Page 82 of Sanctuary of Secrets

“That must have been a difficult decision for your uncle.”

“Yeah. She accused him of destroying her life. Accused me of destroying her life. She said we betrayed her. The authorities offered her—my mother—an ultimatum. Keep me or keep her stuff. She chose her stuff. I had to watch while they carted each of my cats away to the humane society. I bet they didn’t last a day,” he whispered. “And then they carted me away.”

“Jax, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“She chose junk over her own son. Everything revolved around her and her agenda. She used anyone and everyone to get what she wanted. Like you.”

“That’s not true. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Isn’t that exactly what you did? What about this place?” Jax pointed to the building. “You want to be the one who saves the sanctuary, regardless of the toll it takes on other people. Like my uncle. You surround yourself with these animals, but are you helping them? Or are you accumulating stuff to make you feel better?”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Seyla’s voice, although quiet, maintained a steely edge. She skirted past him and walked into the building.

Jax followed, hoping he could help her before it was too late. “I have to do what’s best for this town. Maybe you need help letting go. Maybe what you went through hurt you so much that you’re using this place as a crutch.”

Seyla stopped, her back to him. “Are you describing me…or you? Because from my perspective, you’re the one allowing your past to influence your actions.” She wheeled around to face him. “As for this place,” she added, her voice a spear, “I will save it, with or without you. I have several plans that will fix this mess. I don’t need you to do it. You’re the one who offered to help. I’m not using anyone. On the other hand, I think you’re using me. As an excuse.” Seyla marched away, leaving him at the front desk with Ada, who’d watched the scene while eating a baggie filled with popcorn as if on the set of a soap opera recording.

Jax told himself it didn’t matter. That he didn’t care if she walked away from him.

But he couldn’t lie about the bullet lodged in his heart so easily.

/////

Seyla stalked through the long hallway to her office. When she passed by another hallway, a glimpse of movement stopped her. Allen stood in the shadows, talking in a low voice on hisphone. When he caught sight of her, his lips tightened. He whispered one harsh word into the phone, snapped it shut, and scurried away.

She hurried to her desk and dropped into the chair, her head in her hands. Was he planning something else? Her death?

The sutures in the wound on her side reminded her of their existence with throbbing waves of pain from overexertion, which didn’t abate for several minutes.

At least Janet wasn’t around to gloat over her misery.

How could Jax accuse her of using him? Didn’t he know her better than that by now? What kind of horrible person did he think she was? She already had the bitter answer to that question, though. Someone weak. Someone like his mother, who fell apart when things got complicated, leaving him to fend for himself. Understandable. However, she refused to fall apart this time.

Seyla cringed, recalling her earlier words regarding plans to save the sanctuary. She would save it. But a decent plan? That she didn’t actually have yet. While she’d mulled over several ideas, none of them were good enough to work. How would she save the sanctuary when she had no clue who intended to sabotage it and kill her? She couldn’t be everywhere at once. Who knew where they’d strike next time? A thought blossomed in her mind. Actually, she could know… if she set a trap.

Seyla glanced up at the wall and groaned. Her plaque had disappeared again. She searched around the desk and found it in the trash. Again. Gritting her teeth against the pain in her side, she extracted it from under some crumpled papers, put it on the wall again, and flopped into her chair.

She stared at the new cuts on her hands alongside the bumps from the pins placed long ago. She was done letting people terrorize and bully her. The time had come to defend herself, to be proactive like Jax said. Her hand reached for her necklaceuntil Jax’s words popped into her head. She frowned. The hand flexed and dropped to her side.

Was he right?

Regardless of their argument, she wished she could talk to him now. Wished she could take comfort in his arms while they talked through what to do. Wishful thinking. He’d believe she just wanted to use him again. When all of this ended, maybe she’d be able to make him understand.

For now, she only had herself and God to rely on. If she exposed whoever kept sabotaging the sanctuary, the facility’s reputation would be restored. Hopefully, before any more damage occurred. This might be the last chance for the sanctuary. It had to be a perfect trap.

A seed of a plan took root in her mind.

A perfect plan.

And she’d be the perfect bait.

/////

“She can do whatever she wants. She’s not part of my life anymore.” Jax let his words clog the air, like aerosolized grease in a fast food kitchen. He dumped his protein smoothie ingredients into the blender at the kitchen table and pushed the button, hoping it would signal the end of the conversation.

His uncle crossed the room to the sliding glass door. He let Rock outside and closed it again. “You don’t mean that.”

Jax sighed, his shoulders dropping. So this was happening.

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