Page 50 of Sanctuary

Misty nodded her head and took Sarah’s arm to draw her away from Simon.

Simon lifted Jerry’s foot, but before he could drag him, the door flew open.

Dale pointed the gun at Simon’s chest. Paige looked terrified and struggled to get Dale’s hand from her wrist. He backhanded her with the gun, and she hit the doorjamb before she crumpled on the floor and didn’t move.

“You had your chance,” Dale told Simon. “How did it feel when you threw my friend over the cliff? Did excitement run through your veins? I feel it now, even though you weren’t a very good hunt.” Spit sprayed from his mouth. He looked over his shoulder at Paige before he met Simon’s eyes again. “This one thought I was stupid like you. If she were a little nicer, she wouldn’t get hurt.” He nudged Paige with his boot, but she didn’t move.

Simon took a step toward Dale.

“Stop there.” His gun turned toward Sarah. “This kid doesn’t interest me.” He met Simon’s eyes again. “You will do exactly as I say, or I’ll shoot her. I want a head trophy for my wall, and you’re going to get it for me. I can’t take your head, and I want that tiger.”

Simon couldn’t allow him to hurt anyone else. He bent low and charged.

Dale fired the gun.

Chapter Thirty-One

Savage Sanctuary Island, Misty

Time slowed. Even Misty’s scream sounded long and drawn out, not quite real. Simon slammed into the hunter, and they both fell on Paige, who still hadn’t moved. A moan sounded, and she looked down to see Jerry lying on the floor with a hand to his chest, his eyes filled with pain.

“He had to kill all of us or he would go to prison.” He coughed. “Couldn’t let that happen.” Blood pooled beneath him.

A cry of rage filled the apartment, and Misty turned. The hunter had managed to get away from Simon and now had the gun pointed at him again. His sneer would stay with Misty for a long time. His arm lifted an inch higher.

“Everything here is mine, and I’m taking it. You and your precious cats can rot in hell.”

Dale slammed forward, Indra on his back, his large teeth going around Dale’s neck. His scream held terror and knowledge. Bones crunched, the horrible sound filling the room. The scream died suddenly, and all that was left were the sounds of the hurricane.

“Indra,” Simon said softly, drawing the cat’s attention toward him. “Are you okay, boy?”

The tiger growled, his mouth still around Dale’s neck.

“Don’t move,” Simon told Misty and Sarah.

“What about Paige?” Misty whispered.

“I’m squished like a pancake but awake,” Paige said. “I’m not moving.”

Slowly, Simon approached Indra and placed his hand on the tiger’s back. Almost carefully, Indra dropped the hunter and rubbed his head against Simon’s side.

“I need help,” Jerry said, his voice cracked with pain.

Simon’s eyes landed on his boss. This was the man who rescued him so many years before. He’d given Simon responsibility and taught him to care for the cats. He’d also abused them. Simon remembered the mothers’ and babies’ cries when they were separated. He remembered the sounds of gunfire when the hunters came to the island. After their pictures with the savage beast they murdered, they left the body and took the head. How many headless cats were buried here?

Jerry had needed someone who wouldn’t ask questions or challenge his illegal activities. He’d found that person in the huge man who couldn’t read or write and was slowly starving on the streets. Jerry was a horrible person. Simon bent down and scooped up Dale’s gun.

“Misty, Sarah, Paige, go into the bedroom and close the door.” He leveled the gun at Jerry.

“You don’t want to do this,” Jerry said, the whine in his voice turned on high.

“You are a very bad man. You hurt the cats. The cubs are taken from their mothers; other cats are hunted. You lied to me from the beginning, and I didn’t understand what an evil person you were. You wanted more money just for you. You could always feed the cats, but you like hurting them.” Simon shook his head, his grip steady, his entire being focused on Jerry and what had to be done.

A hand landed on Simon’s wrist, and he looked down into Misty’s eyes. Her soft smile made his heart clench.

“Please go into the bedroom,” he said.

“It’s okay, Simon. I have an idea.”

---