Page 19 of Vengeful Vows

“I know,” I say. “But it’s Murphy, not me. The girl that showed up, she’s going to give Jimmy a date, time, and location. I want us to be there, intercept it.”

Gray grins. “Well, why not? He intercepts our shit all the time.”

“We offer them a way out.”

Gray nods. “Of course.” He pauses. “You know, this thing with his daughter, intercepting his girls... it really is going to be war.”

“I told you, I’m ready.” And I mean it with all my heart.

We haven’t been able to take Murphy down because they have too many allies, and we never have had definitive proof that he’s the one stealing our shipments and messing everything up.

Gray looks at me for a long moment. “I hope you mean that.”

“I fucking do.” My eyes narrow at him. “It’s time to put Murphy out of business once and for all.”

By the time we get ready to leave, I can’t stand the curiosity anymore. I sidle up to Jimmy, and he glances at me as he closes all the crates, getting them ready for sale.

“Did she take the rehab pamphlets?” I ask. “Did she take the help?”

Jimmy smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “She did, but she also took the dust. You’ve got a bleeding heart, capo.”

I sigh. It’s not great that she took the drugs, but maybe, after a bender, she’ll take a look at the pamphlets, too.

“I’m tough as nails.”

Jimmy gives me a knowing smile.

He knows as well as I do that I have a soft spot for young girls, want to protect them. God even knows if Diamond is more than eighteen or nineteen. She needs protection, and she’s clearly not getting it from the Murphys.

I keep thinking about poor Diamond’s dark eyes as we leave the warehouse, and I think there’s more than one reason to hate Niall Murphy.

6

BREE

I slowly wake up to someone bouncing gently on the bed, and when I look up, it’s the dark-haired sister, Paige, grinning at me.

I jump and flinch, and then it all comes rushing back.

Oh. Right. I’m married to a fucking Burke, and his sister is here basically jumping on my bed like a little kid. Because they’re all crazy.

Maybe I’m crazy too, given what I did last night.

“It’s almost ten o’clock,” Paige says in a whining voice. “It’s time to get up. Marisol has made breakfast.”

She stands and then looks down at the ruins of my dress on the ground.

“Oops,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “Looks like I need to grab you some new clothes.”

She disappears, and for a moment, I hope she won’t come back and snuggle back under the covers. But of course, she’s back in thirty seconds flat, throwing a huge amount of clothes on my bed.

“Take your pick!” she says, and then just stands there.

I squint up at her.

Her eyes widen. “Oh! I’m sorry. You must want some privacy. I’ll be right outside.”

Of course you will.

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