“I have work tomorrow, and I have a tiny apartment.”

“You are not going back to your apartment,” Lucian said.

I stared at him, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“Excuse me?”

“I am offering you a job,” he said.

He pulled a leather wallet from his breast pocket.

He did not offer me cash; instead, he pulled out a gold embossed card.

“You will be Bishop’s handler,” Lucian said.

“I don’t know anything about training dogs,” I said, looking at the card.

“Clearly, you do not need to,” he replied, gesturing to the animal at my side.

“He listens to you. He protects you.”

“He was Elena’s dog,” Lucian added, his voice softening just a fraction.

“Since she died, he has tried to kill three different trainers.”

“He has not let anyone touch him in two years.”

I looked down at Bishop.

The gray pit bull looked up at me, his tail giving another hesitant wag.

“I cannot just leave my life,” I said.

“Your life as a waitress?” Lucian asked, a cold smile touching his lips.

“I will pay you ten times what you make at the Black Orchid.”