“Why? Because it shows you have a heart, after all?”
Andika cleared his throat, moving off toward a paddling pool with no barriers or bars.
Inside frolicked three otters, all sleek and swift, rolling and darting through the water. One had no tail, and the other two had patches of waterproof fur missing. It didn’t matter that the tiles of the foyer were covered in water from their antics or that their happy barks pierced the otherwise sedate silence.
They were perfectly at home.
Sully looked to where I stared, flinching as an otter launched itself from the water and zipped quicksilver fast to twine and rub against Sully’s suited leg. The adorable squeaks and insistent affection whittled at Sully’s temper.
With a glower at me, he dropped to his haunches and scooped up the wriggly, besotted creature. All signs of anger and cold-heartedness vanished as the otter squirmed in his arms, rising up to rub his head against Sully’s chin. “You’re looking much better,” he murmured, stroking the sore looking skin on the otter’s spine. “I’m glad we’ve finally created a waterproof cream that’s helping.”
I couldn’t help it.
I fell.
I tumbled.
I wanted.
All control over my own emotions had been stolen by this enigma of a man. Beastly to humans. Saintly to animals. How could I not fall for a man like that? Crave to know a man like that? A man who saw the world in such black and white. Who understood what humans were capable of and turned his back on his own race to defend the creatures at our mercy.
God, how would I ever survive him now I knew this existed?
I stepped closer to Sully and the otter squeaking joyously in his arms. I didn’t know what to say, how to speak, or how to stop the smarting in my soul. I remained quakingly silent as Sully ignored me, kissing the otter as it strained to nudge his chin again, then ever so gently placed it on the ground.
The otter didn’t run off, though; it stayed twined around Sully’s legs as if showing him thanks, speaking in otter tongue with all its gratefulness that Sully had found it, saved it, healed it.
A loud oink sounded from behind a closed door. Sully turned to look just as the door opened and a black and white pig bowled free. A woman with long black hair and wearing a cream coat ran after it, calling in Indonesian. She noticed Sully and slammed to a halt, letting the pig dart to the man every creature seemed to adore. It oinked and nosed the otter out of the way, wanting its own chance to say thanks.
I gasped, studying the pig’s skin. Where healthy colour and flesh should exist, he was almost translucent. Sores pockmarked his body, and the parts of skin he did have revealed veins and arteries that looked sickly and weak.
Sully once again ducked and rubbed the excited animal. He touched him exceedingly carefully, stroking only the healthy areas, aware of causing pain. “Hey, Cuthbert. You’re also looking better but not ready to join the main sty yet.”
“Sorry, Mr. Sinclair. He heard you while I was administering his antibiotics. He has learned how to open doors.” She shrugged, a capped needle in her gloved hand. “He is too smart.”
Sully smiled. “He’s relaxing…learning he’s safe.”
“Yes.” The woman smiled back. “He takes his medicine well. Even with the injection twice a day.”
“Is the new formula working better?”
She nodded. “It seems to be. His condition has cleared up quicker this past week. Soon, he’ll be able to go to the powder antibiotic instead of the needle.”
“That’s good to hear.” Sully studiously avoided my stare.
I was sure my mouth hung open as my curiosity blazed bright. I wanted to grab him and demand to know everything.
But Sully moved away, motioning for the woman to follow.
I stayed glued to the sandstone tiles, suffering a more profound change than I had when I’d been washed and prepared for sale.
Who was he?
Who is Sullivan Sinclair?
Andika moved quietly to my side, his attention on Sully and the vet but his words just for me. “I see your confusion, ma’am. Do you want to know what this place is?”
I turned to look at him, desperation in my gaze. “Please, tell me.”
Andika cast a look in Sully’s direction again before giving me his full attention. His black eyes glowed with affection for his employer and pride at his vocation. “When Mr. Sinclair took over his family’s pharmaceutical empire, he rewrote the rules. He banned all animal testing in his labs. Those already there, he took with him on his sixth day in power. He healed the ones he could, humanely euthanized those in too much pain, and made it his purpose to deliver a life worthy of the soul his scientists had almost destroyed. Most still live on the island, some have been transferred to other islands to live the way nature intended, and others have been gifted to loving homes—all with very strict follow-up contracts to ensure continued well-being—but all of them are happy and healthy.”