In the early hours of the morning, Alex sat in the armchair watching Ísis sleep, his laptop resting on his lap. Sleep wouldn’t come. Not after everything that had happened. He had already watched the footage of the fight three times.

Duck, lying across from him, lifted his head, slowly sat up, and placed a paw on Alex’s leg in a silent gesture of concern.

Alex let out a deep sigh and rubbed a hand over his tired face before sinking his fingers into the dog’s fur, gently stroking between his ear