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He’d caught a glimpse of Victor Soros, hidden behind a vehicle, after they finished their interviews with the sheriff tonight. He knew what that signified. A story. Not one extolling the virtues of the sanctuary. No, it would instead shred the sanctuary’s reputation beyond repair. Should he tell her? Would it do any good?
Jax opened his mouth. The landline phone rang before he got the chance. “Wow, it’s weird to have to rely on a phone attached to the wall. Are you okay if I answer this?” He pointed to it.
Seyla laughed. “Sure.”
He picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Jax?”
“Ellen? Are you guys on your way?” A sniffle on the other end of the line sent him to his feet. “Ellen? What’s wrong?”
“It’s your uncle. He’s okay, but he had another heart attack. Although it was a small one, they’re keeping him overnight for observation. Matt and his friend are here with me. They’re going to come over and stay there with you and Seyla since I have to stay here. Matt insisted.”
Jax felt like his chest had been blown apart by shrapnel. He collapsed into the chair.
A hand closed over his. He looked up, confused.
Seyla stood next to him, concern etched in her features.
“Where is he?”
“Haven Hospital.”
“I can be there in twenty minutes.” Jax scrawled the room number on a notepad and hung up. Fear squeezed his heart.
He turned to Seyla. “I have to go. My uncle had another heart attack.”
Jax watched guilt wash over her. She should feel guilty. He brushed the petty thought aside and stood up.
“I can go with you—”
“No!” The word shot from his mouth, ricocheting through the room. Jax knew he should apologize, but the words wouldn’t form.
Seyla’s eyebrows shot up, her chin jutting back. After a brief moment, she sighed and put a hand on his forearm.
Her touch felt like home and betrayal all at once.
“What can I do to help?”
The words buzzed around Jax’s head, jabbing through the thin veil holding back the fear and anger. He clamped his eyelids together for a second.
If she wanted to help, why was she protecting the organization responsible for causing the heart attack?
Jax withdrew, breaking their contact, and laced his hands behind his head. “A lion, Seyla. My uncle came face to face with a lion. Do you get how insane…how dangerous that is?”
“I do.”
“No, I don’t think you do. That man has seen more than any human being should in forty years as a police officer. It takes a lot to unnerve him. Yet that sanctuary has led to two heart attacks now. He can’t take much more, and I won’t lose him. What can you do to help? You can stop making excuses for them. You can think about what my uncle experienced when he knelt down next to his own deck, thinking there must be an opossum or dog under it, only to find himself staring into the eyes of a lion. And you can guarantee it won’t happen again.”
“She’s a lion cub named Raya. People hand-raised her. She wouldn’t have hurt him.”
“That somehow makes it better? How was he supposed to know that? He saw a lion’s face right in front him. And that was enough. Enough to nearly kill him.”
Seyla’s chin dropped. “You’re right. All I can say is how sorry I am that it happened. That he got hurt. Here’s the thing, though—a person cut the fence and let Raya out. A person used her as a weapon to scare your uncle.” She crossed her arms. “I can’t let them win. There are too many lives at stake.”
“Yeah, and my uncle’s life is one of them.” Jax dropped his hands onto his hips. He dipped his head, rolled his lips between his teeth, and bit down on them. “I’m not denying that we’ve got to talk through this. However, the discussion will have to wait. Make yourself at home. We have a state-of-the-art security system here. I’ll set it on my way out, so you’ll be safe. You’ll have Rock here too. Don’t open any doors or windows unless you need the alarm to go off, okay?”
“What if I have to go somewhere?”
