The doors open behind us before Ivy races outside carrying the puppy. “Maggie! Look!”
The puppy now wears a bandana tied crookedly around its neck.
“Oh, my goodness,” I say, forcing warmth back into my voice. “He looks very fancy.”
“He’s ready for the adoption event.”
“Well bless his little heart.”
Ivy beams before holding the puppy higher. “Jules said he has emotional support eyebrows.”
“He absolutely does,” Jules confirms solemnly.
Irina follows behind Ivy, though her eyes focus on the parking lot instead of the puppy. I can see the tension in her shoulders.
“You should go home soon,” she says gently.
I frown. “The event prep still isn’t finished.”
“You are exhausted.”
“She’s right,” Jules says. “You’ve been here all day.”
I start to argue before my phone vibrates inside my back pocket.
Alexei.
Just seeing his name releases some of the pressure in my chest.
I answer immediately. “Hi.”
“How bad was it?” he asks.
I lean forward, pressing my free hand against my forehead. “How did you hear about it that fast?”
“My men called.”
Around me, the shelter continues to hum with activity as volunteers reorganize supplies. I watch one of Alexei’s men walk the perimeter fencing again while speaking quietly into his earpiece.
“It’s handled,” I tell him.
“That’s not what I asked.”
His voice drops lower on the last word, and God help me, I feel it everywhere.
I close my eyes briefly. “Nobody got hurt.”
He releases a long breath. “Maggie.”
“There were two men here today,” I admit. “One outside earlier. Then another pretending to deliver supplies.”
The silence afterward is intimidating.
“What did they say to you?” he probes.
“That I should be careful.”
“Did either of them touch you?”
