Hannibal: Stargazer Alien Mystery Brides #1 (Intergalactic Dating Agency) by Tasha Black

Author:Tasha Black [Black, Tasha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 13th Story Press
Published: 2020-09-13T18:30:00+00:00

12

Hannibal

Hannibal watched Vi as she drove the misleading truck.

Her mouth was set in a firm line, but her eyes were alive with excitement.

He longed to know what she thought about their bond. It seemed that the day was exploding in front of them with pancakes, missing dogs, old ice cream trucks - anything that could halt the conversation he had begun.

He had opened his heart, told her that his soul was bound to hers, no matter what she decided.

And she had not responded to his unasked question.

The road Vi chose grew more rural as they traveled it. The shops and close together homes of the village quickly melted into more spaced-out dwellings, and then into this area of farmland.

Hannibal knew they were closer to the lab now, closer to the rest of his brothers. He hoped that aliens would not be blamed for whatever had befallen poor Sassafras. Mrs. Griffin already suspected them.

“Here we are,” Vi said, pulling the van to the side of the road.

They got out and Hannibal looked around at the fields and barns and a handful of farmhouses. Where they had parked, a paved side street intersected with the main road.

There were no dogs.

“The guy who commented on my post said he’d seen the dog on this side street,” Vi said, pointing. “I thought I’d pull over here, so the sound of the truck doesn’t spook him.”

“Good idea,” Hannibal agreed.

They headed off together as Vi fussed with something in her pocket. A moment later, she opened a napkin to reveal several sausage links.

“You were still hungry,” he said. “Good thinking to bring a snack.”

Hannibal was still hungry himself. He wished he’d thought to bring some food with him.

“It’s not for me,” Vi laughed. “It’s for Sassafras. I’m betting he’s hungry if he’s been out here on his own. It might convince him to come with us.”

“That is very clever,” Hannibal said, impressed.

“Not really,” Vi replied. But she smiled in a pleased way.

They turned onto the little side street and Hannibal focused on looking for the dog. After only a minute or two, he spotted movement among the recycling bins on the edge of the street.

“Is that Sassafras?” he asked.

The creature did not look like the picture he’d seen at Mrs. Griffin’s house. That one had been a baby. This one looked older and more jaded. Mrs. Griffin had told them that he was a beagle, like the famous Snoopy from the Halloween program.

Hannibal didn’t see the resemblance.

“That’s him,” Vi said excitedly. “Just follow my lead.”

She moved slowly and calmly, easing closer to the dog.

When it finally noticed her, she held out the sausages.

“Hey, Sassafras,” she sang in a low, soft voice. “Hey, buddy. Do you want some sausages? Come.”

The dog turned to her and jogged forward, its chain collar clinking merrily.

“Hi,” Vi said, sitting on the ground and letting the little dog climb all over her.

First, he sniffed her face. Then he washed it thoroughly with his tongue.

Then, and only then, did Sassafras accept the sausages, which he downed enthusiastically in as few bites as he could, without saving any for anyone else.

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