Page 173 of Safe and Sound

“I am giving up my birthright.”

“True.” He winked. “Then 50/50 it is.”

“Okay.”

A heavily armed bodyguard ran up to us. “Sir, the Kavanaughs just arrived.”

My heart leaped into my throat. Dare had come for me. “I’ll give you the extra 10% if you don’t hurt my husband.”

Ares chuckled. “I don’t plan on hurting him. In fact,” he turned to the bodyguard and said, “inform the outside guards to bring them in.”

“You knew he would come,” I stated.

“Of course.” With a wink, he added, “It’s why I had my first in command contact him to stand down, and that when he arrived, you would be safe.”

“Really?”

“My father’s will be the only blood spilled today.”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. “Ava!” Dare shouted.

When I saw him, I looked to Ares for validation. At his nod and smile, I then sprinted past him to throw myself in Dare’s arms. “You’re here. You’re really here!” I cried as I kissed his cheeks and then his lips.

“I told you I would come for you,” he murmured against my mouth.

As my arms came around his back, I melted my body against him. I couldn’t keep the tears from streaming down my cheeks. When I thought about how close I’d come to losing him, I couldn’t keep from sobbing.

“Hey now. Don’t cry. I’m here now.”

“I know. I’m just so grateful that I’m safe and you’re safe and Piper’s safe.”

Ares cleared his throat behind us. “I hate to cut our time short, but I need to get back to Athens.”

Pulling away from Dare, I smiled at my cousin. “As odd as it sounds, it was nice meeting you.”

“Seriously, Ava?” Dare demanded while staring daggers at Ares.

“He spared our lives. Let’s be grateful.”

“He traumatized our daughter.”

Ares held up his hands. “I do apologize for that. I hated that it had to be part of my plan.”

“You sure as hell better,” Dare growled.

“To make it up to Piper, you can tell her she can pick out any puppy in the world as a gift from me.”

Dare narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to bribe my kid?”

With a laugh, Ares replied, “Just trying to soothe her pain.”

“You’re too late for that bribe. My well-meaning brother already caught the puppy you used to lure her, and it’s currently with her at my mother’s house.”

“Are you joking?” I asked Dare.

“Sadly no.”

“Two kittens and a puppy,” I lamented.

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