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Fear and anger propelled me to my feet. “I have nothing to do with your family drama. Leave mine out of it.”
I stormed in the opposite direction of where he stood, hoping there was a door.
“Oh my dear, how wrong you are.” His voice stopped me when I’d reached the shadows. “Did Miss Adeline tell you about her recent visit to her physician?”
What visit?
“Hmm. I didn’t think so. Wouldn’t it be a shame . . . well, you should probably discuss it with her.”
I couldn’t move. Was he lying? Or worse . . . was he telling the truth?
“And don’t think you fooled anyone regarding the whereabouts of those other mutts. I have to hand it to you. Daniel Elliott isn’t someone I want to cross, but rules are rules. I hear the city shelter is intensely overpopulated. How many animals do they exterminate a day?”
A violent trembling rattled my core. Whether or not he was being honest about Miss Adeline didn’t matter. I understood every unspoken syllable.
He’d hurt my family.
He’d hurt my dogs.
He’d hurt my friends.
And he’d do God knew what to Teague.
This man redefined the word manipulation.
“And Pepper?” I closed my eyes. This couldn’t be happening. “You will make sure my son is my employee within twenty-four hours. It’s mind-boggling how many accidents happen these days . . . to the elderly. To animals. Safety is such an illusion.”
Chapter Four
Pepper
Brooklyn.
He’d taken me to Brooklyn with no money or phone to get back to Grey Paws.
It was late. I had no idea where a subway station might be, and there wasn’t a cab in sight.
Twenty-four hours.
I had twenty-four hours to convince Teague to go to work for his family business.
Or I would lose everything.
And I couldn’t do either.
How was I supposed to tell him the position his father had put us in? He’d quit the job he loved for me and the dogs.
Everything he’d done proved he’d make the sacrifice.
I couldn’t let him be miserable for us.
But if he didn’t, where did that leave Miss Adeline and me and Grey Paws? Teague’s father had already divided us. He took me tonight. What else was he capable of?
And why? What wouldn’t he stop at? What accidents?Crap.
You could run.
I leaned against a light pole.
