Page 53 of Jersey

Instead of internalizing why that may be, I wish I had brought my own SUV so I could persuade the woman to leave with me when her time here was done.

Chapter 21

Caitlyn

I fight the urge to look in Mr. Hart's direction.

Also known as Hemlock, and who the guys at the cabin call their president, the man is all too observant. I've discovered him watching me more than once today, and that means that both he and Nolan are suspicious of my unease.

Eli had wanted to take Kiva to the park since they don't have much of a yard at the cabin, considering it's right in the middle of a small community of other cabins.

I was ready to explain we couldn't do that because it was dark when Nolan spoke up about a dog park in town that he'd read about. I have no doubt the man found the park with a quick search the second his son mentioned wanting to get out of the house.

Kiva ignores all the other dogs around her in favor of having all of Eli's attention, and I don't think I've noted a single second when she hasn't been smiling.

It almost makes me feel bad for all the times I've had to leave her home to go to work. Maybe she needs a companion, but I really don't have time to house train another dog right now.

I don't knowhow long Lark and Roman had been here before I noticed them standing in different spots across the room.

This place has only gotten busier since we arrived. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised to see an increase of Cerberus members here. It makes me wonder if Hemlock is aware of what has been going on with my possible stalker with the way he's been watching me today.

I don't know how it should make me feel to be some part of a job for these men. Does making it a more professional situation make what happened better or worse?

I feel my face heat when I imagine Roman disclosing what has happened between the two of us to his teammates, and I have to look away from all of them completely.

"See if you can get her to jump over the low pole," I say to Eli when Kiva stops, looking up at him a mere foot from the really tall pole. "I don't know if she can do that one."

Eli crouches low and whispers something to Kiva, running his hand lovingly down her back as he speaks. Her tail wags, and the never-ending smile on her face widens.

When he stands, she looks up at him, waiting to see what his next plan is.

Instead of trying the next pole for her to jump over, I'm beyond happy when he finds a quiet corner with no other dogs and sits on the floor, allowing my sweet girl to crawl into his lap. Together, they watch the other dogs run around and play.

Animals are incredible and have healing properties for so many people, no matter if they've been ill or are working through traumas. Animals can be spoken to, and they always hold your secrets. I'm so grateful to have Kiva, and I'm ecstatic that she can help Eli heal on his journey as well.

No one else seems to notice the Cerberus guys, but I don't see how that's possible. Every one of them is massive and looks unapproachable. They're scattered, four of them in total now, around the building, and although they should be throwing up red flags because not one of them entered with an animal, other than women eyeing them appreciatively, no one pays them much attention.

I leave Eli and Kiva alone, letting them hang out for this therapy session rather than bothering them and inserting myself when it isn't necessary. It leaves me with the opportunity to pay more attention to my surroundings. Although I don't see the man who drove by my house last night, it doesn't stop me from searching all around to make sure I'm safe.

I keep my distance from everyone else. Luckily, most of the dog owners are situated around the outer ring of the play area. Not many are inside the area playing with their dogs. This is an opportunity for the animals to play with each other and burn off some energy. It's mostly children running around with the animals, other than one guy with a puppy who is clearly trying to teach the dog the art of not getting distracted no matter what is going on around him.

I circle the play area, noticing when the front door opens and a guy walks in. Like Cerberus, he doesn't have an animal with him, but it doesn't prevent him from sitting on a bench just inside the play area to watch the dogs run.

I'm not the only one to notice him either. I try not to stare, but I can't help but repeatedly glance over at the man as Lark approaches him, taking a seat beside him. The position he takes is so close, I just know that their hips are touching. Lark doesn't hesitate to lean over and whisper something in the guy's ear. I don't really think anything of it until the man stiffens.

Less than a minute later, the guy stands and makes a beeline for the door with Lark right on his tail.

"You don't know him, do you?"

I startle, my hand coming up to my throat at the sound of Nolan's voice being closer than I expected it to be.

"No," I answer quickly. "Do you guys know him?"

"We know his type," Nolan mutters, disdain coating every syllable.

"His type?" I ask, facing him fully once the man and Lark disappear outside.

"He came in with no dog. Sat as close to that group of kids as possible," he says, pointing at the small group of boys playing with a couple of puppies. "The guy is up to no good."

---