Page 107 of Safe and Sound

“Thanks, Niall.”

“You’re welcome, boss.”

“I’m going to check on Ava.”

“Of course you are.”

I swept my hands to my hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re very thorough when it comes to protecting people.”

“Bullshit.”

He grinned. “Maybe I was alluding to how fate has brought her back into your life.”

“You’re entirely too optimistic now that you’re an old married fart.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

Jerking my thumb at the door, I replied, “I’m going to go check on Ava.”

“I’ll keep watching the feeds.”

“Thanks.”

I was glad to see Ava had the presence of mind to have a ring camera. That was one thing I wouldn’t have to put in. After her reaction about having bodyguards at her house, I’d decided not to tell her I was having cameras installed.

When the door flung open, I expected Ava to be standing before me. Instead, I had to drop my gaze considerably. A little girl with dark auburn hair and bright blue eyes stared curiously at me. “Hiya.”

I blinked at her. “Um, hello.”

“I’m Piper.”

“Dare,” I replied absently as I reached into my jacket for my phone to check the address. Maybe I’d given Niall the wrong street number, or he’d put the wrong one in the GPS.

Fuck, what if my men had been guarding the wrong house all this time? Furiously, I scrolled to find the address.

“That’s a funny name,” the little girl remarked.

Craning my neck, I squinted to try to read the number on the mailbox. “So I’ve heard.”

“Wanna play princesses with me?”

I glanced back to find the little girl staring earnestly up at me. “Tempting. But I think I have the wrong house.”

“Why do you talk funny?”

“I’m Irish,” I replied absently.

As I started backing away, a shriek came from behind the little girl. “Piper, what have I told you about opening the door without me?”

“Sowwy.”

Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop at the sight of Ava rushing down the hallway.

Right house.

But it was also so fucking wrong.

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