Page 110 of Vengeful Vows

It’s not Bree’s fault that her father killed my mother, but it’s hard to understand how I fell in love with her.

I guess I can understand Gray’s anger.

After cleaning up, there’s nothing more I can do so I put on a pair of shorts and a tight t-shirt and head to the gym. It’s nearly two in the morning, but it’s an all-night gym, and no one will be there.

I’m shocked when I see Cillian on the treadmill. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he pants, slowing down the treadmill. “Just couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d tire myself out.”

“Same here.” I step onto the machine and put it on a high incline so we can talk.

“What's wrong with you?” Cillian asks.

“I’m in love with my wife, who happens to also be a Murphy,” I tell him.

Cillian whistles. “I hate to say I told you so, but I thought this might happen. You’re sure you’re in love?”

“Pretty fucking sure,” I mutter, walking at a slow pace to warm up. “We had dinner tonight, alone, and she told me she loves me, too.”

Cillian raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t that good news?”

“It should be. But I'm still not sure if she got a message out to her father. If she did, she set me up to be killed.”

Cillian shakes his head. “That’s a hell of a thing to think about your wife.”

“I’m just going to have to crack that code. That’s the only way.”

“Look for inconsistencies.” Cillian shrugs. “Things that don’t seem quite right.”

“Thank you.” I nod. “That actually helps.”

I need to reread the letters. There’s something just at the back of my mind that I can’t quite put my finger on. But for now, I need to work out, let off some steam. If I don’t, I feel like my head will blow off.

I turn the machine up and break into a run, and thirty minutes later, I’ve sweated through my shirt.

Cillian and I hit the showers, and after, we part ways with a fist bump.

Cillian’s a good guy, but he’s not exactly the kind of guy you have deep conversations with.

Somehow, though, he’s given me an idea.

I rush home and head into my office, taking the letters and reading them side by side.

But it doesn’t help. There still doesn’t seem to be any inconsistencies. The mention of the dog is kind of weird, but Bree mentioned the cocker spaniel once at dinner. I guess she really doesn’t talk about her much, though.

Is it something to do with the dog?

It’s nearing daylight when someone knocks on my open door.

I look up to see my father standing in the doorway.

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I gesture to the chair in front of my desk.

He sits down, looking at me intently. “So, you know that Jimmy is cleared.”

“I know, Da. I know what you’re going to say. I’ve been looking over the letters, trying to figure out the code?—”

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