Page 73 of Vetted for Vengeance
Very soon.
Someone is going to make a mistake. And I’ll make sure it’s their last.
Chapter thirty-six
Noah
Figarolle sits down on her familiar bed under the heat lamp of her new kennel. I tuck each pup into place, guiding the smallest to the back teats where the milk is strongest.
“Nipples,” I correct myself under my breath. The cameras have me thinking in farm terms again. “Five fat puppies for you, Figgy. Because you're my good girl, yes you are.” Her tail beats like a drum, but these kennels are lined with rubber, so the thud is different.
She may be back in a kennel, relieved to be in the only surroundings she's ever known, but the signs of Rhys's kindness are everywhere. From the padded floors with gentle heating below, to the smooth corners and walls.
The room smells different here.
Not bleach and stale urine that seemed to cling to the floors.
Warm milk. Clean bedding.
Safe.
It must have cost a fortune. Frank and Derek would have pocketed the profit. Rhys spent it.
Frank and Derek took all the money, never re-investing anything into the business. They pocketed thousands of pounds per litter, but always acted broke.
I always wondered about the money, but between taking care of the dogs and grabbing a few hours of sleep, I barely had time to eat, never mind worrying about someone else's finances.
Figarolle, and her five pups are settled in.
Her last pups.
She'll never be called Bitch Eight ever again.
I have the urge in the back of my mind to grab Toffee, Honey, and all the other mothers. The years of rapid-fire actions driven into my mind. To tick each task off my list before twice as many join it.
But I have an hour.
One hour to help Figgy feel at home in her new kennel.
Not to fix anything.
Not to save anyone.
Just… to sit.
I don’t know what to do with that.
My body keeps waiting for the next problem to land in my lap.
Another labor. Another fading pup. Another mess to clean up before it gets worse.
But nothing comes.
Just Figgy.
And five warm, breathing puppies.
It's amazing what Rhys could throw together in a few days. There were already windows on the roof, but now there are motor blinds; I can control each one from my new tablet. Adjusting the natural lighting across the room.
