Page 67 of My Solemn Vow

“Uhm.” Kerrianne’s nose crinkles, her mouth moving back and forth as she thinks. “Sometimes Dad gives me an allowance to go do things, like if I have a bad day at school, we can go get a frozen hot chocolate or ice cream. And I really like it if we can stop and get treats for Captain too.”

Declan passes a quick glance to me, and I nod. “And Captain is probably not a boat captain?”

“He’s a tortoise,” Kerrianne explains with an exaggerated eye roll. “Not a turtle. A tortoise.”

“He wouldn’t happen to be a Russian tortoise, would he?” Declan raises an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Yeah?” Kerrianne looks at him with the same suspicion, narrowing her eyes.

“I’ve one of my own. Her name is Magdalena.” Declan makes slow moves to slide his phone out of his pocket and open a photo gallery, which he shows to Kerrianne.

At the excited little wiggle of her butt in the chair, I imagine the puppy in her wagging her tail. “That’s so cool!”

I can pretty much text the other guy and tell him not to come to the interview. It’ll be a waste of time.

They start bonding over tortoises, and before I know it, Kerrianne leads Declan through the house toward the tortoise room.

Antonella stops me from following too closely, her hand coming to rest on my chest. “You know he’s the right choice.”

Her opinion feels right.My wolf immediately agrees with her.

The three of us are clearly thinking the same thing, butasking her opinion anyway feels right.No, I’m just testing her. This isn’t asking for an honest opinion. I made up my mind.But I let the words leave my lips anyway. “Text the other not to come?”

Considering it for a moment, Antonella looks down the hallway. “No. This is a good experience for her, but she’ll pick him. Start whatever extra background checks you’re planning, and let her interview the other. But Declan is your man.”

The contradiction to my line of thinking causes me to pause. I’m so used to efficiency and moving within a set system that I didn’t consider my pup’s development.How will she learn to do this if I don’t give her the opportunity?

“You know, how much you know about this business doesn’t speak well to Gregorio’s ability to keep quiet.” I tease her gently.

My arms ache to wrap her up into a hug, but we haven’t made any sort of moves of affection toward each other in the last couple of days, and with Kerrianne so close... How do I explain this? It’s safer to deny myself the touch.

Antonella smiles coyly. “Well, my father wanted me to be involved. It’s the ‘insignificant things’” — she uses air quotes — “that Gregorio was willing to let me know parts of. Security checks were one of those things.”

For a moment, I wish I had been able to meet her father. The man who made his daughter capable may have been able to give me advice in raising my own.She’ll never be Kerrianne’s mother, but she could be a mentor.

She’ll be her mother and mother our next pups.My wolf imagines her belly swollen with a sibling for Kerrianne.

I stuff it out of my mind. Starting to trust her sure as fuck doesn’t make her a good mother. There is still a chance this is some grand plan at deception.

But you want her to be.My wolf scoffs.Quit fuckin’ kidding yourself.

Kerrianne and Declan come out of the tortoise room andthen lead the way back to the kitchen and the living room where they sit down again.

We follow their lead and take our seats.

Again, Declan takes charge of the conversation. “What’s your biggest worry about security?”

Kerrianne’s eyes get glossy with tears. “That we don’t all get to go home.”

“You’re upset about losing Sean?” Declan asks.

My hackles rise.Why didn’t she tell me?I want to interject, but Declan seems to have it under control.

“I don’t like that he died protecting me. And I know that it’s supposed to be better now but...”

“But even though it isn’t your fault, it feels like it.” Declan gives her a reassuring smile.

Where is this conversation going?