There were no pets for a reason.
He said the residents were lucky he accepted kids, because there was a chance if things got real messy, he’d have banned children as well. Not exactly a good reputation to have if he kicked out the small families that lived in the building. She had left, somewhat deflated, but at least families were still able to live there.
She arrived at the main reception at the animal shelter within thirty minutes.
Hellen was at the front counter, looking so upset.
“Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah, everything is fine. George is organizing the removal of the dogs.”
“What?”
“He said he’s too short-handed to have them at the shelter and the only logical way of dealing with them is to get rid of them.” Hellen sniffled. “I even heard him talking about … euthanizing them.”
“No, he can’t do that. The point of the shelter is to give the dogs a chance. To help them find a forever home. We’re not a kill shelter.” They were the ones who rescued animals from the kill shelter. “I don’t get it,” Maddie said. “We’ve even got that fundraising event coming up. That always brings in some good revenue.”
Hellen shrugged. “He said there’s no ethical way to compete with kids.” She sniffled. “I’m sorry.”
“I take it he came in then?” Maddie asked.
“Yeah, but now I wished he hadn’t.” Hellen sobbed.
“I’m going to go and talk to him.” Maddie went around the counter and hugged Hellen tightly to her.
“I’m fine. I’m a big girl. I can handle this. I … this isn’t why I volunteered here.”
“Neither did I.” She didn’t volunteer to see healthy dogs get put down. She came to this shelter to help out. To ease the burden on the staff to give the animals the best chance. She wanted to help them in their recovery.
Maddie went to the staffroom, hung up her bag and jacket, and made her way toward George’s office in the back. She had to pass a whole load of kennels, and seeing the dogs inside, looking so sad, it was like they knew.
She knocked on the office door, but she’d caught sight of George with his head in his hands, looking down at his desk.
He looked up. “Maddie.”
“George, what the hell is going on?”
“Not you too.”
“Those dogs are perfectly healthy. They have not posed a threat, and if I recall, your motto used to be that every animal is worth saving.”
“Yeah, well, have you ever thought I was wrong, Maddie? For fuck’s sake. Look around you. I can’t handle this number of dogs.”
“Yes, you can. Bull is helping.”
“Don’t even drag that lowlife into this.”
“Lowlife? He’s helping you out with the dogs, George.”
“Yeah, and he needs to learn not to stick his nose into things that are not his problems.”
Maddie licked her dry lips. “Does this have to do with the fact some of these dogs have been here before?”
She hadn’t talked to George about it. Bull hadn’t given her any updated information, and she couldn’t blame him, but to be honest, she was tired of waiting.
George paused and looked up at her.
She knew she was right. There was something in the way he looked at her. She wasn’t an idiot.
“What did you do?”
“Maddie, I suggest you leave this office right the fuck now. You have no idea what you’re talking about. The dogs are being moved pronto. Go and enjoy them while you still can.”
The urge to stand and fight with him was so strong, but she gritted her teeth and stepped out of his office.
“Fuck!” She stomped her foot.
She glanced around at the grounds that had once been a safe haven to her. A place that offered comfort. The chance for a real home for dogs. Now, it was something darker. Something she hated more than anything, and it was George’s fault.
She didn’t go back to the office. Hellen wouldn’t be able to cope seeing her this way. Tears filled her eyes, and she turned toward the main bulk of the kennels. With her hands locked together, she let the tears fall, trying to think of a way to stop whatever George was doing.
Maddie got to the end of the kennels, where a small dog that was suspected of being pregnant lay in the furthest corner of the kennel. She crouched down, put her hands flat against the cage, and looked at her.
“Hey, beautiful girl,” she said. “It’s…” She couldn’t bring herself to lie.
Pain shot through her back as something struck her from behind. She didn’t have time to fight back as pain rushed through every single part of her body. A voice telling her she was an interfering cunt filled her senses.
Before she could get a good look at the men who attacked her, the world went blank.
****
Bull glanced across the parking lot as he stared at William Ranford. The impromptu meet had been the reason for him to send Maddie off to the animal shelter, where she would be safe. He didn’t need any of his enemies knowing he had a weakness, and it came in the form of a five-foot-five, long-haired brunette with curves that drove him wild.