Because the millisecond my breathing is approaching something close to normal, Samuil hauls me back to my feet and shepherds me towards the west side of Lincoln Park. At least he's slowed his pace. I don't have to trip over my feet trying to keep up, and I'm able to focus on my breathing. In and out, in and out. Easy as pie. It's almost like I've been doing it my whole life or something.
Then we round a corner. A black SUV idles along the curb, two huge men flanking the open back door.
Just like that, breathing is hard again.
One of the men takes Rufus's leash, and I don't know what it says about me that that is when I finally find my voice.
"No. You can't...!"
But they can.
They do.
An extremely confused Rufus is loaded into the back of the car, and I'm lifted into the backseat. I
