A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

“Do it now. I don’t want her to suffer anymore,” Jared said.


“You don’t have to stay for this.” Stint’s voice, as if he were speaking through cotton.


Stint opened his bag and measured out some liquid. “The sedative first to keep her calm.” He gave her the shot, and she didn’t flinch or react. Then he prepped a hypo with the overdose of anesthesia.


Jared wanted to tug Tasha into his lap but was afraid of hurting her, so settled for lying down behind her on the dirt, her warmth against his chest. He put his chin on her head and smelled her catty fur, the rich odor of elemental wild creature that sang on the breeze. Her fur was dirty but lush from health, the good food he’d given her, the special treats over the years. Jared tugged her whiskers, stiff as straw, and kissed her between her ears. He put one hand on her misshapen head, the other around her chest, where he could feel her heartbeat.


Chapter 27