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“Leena,” I whisper, staring at her lounging form as she naps on a rock. “She’s alive.”
“Oh, yeah. She’s healthy. Maybe we can say hi to her later.”
The doors opening bring in the cold. Mom is standing there in a black peacoat, her brown hair has streaks of grey, but when she sees me, she smiles, a sob breaking free.
“Simon!” she yells, and I run to her as if I’m a little boy.
I smack against her a little too hard, wrap my arms around her, and hold on tight. “I’m so sorry, mom. I’m sorry. I’m… I’m so sorry,” I repeat.
“I’m so glad you’re home. You’re safe. Look at you.” She leans back, looking me up and down. “You look so much like your father.” Her eyes water, then shift to Nina. “Nina. You brought my son home.”
Nina and my mom share a hug.
“And what’s this I hear about a Christmas wedding?” My mom breaks the tension.
“Really? The word is out already?” I mumble.
“I always knew you two were meant to be. I saw it when you were kids. I’m just glad Simon’s grief has been healed.” Mom pats my chest. “I know you left for your own good reasons, Simon. I don’t blame you.”
“I’m not leaving again—”
“—You might want to rethink that, nephew.”
My uncle’s deep voice reverberates off the walls, gaining the attention of the lions. Leena yawns, showing her large teeth.
“What are you doing here, Dash?” my mom asks.
He holds a gun in his hand, and a few of his friends flank his sides. “I’m here to claim what is mine.” He points the gun at Nina. “You signed just in time. I didn’t think you would, but it’s okay. I have a piece of paper you can sign to fix that.”
“Dash, you have lost it. This is not yours. Don made sure of that,” my mom says, facing Dash head-on.
“I deserve this!” he roars, causing the lions behind him to echo the call. “This is mine. His life was supposed to be mine. I am tired of being in his shadow. He was always the favorite, always the golden boy, and I don’t care what I have to do, I will tear down everything he has worked for. I’m close to having my own kingdom and the only thing in my way is this fucking sanctuary.”
“It’s Christmas,” my mom whispers. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s always Christmas in this town.” He cocks the gun, the click loud enough to make a slither of fear straighten my spine. “And I really don’t fucking care. Give me the sanctuary and the money. Then, we can go back to being a happy family.”
“I do love a good luau,” Tim grumbles, pressing a button that allows the lions out of their space. “But I really don’t want you there.”
Leena prowls forward, along with two other female lions, growling at Dash and his men. Leena roars, and Dash swings his gun at her. Dash’s friends scream, running away for their lives as the other lionesses chase them.
“No!” I tackle him, and the gun slides across the floor. “You won’t fucking dare be a threat to me or my family anymore. I know it was you.” I lift my fist and punch him in the face. “I know you killed him.”
“And I’d do it again,” he admits, wrapping his hands around my throat. “Like father like son. Say hi to my brother for me, will you?” He doesn’t choke me long before he cries out in pain, his body being dragged across the floor.
I roll off him, noticing Leena dragging him by the leg, snarling.
“Simon! Simon! Surely, you won’t kill me, your only uncle.” He fights Leena, trying to free himself from her hold. His ankle is shattered from the strength of her jaws.
“I won’t,” I shake my head, watching Leena pull him into her den.
I press the button, shutting the gate to lock him in. “But they will.”
Lions can’t be tamed. They are wild animals and will always succumb to what they are best at.
Hunting and killing.
Epilogue
