Page 155 of Safe and Sound

When we turned down a familiar street, Ava stared at me in surprise. “We aren’t going to Boston?”

I shook my head. “We’re going to see your parents.”

“Do they know about…?”

“Yes, I sent two of my men over when the call with Nick went south. I’m sorry they had to hear it from them and not us, but I wanted to make sure they were safe.”

“Do you think they’ll know why the man wanted the necklace?”

“If they don’t, they’ll know someone who does.”

“How could it possibly belong to another family when Thea’s boyfriend gave it to her?”

“Is it possible your parents could have taken it and just pretended it came from Thea’s boyfriend?”

Her eyes bulged in horror. “You’re accusing my grieving parents of being thieves?”

“I’m just throwing out possibilities.”

“Fuck you, Dare!”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to piece together some evidence.”

“There is no way on earth my parents stole that necklace.”

“I’m sure there’s a plausible explanation.”

Ava turned in her seat to stare out the window. I hoped, rather than believed, that her parents were the honest people she thought they were. She was already devastated by Nick’s loss. I couldn’t imagine what it would do to her to find out her parents weren’t what they claimed to be.

When we arrived at her parents, Tobias answered the door. Although we hadn’t called ahead, he didn’t appear surprised to see us. Maybe he thought Ava wanted to be with her family in her time of grief. Or maybe he realized that Nick’s death wasn’t random, and he had answers we desperately needed.

At the sight of Helena, Ava began sobbing again. She rushed forward to fall into her mother’s waiting arms. As they both clung to each other and cried, I walked over to Tobias. “I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. He was a good boy. Our only grandson for twelve years. Sometimes he felt as much my son as Nikolaos and Georgios.”

“He was a good man.” I then related to Tobias how Nick had saved Piper’s life. Tears streaked down his cheeks.

“It’s all my fault,” Ava wailed.

“No, no, sweetheart. It’s not.” Helena placed her hands on Ava’s shoulder and pulled her away. “If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s ours.”

“But it was your anniversary.”

Helena shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.”

Ava swiped her eyes on the back of her fingers. “What do you mean?”

“I think it’s best you sit down,” Tobias said.

Reaching forward, I grabbed Ava’s hand and steeled myself to hear the secret her parents harbored.

Chapter Forty: Ava

After dragging in a ragged breath, Dad shook his head sadly. “For thirty-three years, we’ve lived in fear of this day.”

I furrowed my brows at him as panic began slowly creeping through my veins. “I don’t understand,” I whispered.

Mom took my hands in hers. “We hoped you’d never have to know the awful truth.”

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