Page 19 of Safe and Sound

“Makes sense.”

After eyeing my hand, she finally slid hers in for a shake. I tried ignoring the electricity that shot through me at her touch. “Nice to meet you Ava Carras.”

With a sickening sweet grin, she said, “It was nice knocking you on your ass, Dare.” Cocking her brows, she said, “Or should I say arse?”

Her verbal lashing sent my cock throbbing. “You can do anything you’d like with my arse.”

“I think I’m good,” she shot back.

With the electricity between us fizzling, I turned back to Niall and Thomas, “Apologize to Ms. Carras for your manhandling.”

From their expressions, you would’ve thought I asked them to grovel on their knees. In unison, they grumbled, “I’m sorry.”

To my surprise, she smiled at them. “While I thank you, your apologies aren’t necessary. You guys were just doing your job since I got physical with your friend.”

“Mymen tend to be a little overzealous at times.”

Tilting her head, her cornflower blue eyes appraised me curiously. “Yourmen?” Glancing between the three of us, she asked, “Are you guys in some sort of throuple?”

I snorted. “You think we’re dating?”

When I uttered the words, Thomas’s eyes bulged in horror while Niall merely chuckled.

Ava shrugged. “You said they were yours.”

“As in they work for me.” When she still didn’t look convinced, I added, “As my bodyguards.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh. Wow.”

“Ava Carras, this is Thomas, and this is Niall,” I introduced.

“Nice meeting you,” Ava said as she held out her hand.

Before they would shake her hand, they checked with me to make sure it was okay. If Ava noticed, she didn’t let on. When the introductions were over, I said, “I think Ms. Carras, and I are good now. You two can go.”

“Yes, sir,” they answered.

As they started off, I leaned in to whisper in Niall’s ear. “Get one of the IT people to run a background check on Ava. I need to know if she has any ties to the Greek mafia families.”

He nodded and then hurried off the floor. Although it was the Italians and the Bratva that gave us the most trouble, we had experienced run-ins with certain Greek families over shipping territories.

Once we were alone, I turned back to Ava. “Was it my imagination or were you more surprised Thomas and Niall were my bodyguards rather than my boyfriends?” I teased.

“It’s just you look so young to have bodyguards..”

I chuckled. “The babyface gets me every time.”

Peering curiously at me, Ava asked, “Just how old are you?”

“Don’t worry. I’m legal should you want to take advantage of me.”

Although she rolled her eyes, she laughed. “I’m very aware you’re legal. I want to know your number.” Tilting her chin at me, she suggested, “Twenty-five?”

“Close. Twenty-seven.”

“Right. I’m thirty, so we’re good.”

“Three years barely qualifies you as a cougar.”

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