his tail as he barked at me, not an angry bark but the kind that was mixed with a whine because he wanted more scratches. When I sat on the sofa, Jack rolled over and let me scratch his tummy. His leg started to twitch as soon as I found that magic spot running down the side of his back, and he laid there with his lips pulled back in a quirky grin. I loved him so much.
    When I heard a commotion coming from the hall, I assumed Cam had returned. All moisture in my mouth went south when Aedan walked into the room with a pained look in his eyes. “Hey, we need to talk.”
    Oh, great. He already found out about Boner. I stiffened my spine as I