Page 116 of Vengeful Vows

“Bree!” she exclaims, leaning over to draw me into a hug.

I pat her back, smiling. “Hey, Paige. Excited about moving out?”

I’d hoped that I would miss her and she’d be gone already. She is too cheery for my current mood.

But now that she’s here, I’m grateful for the distraction.

“Oh, my god. I can’t believe that is today! My things are being taken to the house as we speak. Da only wants me to go when all is in its place. But I have to make us some celebratory mimosas.”

Lara mock-gags. “I’m still hungover from last night.”

Paige huffs. “I’m still mad you went out to that new club without me.”

“It’s not that new.”

“I haven’t been.” Paige plops down on the lounge chair next to me. “I never get to go out without a chaperone. I don’t see why you do.”

“Please,” Lara snorts. “Da always sends someone out with me. I just learned how to have fun in spite of it.”

“Oh, great one, teach me your ways,” Paige says dramatically, and Lara laughs.

I smile at the two of them, glad that they’re here. If I’d been out here by myself, I probably would be going down some kind of spiral.

“Did you meet anyone interesting?” I ask Lara.

“No. Just the regular joes.”

“Regular joes can be fun,” Paige points out.

Lara scoffs. “Not to me. I need something different than the Irishmen who do business with Da.”

“I think it’s kind of exciting.” Paige shrugs. “Guys in the life, I mean.”

“How is it exciting?” Lara’s chin almost hits the floor. “We deal with that kind of stuff all the time. I’d rather have a guy who probably isn’t going to get shot, personally.”

“You’re a stick in the mud,” Paige accuses, and Lara frowns at her.

“And you’re a?—”

“Guys, guys,” I say, trying to keep the two of them from fighting. “How about one mimosa?”

Paige stands up, smiling at me before glowering at her sister, and heading inside the pool house to the bar.

Lara sighs. “I try not to let her get to me, but sometimes...”

“Sometimes sisters butt heads. I get it.”

“Are you like that with your brother?”

“Rory?” I think about it. “I was before he left home. Weirdly enough we became closer since he turned his back on the family business. We’re still not close close, but we talk here and there.”

“And why’s that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe we just don’t have the same interests.”

“What is Rory interested in?”

I laugh. “Who knows?”

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