"No Foxy! No!" Lil yelled as Foxy darted down the alley after a fleeing rat that had a chunk of pizza in its mouth. As Lil charged in the alley, she stopped and stared in surprise.
Foxy was snarling and savagery shaking her head with a dead rat flopping in her maw. Across from Foxy an alley fight was in full swing between a very muscular, short Latino and three thugs. The Latino grabbed the top of an old metal garbage can for a shield. The Latino's shield stopped a knife strike right before the shield slammed the knife fighter's face. It floored the fellow and sent his blade bouncing under the dumpster. A second assailant swung a baton that belted the Latino's shoulder instead of his skull. The third thug tackled the Latino from behind. All four of the fellas briefly battled in a blur of blows, holds, throws, and rolls amongst whiplashing limbs.
Foxy dropped her rat trophy and belligerently bolted into battle. She objectively selected one man and bit him in the ass. He screamed. Without missing a beat, her teeth tore into another guy's thigh. The Latino swatted and stomped past the pack to grab his garbage can lid again. Foxy stood by his side growling at the two guys she'd just bitten.
''Do you want any more?" the Latino asked.
The trio of punks obviously had enough. They were all bleeding, bruising, and swelling up from facial injuries. The Latino had a bloody nose and mouth, along with a swelling eye. Foxy looked fine and ferocious. The punks barked insults and threats as they walked away. "Thank you little one."" the guy said to Foxy and she barked once back at him. Then the Latino finally took a good look at Lil and his mouth dropped open. He admired her beauty in speechless surprise.
Lil was equally tongue tied. He was only a little taller than her, but he was built like a powerlifter. He was good-looking with close cropped dark hair and warm brown eyes. She was immediately drawn to him. Just like Foxy was. She had the errant thought that, “He has a way with bitches.". The thought made her smile.
He smiled back. "You and your little dog just likely saved me from a bad beating or worse. Can I buy you both lunch?"
"Sure. Why not?" she agreed.
“What's your name?"
“Lily, but people just call me Lil.”
“Well, my name is Tony and you two likely just saved my life. Thank you.”
“Happy to help,” Lily smiled.
“Does your dog normally attack people like that?” Tony wondered.
.
"She's done worse."
They exited the alley.
Tony led her a block over where there was a cafe with outside tables. They ordered coffee and croissants. He used the bathroom to clean up his bloody face. He still sported cuts, bruises, and his left eye was swelling half shut.
"Have you lived in New York long?" he asked.
"Only a few weeks now. I've been gradually expanding my walks with Foxy to learn the city better. Today we ended up here by chance. Foxy chased the rat and we found you."
"That was fortuitous for me."
The waitress returned with their order. Tony put a croissant down for Foxy. She barked a word of thanks and tore into it. They both laughed and focused on each other around the coffee and snacks.
"She's not even my dog." Lil admitted." I'm a dog caretaker and house servant for a wealthy family that's visiting here. I've worked for them for over four years now. They travel all over the world. We finally came to America."
"It sounds like you like it here,” he observed.
“I do,” Lil smiled.
Tony couldn’t help but grin back as his heart felt like someone had just rasped sandpaper over it.
The End
Bio:
Tom Kropp’s work has appeared in The Horror Zine, J Journal, Chiron Review, Churches, Children and Daddies, Down in the Dirt, Freedom Fiction Journal, Short-Story Me, Blood Moon Rising, Dark Harbor, Flash Phantoms, You Phantomaniacs Anthology, The Listening Eye, Evening Street Review, Conceit, Spotlight on Recovery, Outdoor Life and Muscle and Fitness. His play Jailhouse Confessions was performed at the Kennedy Center in 2019. He has numerous novels and audiobooks available free at Google Play Books. You can read more of his writings at https://tomkropp.wordpress.com.