Sanctuary Found (Pelican Bay 2)

I’d always disliked the man because he’d been a blatant suck-up around my father, but around everybody else he looked down on them like they were nothing. The man was a self-righteous prick.

“I’m not,” I responded. Sheriff Tulley’s lips pulled tight for a moment, then his gaze shifted to Isaac and Newt.

I had no clue why I did it, but I moved closer to the pair so that I was partially blocking them from the sheriff’s view. The grizzled man looked back at Dallas and I felt my hackles go up because I knew whatever was coming wouldn’t be good.

“Mr. Kent, we’ve received several complaints about your business. This serves as notice that a public forum has been scheduled for tomorrow night to address those concerns and what steps will be taken to shut you down, since this place is clearly a threat to the residents of Pelican Bay.” He handed Dallas a piece of paper. My brother, clearly angry, opened and scanned it, then started to type a message on his phone.

But the fucker didn’t even give Dallas a chance to respond before he continued with, “We’ve also received a complaint that your wolf viciously attacked a resident who was in the area recently.”

“That’s a lie,” Nolan cut in, which earned him a sharp look from the sheriff. He didn’t respond to Nolan and instead handed my brother another piece of paper.

“This is an order authorizing me to remove the animal from the premises for quarantine purposes and to determine what action should be taken to make sure he can’t hurt anyone else,” the sheriff said, not bothering to try and hide the smirk on his face.

Before Dallas or Nolan could even respond, the animal control officer appeared and looped a snare around Loki’s neck. The wolf hybrid was startled by the action and jumped back when the noose tightened around his neck. My brother let out a strangled shout and began rushing the sheriff. Nolan tried to stop him but wasn’t strong enough. I was already moving forward and reached Dallas before he got to the sheriff. I grabbed my brother by the arms and held him as gently as I could while still keeping him from moving any closer to the officer, who had his hand on the butt of his holstered gun.

“Don’t,” I said firmly. I might not have been around my little brother much in the past ten years, but I knew what that look of determination in his eyes meant. I’d also seen for myself what the wolf hybrid meant to him.

“Dallas,” Nolan said as he grabbed my brother’s face to force him to look at him. “Please, don’t. We’ll get Loki back, but not like this, okay?”

“Dallas,” I said softly and waited until he looked at me. “It’s what he wants,” I whispered so only he and Nolan could hear me. It was the absolute truth. From the moment Sheriff Tulley had learned Dallas had been driving the car that had put my father in a wheelchair and my mother in the ground, the man had wanted vengeance. My father had begged him to officially call the accident just that and leave out any mention of Dallas having been drunk. But in private, the sheriff had railed at my father that Dallas should spend the rest of his life behind bars. I hadn’t really understood his anger until my father had told me Dallas had been drinking.

Then I’d shared his rage, though I hadn’t wanted my brother to end up in jail.

But I’d pursued my own form of vengeance when I’d tried to keep Dallas from inheriting part of our family’s money after our dad died two years later.

Guilt tore through me as I silently pleaded with my brother to heed my warning. His eyes went to the sheriff, then the wolf hybrid who was struggling violently against the man trying to drag him to the animal control truck.

Dallas gave me a quick nod and I released him. He motioned something to the sheriff and while I couldn’t figure out what he wanted, Nolan did because he said, “He wants to put Loki in the truck himself, Sheriff. Please, it will go easier on everyone if Dallas does it.”

The prick of a sheriff waited several long beats before he finally nodded. Dallas hurried to the animal, who instantly calmed at his appearance. Something deep inside of me ripped open as I watched my brother fondly hug the large animal after placing him in the truck. I wanted to tear Sheriff Tulley limb from limb for what he was doing. I quickly looked over my shoulder to make sure Isaac and Newt were okay. Isaac was visibly upset, and I could hear Newt crying and saying Loki’s name. Isaac was trying to calm the little boy with quiet words and by rubbing his hand in circles on Newt’s back.