to him and he turned his head away in an attempt to impede
her view of the tears as they fell. “I bet you never thought this
would be the outcome. All it took was you underestimating
the power of a little pup.” At this, he swung his head in her
direction, contempt emanating from him as their eyes met.
“Don’t bother, Tony. The world already thinks you’re dead.
Killing you would mean absolutely nothing to anyone.”
The hatred melted into a mild panic, and he whipped
his head away once again.
“That’s what I thought,” she continued, standing up.
She cleaned the puppy drool off of his neck, tightened the
ropes around his ankles and wrists, and checked the bandages from the play date they had earlier. “Even the devil doesn’t
want his existence to end,” she whispered as she tucked him
in. She pulled the light cord. “G’night, Tony. Sleep tight.” She
walked out the door and closed it behind her.