Page 97 of Safe and Sound

“I’m sorry if the truth hurts, but you have to see how hypocritical you’re being.”

“If Dare…” I swallowed hard, unable to physically say the words that my head and heart so desired. “If he takes care of Wesley, I have the blood of one man on his hand. God only knows how many he does.”

Nick opened his mouth to argue when Piper’s voice echoed through the bedroom. “Mommy!” she called.

Placing my finger on Nick’s lips, I replied, “In here, sweetie.”

At the sound of her hurried footsteps, I removed the makeup wipes and fluffed the neckline of my blouse back in place. As my daughter came running in the bedroom, her auburn bounced off her shoulders.

Tilting her head to the side, she peered curiously up at me. “We gettin’ my kitty today?” she asked.

Glancing between us, Nick cocked his brows at me. “Kitty?”

With a grin, Piper bobbed her head. “Mommy says I can has a kitty.”

“Have,” I corrected.

Wrinkling her tiny brows, she argued, “Dat’s what I says.

“Bribing her already?” Nick mused.

I smacked his arm. “Shut up.”

Reaching over, I grabbed Piper by the waist and hoisted her up on the counter. As I wet a cloth to wash the pancake syrup off her face, I said, “I said we would get one this week.”

“Today?”

I shook my head. “Mommy has to go to Boston today for work.”

Her lips turned down in a pout. “But I wants my kitty now.”

“You have to be patient.”

“Can Nicky take me to get a kitty?”

As Nick snorted, I rolled my eyes. “No, he cannot.”

With an indignant huff, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I not happy.”

As I stared into her face, it was like looking directly at Dare. And it wasn’t just her physical attributes. From the mischievous glint in her eyes to the way she poked her bottom lip out when she was thinking. I’d always thought children picked up on their parents' mannerisms because they lived with them. But that wasn’t the case with Dare and Piper.

Her frustrated face was so much Dare’s.

“If you can’t be Mommy’s good, sweet girl, then we’re not going to get a cat.”

“But you pwomised!” she argued.

“You’re right. But only if you behave and will help me feed it and clean out the litter box.”

Nick chuckled. “Oh, I can’t wait to see this.”

“Not helping,” I muttered.

Piper bobbed her head obediently. “Okay. I be patient.”

I smiled. “There’s my good girl.”

Leaning over, I drew her into my arms. I knew what I was doing today was about more than just my safety–it was abouthers as well. As long as I had a breath left within me, I wouldn’t allow Wesley to hurt her.

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