“Are you sure?” I asked skeptically.
“I promise. He’s exceptionally well-behaved.”
I wasn’t as sure as she was, but I slowly entered her house. Ink hesitated a bit longer than I did before he stepped inside.
Surprisingly, the dog didn’t move from his spot. He also didn’t take his eyes off us and followed every move we made.
“This is a nice place.”
“Thanks. It’s actually my dad’s house, but he offered to let me stay here when I told him I was moving to Croftridge,” she said. “You guys can have a seat in the living room. I need to go upstairs and pack a bag.”
“Do you need help?” I asked.
“No, I think I can manage.”
“Are you going to take him with you?” Ink asked.
Daphne tried not to laugh. “Yes, I’ll take him with me.”
“Let me know when you’re finished, and I’ll bring the bag down for you.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long.” With that, she headed for the stairs, and blessedly took Diablo with her.
“That dog is scary,” Ink said.
I shrugged. “He’s doing his job and protecting her. He’ll probably be fine once he gets to know us.”
“You can be the guinea pig for that.”
“Are you scared of dogs?”
“No, I’m scared of being bitten by dogs. Particularly big dogs with sharp teeth. How much do you think he weighs?”
“He was a hundred and two pounds at his last vet visit,” Daphne said from upstairs. “And he’s never bitten anyone.”
I looked up to see her standing at the railing of her open hallway. “The acoustics in this house suck. You can hear everything no matter where you are.”
“Sorry,” Ink said sheepishly.
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. He is scary. That’s one of the things I like about him. Anything that wants to get to me will have to get through him first. Well, maybe scary isn’t the best word. He’s intimidating.”
“He’s both,” Ink said.
While Daphne went back into her bedroom to finish gathering her things, Diablo sat right outside her door, staring down at us.
“Are you going to be able to drive with him in the back seat?” I joked.
“Fuck off, dickhead.”
“I’m ready,” Daphne said.
“Have fun with that.”
I ignored Ink and slowly made my way up the stairs. Instead of continuing to her room, I waited for her to come to me. She handed her bag to me and placed her hand on Diablo’s head. “Diablo, this is my friend, Dice. Say hello.”
Diablo raised his paw in the air and brought it forward twice before he put it down.
“Good boy,” Daphne said. “Can Dice say hello to you?”