I rescued an abandoned dog off the street, and he ended up saving my life
CHAPTER 9
The police took the fire seriously.
But the attackers were gone.
Ethan stopped trusting authorities.
Lily agreed.
They returned to Texas.
They needed proof strong enough to bring down Richard Vale.
The hard drive contained it.
But one file was encrypted.
The password was Jack’s birthday.
It worked.
A video opened.
Jack appeared on screen.
Older.
Tired.
And clearly afraid.
“If you’re watching this, I’m probably dead.”
Lily cried.
Jack continued.
“Scout has the evidence.”
He paused.
“I know they’ll search for him.”
He looked directly into the camera.
“Don’t let them take him.”
Then he said something Ethan would never forget.
“Scout knows who killed me.”
The video ended.
Ethan looked at the dog.
“What do you mean?”
Scout stared at him.
Then walked to the door.
Outside was a familiar black SUV.
Ethan’s heart dropped.
Richard Vale had found them.
Men stepped out.
Ethan grabbed Lily.
Scout barked.
The men approached.
Then Scout ran.
Not away from them.
Toward the truck.
The engine started.
The truck moved.
Ethan understood.
“Go!”
They jumped into his car.
The chase lasted three minutes.
Three minutes that changed everything.
The SUV forced them toward a bridge.
Ethan tried to escape.
His brakes failed.
Scout suddenly jumped onto his lap.
He hit the steering wheel.
Ethan turned instinctively.
The car smashed through the barrier.
They crashed into the shallow river below.
Ethan blacked out.
When he woke, water filled the cabin.
Lily was trapped.
Scout was gone.
Then something hit the window.
Scout.
Swimming beside them.
He pulled Ethan toward the surface.
Ethan freed Lily.
They reached shore.
Ethan collapsed.
Scout lay beside him.
Soaked.
Exhausted.
Alive.
That was the moment Ethan understood.
The dog he’d rescued from the highway had now saved his life.
