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

Jared wanted to explain. “They instinctively react to someone acting as a prey animal. It’s a fact of life.”


“Well, Hanna Housewife and Sammy Suburban out here—” Lawton waved an arm around the refuge, “—don’t know to act any different, Mr. Montaine. Your animal is loose and the public is at risk. Now, please, help me out here with some solid intel that I can take back to my squad.”


The last thing Jared wanted was this man on Sultan’s trail. Lawton was sharp-witted; it showed in his demeanor and quick eyes. This was no bumbling, good ol’ boy who had flimflammed his way into his job; Lawton knew what he was doing. Jared’s gaze focused on that black gun again.


What had Peter said? Sometimes misinformation could be useful.


Jared tugged on his gloves again and picked up a hammer. He could work on the angled fencing that would protrude into the larger cage to prevent climb-outs.


“How are you planning to track him?” Jared asked.


Chapter 60