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As soon as we enter the house, stampeding footstep head in our direction. I brace myself. A harlequin Great Dane tears around the corner. He is almost as tall as I am. My life flashes before my eyes.
As he nears us with his tongue hanging out and the biggest puppy dog smile I’ve ever seen, Aris says in a stern voice, “Ferb, sit.”
Ferb skids to a halt and sits. He looks beseechingly at Aris and whines. Aris scratches him behind the ears and the dog wags his tail blindingly fast.
“I missed you, too. But what did I tell you about trying to jump on me?”
Ferb makes a sound akin to remorse.
“Say hello to Aniyah.”
Ferb lurches at me, but Aris holds his collar.
“It’s alright, Ferb won’t hurt you. Will you?” The patience in Aris’ voice throws me off kilter.
This man is ruthless and has a death wish. Why else would he deliberately piss my father and the Arroyos off with his most recent actions? But this side of him speaks to something deeper. Animals have an uncanny sense when it comes to people, and Ferb’s obvious devotion to Aris must mean something.
I extend my palm to Ferb. He sniffs and licks me in welcome. When it looks like he wants to do the same to my face, I back away.
“Okay, Ferb.” Aris pounds at the giant dog’s side. “Where is everyone else?”
Ferb springs up and races toward another room down the hall. Aris presses his hand to the small of my back and we follow.
“Ferb usually goes everywhere with me, but once he becomes accustomed to you, he’ll accompany you everywhere that I can’t.”
Before I can counter his highhanded decision, another voice yells, “There’s my favorite dog in the whole wide world.”
“Trin?” I whisper. “Trin!” I repeat, my legs take flight and I enter the room to see my youngest sister on her knees hugging the giant beast.
On a nearby couch, Kayla sits with a chunky bluish-gray cat on her lap. She rushes to me, causing the three of us to collide to the floor. Ferb dances and barks around us.
Tears blind me. In my disbelief, I pat my sisters down, looking for injuries or signs of distress. “You’re really not hurt?”
“We’re fine, but what the hell is this?” Kayla grabs my hand and stares at the wedding ring Aris put on me in Vegas.
“And who is that man?” Trinity asks. “He doesn’t look like an Arroyo.”
“Because I’m not.” Aris enters the room and sits on the sofa.
Although the furniture is homey and seems more suited to a country cottage, once Aris occupies the space, everything is given a sophisticated upgrade.
“I’m Aris Glezos, your brother-in-law.”
The cat Kayla had on her lap, leaps onto him and butts its head against his chin while everyone else stares in disbelief between Aris and me.
“Sis, you got some explaining to do.” Kayla pushes me behind her back. “But before then, I think we need to leave. Trin?”
“I’m right behind you, Kay.” Trinity’s voice trembles.
“You two are free to go, but my wife stays with me.” Aris’ voice sounds lethal due to its cut glass quality. While he stares without emotion at my sisters, he runs his hand gently against the cat’s fur, making the moment fraught with tension. “Ferb, guard.”
Ferb transforms from a pet-hungry softie into a man-eating guard dog. He runs to the entrance of the room, blocking our exit. His posture stiffens and he growls each time my sisters and I step back.
“I am willing to entertain any questions you have, but you’ll have to do it here and now. You’ll understand if I’m not too keen on losing my wife after a few hours of marriage when I went through a lot of trouble to marry her.”
“Niyah? What do you want to do?” Kayla asks.
I glance between Aris and Ferb. Ferb’s size is enough of a deterrent for me, but I can’t ignore the bigger threat in the room. Although I haven’t seen him in action, I suspect he can incapacitate all three of us with little effort.
