AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He tore his gaze away first. Seyla followed his focus back to the sunset.
After several more minutes, he asked, “Do you think a promise should be honored, no matter what?”
“I think breaking a promise shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
“Yeah.” The word floated over the air, yet it carried an ominous note. His thumb skimmed over hers several times. Abruptly, he stood up and turned away from her. “Goodnight, Seyla.” He slipped through the doorway and disappeared.
What just happened?
And why did that sound like a “goodbye” rather than a “goodnight”?
Seyla sat there, stunned, for several minutes. Then her gaze fell on the sanctuary building. Time was running out on her own promise. And if she wanted to keep that promise to the animals,Jessa, and Chase, she had to find a way to catch a cunning predator.
The most dangerous kind.
A human predator.
/////
Jax stared at the note in his hand.
WENT TO WORK. HAVE TO SAVE THE SANCTUARY.
He heaved a sigh.
Seyla was in no shape to go anywhere, let alone to work after nearly drowning two days ago.
Besides, what could she do to save the place at seven o’clock in the morning?
He didn’t see her rental car in the parking lot, either. Was it on the other side of the building? He grabbed his keys and got in the truck, intent on making sure she’d made it there and talking some sense into her.
Once there, he asked the receptionist, Ada, to page her. It would come across as odd to ask if she was at work and then leave. Besides, he needed to see for himself that she was okay.
Ada frowned at him.
“That’s a beautiful color on you,” Jax said, pointing to the large flower made of amethyst knockoffs pinned to the woman’s blouse.
She beamed at the compliment and called for Seyla over the intercom.
Jax stood there, as if waiting for his next breath. How had she slipped under his skin? Become so much to him in such a short time? Perhaps she’d never left his heart. It wasn’t a welcome thought—loving her. Love embodied loss to him. Loss and pain. Terror waged war against relief when she appeared in the lobby.
Seyla flashed him a brief smile and sailed past him into another office. “Thanks for letting me use your printer,” Jax heard her say to a coworker prior to returning. “Give this to Ellen for me, will you?” she said to Jax, handing him a paper with a printed recipe for lumpia on it. She must have seen the confusion on his face, because she rushed to explain. “Ellen asked me for the recipe the other night, but the main printer isn’t fixed yet.”
“Oh, okay.” When had things turned awkward? What was wrong with him? He caught himself before he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “How are you feeling?”Lame, Jax. Really lame.
“Better, thanks. And thanks again for finding Havana.”
“Who?”
Seyla laughed. “Havana. The husky’s name is Havana. She had a microchip, thankfully. Jessa located her family within ten minutes. They live a couple miles down the road.”
“Oh, good.”
Seyla tilted her head toward the door, and they filed outside into the sunshine.
Then stood in silence for several minutes.
“My uncle’s old partner has an inside source at the range. That’s classified information. Don’t ever mention it to anyone.”
