Page 501 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“Yes, I’ll be there in a few minutes. I have Dr. Sheppard with me, too. He’s only here in Vegas for a short stint, but I was hoping to introduce you.”

I let out a breath. Thank God. “Yes, that would be amazing. I’ll see you soon!”

“Lily, is everything okay?”

“Just a strange guy,” I say in a hushed whisper. “But it’s okay. I’m good.”

“Okay, well, sit tight. We’ll be there soon.”

I click off the phone and roll my eyes. I am being ridiculous, aren’t I? I mean, this has to be stemming from Nico’s warning. Maybe if he’d have actually told me something concrete, I wouldn’t have to make things up in my mind. I’ll have to tell him that next time we talk. This evasiveness has to stop.

I plaster a smile on my face and meet the guy by the cages. “My manager and one of the other doctors will be here in a few minutes, so if you find your new pet, you can bring him or her home even faster than I thought.”

The guy gets up from his kneeling position, hovering over me with his lean frame. My eyes flit over to Vito’s cage. He looks up at me, a guttural growl emerging from his throat.

It’s like he knows something is up.

Sweet Jesus.

“Did you want me to take any of the animals out for you to play with?” I ask, forcing my smile wider.Please, Allie. Please open the fucking door already!

His lips are pulled together tight as he looks down at me. “I haven’t found any that I really seem to connect with,” he says in a choked voice. “I’d hoped for more time with them.”

“Well, you can stay for as long as you like,” I say with false brightness. “Their schedules are clear,’ I say with a fake chuckle.

“And you?” he asks. “I’d hate to take up too much of your time, but you’re the one I want helping me,” he says, his dark eyes boring into me. “Because you seem to have such a knack with the animals.”

Then the merciful jingling of the bell sounds. I clasp my hands together and back away. Knack, my ass. “It’s a really personal decision. Taking time with them alone is the best way to see if there’s a connection. And as I said, the manager can help you out with the paperwork if you do decide to adopt.”

“Lily!” Allie’s voice floats into the back room. “Do you have a second?”

I flash a smile and wave my hand around the room. “Let me know if you have any questions.” I almost trip over my feet as I tear out of the room.

I find Allie and Dr. Sheppard in the main office and I am so relieved, I want to throw myself into their arms.

Part of me hates that I feel that way, though. I mean, Kat has total confidence in me and my ability to defend myself.

Why don’t I feel the same way?

Will I ever?

Sometimes I really hate the life I was brought up into, but other times, I wish I’d embraced it enough so that creepers like that guy didn’t throw me completely off-kilter.

But at least I was vigilant. I have the scissors.

Allie’s face is pinched with concern. “You look a little flustered. Is everything okay? Where’s the guy?”

Almost as if on cue, the front door bell jingles again.

My eyebrows furrow and I run out to see if it was somebody else who’d just come inside, but the reception area is empty. Through the clear glass windows, I can see the guy hurry across the street outside and slide into the front seat of a car.

I let out a breath. “He’s gone,” I call out.

Allie comes into the front of the shelter. “We really need to install some kind of emergency call button, especially because you and other volunteers work alone at night. You can never be too careful. I’ll look into some options.”

“Yes,” I murmur, my eyes still on the car, a black BMW M5, as it peels away from the curb. “Good plan.”

She puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry you got so shaken up by that guy. I hate to say it, but this is Vegas, and there are freaks and weirdos aplenty wandering these streets.”

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