Page 82 of Safe and Sound

“Not in my world.”

“Then I want no fucking part of your world.”

“Deep down, you know who I really am. I'm not a bad man.”

I recoiled from him in disgust. “And knowing the monster you are, I couldn’t live five minutes with you.”

Hurt radiated in his eyes. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“I don’t want to lose you, Ava.”

“Even if I hadn’t seen what I did, there’s still the fact you lied to me about who you were. How can I ever trust you again?”

Dare grimaced, “At first, I didn’t tell you because I don’t ever tell women about that side of me. And then I met your family and you told me about their experiences with the Greek mafia, and I knew if I was to pursue more with you, I couldn’t be part of something your family hated.” He exhaled a ragged breath. “I didn’t want to lose you because I cared so much.”

When he started to reach for me, I cowered back. An anguished expression came over his face. “For the love of God, Ava, I would cut my off own hands before I would hurt you.”

“I wish I could believe that.”

“I swear it on the saints. I’ve never once hurt someone I loved.”

I gasped. “What did you say?”

“I love you, Ava. I know we haven’t been together long, but I know how I feel about you.”

Pinching my eyes shut, I whispered, “Don’t say that.”

“Hear me when I say it and believe me. I love you.”

My eyes flew open. “Damn you!”

“It’s true.”

“The man that you are…the things that you do.” I shook my head. “You don’t know what that word even means.”

“That’s not true. You’ve seen me with my family…you’ve seen me with your family. You know how I’ve been with you. I love you, Ava.”

“And I could never love a monster like you.”

Dare jerked back as if my words had slapped him. Resignation filled his face. After punching in the alarm code, he opened the door.

At Niall’s expectant face, Dare said, “Please take Ava home.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I can get an Uber,” I countered.

“At least let me do this one last thing for you.”

“I don’t want another fucking thing from you and your world!”

Dare’s eyes shuttered in pain. “Ava, please.”

“No!”

Without another glance at him, I rushed through the doorway. With tears streaming down my face, I sprinted for theelevator. When I got downstairs, I raced into the lobby. At the clench of my stomach, I frantically glanced around.

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