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“Someone tried to burn Maggie alive. I'm going to the shelter.”

Luka is already moving toward the door.

Roman rubs the back of his neck. “I assumed you would say that.”

I stop beside him. “When you find who delivered that donation, I want a name.”

Roman meets my stare. “The moment I know who it is, you'll know.”

I leave the gym without another word.

For the first time in years, work no longer matters. Only Maggie does.

Luka pulls the SUV into the shelter parking lot, and I reach for the door handle before the vehicle fully stops. The moment my shoes hit the pavement, I take in the scene in front of me.

When Maggie told me repairs were progressing, I expected the contractors to be replacing drywall and repairing smoke damage. What I find instead resembles a full-scale construction project.

The parking lot overflows with trucks bearing company logos. Flatbed trailers sit near the side entrance, stacked with lumber, drywall, and insulation. Construction crews move in every direction, carrying supplies, operating lifts, and hauling debris into large dumpsters positioned near the rear of the building.

The steady sounds of hammers, power drills, and saws fill the afternoon air. Second Chance Savannah looks less like an animal shelter and more like an active job site.

I instantly recognize several of the contractors because I hired them.

Luka falls into step beside me and surveys the activity. “You may have overdone it.”

“I disagree.”

He sweeps a hand toward the construction crews. “You hired three separate crews.”

“The shelter requires extensive repairs,” I say.

Luka glances toward the building. “You also hired a landscaping company.”

“The grounds sustained damage.”

“You hired them this morning,” he says, giving me a sidelong look.

I remain silent.

Luka huffs out a quiet laugh. “You’re impossible.”

Before either of us can continue, Winston explodes through the front doors, barking enthusiastically, Daisy trotting behind him. Both dogs charge across the parking lot directly toward me.

Maggie appears seconds later.

Her hair is pulled into a messy bun, sunlight highlighting the loose strands escaping around her face as she directs volunteers carrying boxes toward a storage trailer.

Even from thirty yards away, I know she’s exhausted. I also know she’s ignoring every medical instruction she received.

“Maggie,” I call.

The weariness in her features fades when she sees me. A second later, she notices Luka standing beside me, and her expression turns wary.

“Oh no,” she mutters loudly enough for me to hear. “Y'all look serious.”

Winston reaches me first, dancing excitedly around my legs while Daisy leans heavily against my knee, demanding attention. I crouch, scratching behind both ears.

“Hey,” she says, rising onto her toes to kiss me. She keeps one hand on my arm as she steps back. “What're you doin’ here?”