Free Almost Innocent by Carina Adams Page A

pretend you didn’t just ask me that.” She stepped inside. “Good night, Declan.”
    “Night.” I turned, needing to get away from her before I said something stupid that I’d regret.
    “Dec?” Gabs called as soon as my foot hit the first step.
    I turned, unsure of what she needed and wondering if she’d changed her mind and wanted me to check the house for her.
    “My letters never had my address.” She twisted her lips, staring me down. “You told me once that if I was ever going to send you anything, I needed to use a post office box so that it couldn’t be traced back to me. All I ever listed was a PO box in Portland.”
    Fuck. I thought back, realizing she was right. I had told her that, and the little brat had actually listened. Shit.
    “Good night, Declan.”
    She shut the door before I could come up with another lie. I heard the lock click before I was off the step. Bringing her home had been a mistake.
    Fi lived ten minutes away, probably less if I drove above the speed limit. I was too distracted to drive fast though. I called Niall and told him I needed Gabby’s car dropped off. He’d been watching her house, and Gabs, for me for years. He was the only one I trusted to do it.
    Adam would want to know who the car was registered to, then he would know where Gabby and Grady lived, which I didn’t want. And Mark hadn’t gotten back to me yet, so I knew he was still working on whoever was in the car following us. Plus, he and Gabs had history, things I hadn’t forgiven my best friend for.
    Fi’s house wasn’t as dark as Gabby’s, but it was obvious that no one was downstairs. I’d never been inside, but I’d driven by plenty of times. I knocked on the door lightly, setting off a chorus of barking dogs. A minute later, just as I was getting ready to knock again, the outside light flipped on, bathing me in bright light, and Fiona’s eyes peered out at me. I jerked back, startled as hell.
    Her crazy-eyed look turned to surprise as she unlocked the door and yanked it open. “Declan? What in the hell are you doing here?” she whisper-shouted.
    “It’s a long story. Can I crash in your spare room?”
    “Shhh!” she hissed, waving her arm at me before glancing over her shoulder. “Keep your voice down!”
    “Got company?” I asked with a smirk. “I can grab a hotel.”
    “Not a chance in hell.” She yanked me inside and shut the door quietly behind me. Not quietly enough apparently. The barking started up again as soon as she locked it, and the sound of more than one dog bounding down the stairs carried into the tiny foyer. “Fuck.”
    “You know I love dogs,” I assured her, bending to offer the giant boxer my hand to sniff. Offended by the gesture, the mammoth dog jumped up and put its paws on my shoulders. Not to be outdone, the German shepherd tried to knock the boxer out of the way and offer me kisses.
    “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Fi snapped. “Get down, girls! Both of you—sit now.”
    As if they were robotic, both sat automatically and looked toward their owner for more instruction.
    “I’m impressed.”
    “They’re good girls, but they’ll take advantage if they think they can.”
    A door shut upstairs, followed by footsteps that made both tails start wagging.
    Fi turned back to me, worry scrunching her nose. “Maybe you should leave. A hotel sounds much nicer than here. You’d get more rest there.”
    I stepped away from her outstretched hand as she tried to herd me toward the door. Laughing at my big sister and her transparency, I crossed my arms. “And who is the lucky guy you’re hiding upstairs?”
    “No. Just go, Dec.”
    I shook my head. “I want to meet him. I’ll only threaten him a tiny bit.” I chuckled.
    “Auntie Fi?” The young voice startled us both. “Is everything okay?”
    Grady. Fi whipped around and hurried over to him. He was standing as tall as he could, his shoulders back in a protective stance, obviously worried, maybe even scared, but