Just alert.
“Get that dog away from the child immediately,” the officer continued, voice tightening, “or we’ll have to intervene.”
The entire patio had gone quiet.
I could feel dozens of eyes watching.
Waiting.
I finally looked up.
“You don’t need to intervene,” I said calmly. “Nobody here is in danger.”
The officer glanced at the dog again.
Atlas’s scars didn’t help my case.
“Sir,” the animal control officer added, tightening his grip on the pole, “that animal has multiple visible injuries consistent with fighting.”
Chloe gasped softly.
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