Page 111 of Vengeful Vows

“You don’t know what I’m going to say,” Da says. “I want you to drop it.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter. Murphy is going to come for us no matter what we do. So, just let it go.”

“I can’t let it go!” I exclaim. “If someone’s lying to us?—”

“The truth always comes out, boyo.” It’s something he’s always said.

Then he simply stands up and walks out into the hallway.

What the hell? Was he telling me that he believes it's Bree, too, but to let it go? He can’t be saying that.

And even if Da did forgive it, that doesn’t mean that I will. She’s been lying to me all this time. For weeks.

I won’t forgive that. I can’t.

I look down at the paper and still, I can’t find anything. My eyes are crossing, and I’m feeling tired and irritated, so I walk across the hall to my bedroom, slowly opening the door.

Bree is sitting up in bed, her auburn hair mussed from our sex last night. She frowns at me.

“Where have you been?”

“Working,” I mutter.

She raises an eyebrow. “You’re in a mood.”

“I’m not.” I walk over to the bed and sit down on the edge, taking hold of her ankle in one hand.

“Declan,” she mutters, looking up at me from under her long eyelashes. “About last night... if you didn’t mean it?—”

“I meant it.” And it’s true. I do love her, but I don’t know what that means for us—especially if she’s betrayed me.

Can I forgive something like that, especially when I still have an ache in my chest from the bullet? How do I know she doesn’t want me dead, just like her father?

Bree smiles, relief clear on her face. “Me, too.”

I try to smile back at her, but it feels forced, and she must notice, too.

“Something’s going on. What’s wrong, Declan?”

I shake my head. “It’s just boring work stuff, princess. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about.”

Bree rolls her eyes but she’s still smiling, and I think I’ve thrown her off the subject.

“I’m not some wilting violet, you know? I can handle some work stuff.” She pauses. “After all, I used to do my dad’s books.”

Did you? Did you see where he stole half of our shipments? Did you know about it?

I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop wondering if she isn’t nearly as innocent as I thought she was.

I don’t blame her for what Murphy did, at least not to a point. But regardless of what she said before, I need to know if she knew. If she knew the kind of man he was and still sent him after me. Because if she did, I don’t know if I can forgive her. I don’t know if I even want to.

I clear my throat, needing a distraction.

I climb up onto the bed on my knees, grabbing Bree’s ankles in each hand and spreading her thighs. She’s only wearing the sheet, and it rides up around her waist as I position her.

I spread her thighs with my hands, watching her face.

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