Chapter 8 - A New Route
Tessa looked down at the thick card embossed with silver lettering: Julian Sterling, Principal Director, Sterling-Vance Holdings, Manhattan & Catskills.
She looked up at him, her expression calm, unimpressed by the corporate title or the wealth it implied. "Not enough to buy dog food for a monster."
Julian’s lips twitched into a genuine, if reluctant, smile. "The trust will cover his feed. And yours. Starting Monday morning, you're off the delivery trucks. I'm hiring you as a special acquisitions liaison—starting with the rehabilitation and relocation of one very stubborn Neapolitan Mastiff."
"And the euthanasia order?" Tessa asked, pointing a finger toward Director Cowell’s office down the hall.
Julian turned his head slightly, shooting a cold, sideways glance at Cowell that made the facility director shrink back another two inches against the drywall. "What euthanasia order? Pine Ridge has no record of any such document. According to our files, Caesar was medically evaluated today and found to be in perfect, if slightly stressed, health—and is being transferred immediately to a private sanctuary under the direct supervision of Miss Rivera."
Cowell opened his mouth to object, took one look at Julian Sterling’s face, and wisely swallowed his words, nodding frantically instead.
Marcus let out a short, approving bark of laughter. "Well, I'll be damned. Looks like the delivery route just changed."
Tessa looked down at the massive dog beside her. Caesar had shifted his weight, resting his heavy chin directly across her boot, his blind eyes closed as if he had finally decided he could afford to sleep for the first time in eight days.
May you like
She reached up and scratched him gently behind his torn, velvety ear. The mastiff let out a deep, rumbling sigh that shook the dust motes dancing in the fluorescent light.
"Come on, Caesar," Tessa whispered, standing up slowly and helping the giant dog to his feet. "Let's go home."
