Page 119 of Vengeful Vows

“No, you just sell drugs and guns to adults,” I grit out. “That’s so much better. Do you know how many people the Burkes have gotten hooked on dust? How many sisters, daughters? Do you know how many of them turned to prostitution to support their habit? How many people have your guns killed, Declan? You have no room to be on the moral high horse, here.”

Declan doesn’t answer, just staring at me. He knows I’m right.

“Your family isn’t better than mine. You’re just kidding yourself. And you’ve been in the game longer. So yes, I sent a message to my father. I didn’t know he was a monster then. I didn’t know he would have you shot. I thought he’d come and save me. Because you kidnapped me. I didn’t choose this. I didn’t choose you.”

Pain flashes across Declan’s face. “Is that what this is all about? You lied when you said you loved me?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. “No, Declan. I told the truth. I wanted out. I wanted to go home. But that’s before I realized that you were my home. I’ve been sorry, sick to my stomach ever since you were injured. I didn’t want that. I didn’t ask for that.”

“That doesn’t matter,” he growls. “You still betrayed me.”

“I know that it doesn’t matter. I know there’s no forgiveness, but the least you can do is be completely honest with yourself. You may say you love me, Declan, but you’ll never truly see me as anything but a weapon against my family.”

I stare at him for a moment longer before yanking the door open and stalking into the hallway. Paige is at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide.

“Not now,” I grind out, and storm into the bedroom, slamming the door.

I plop down on the bed, the tears coming now, faster than I could have expected.

Someone knocks on the door.

“Go away!" I scream, but a small voice comes through the door.

“It’s Paige. Please let me in.”

“I can’t right now, Paige,” I sob, but she comes in anyway, quickly shutting the door behind her.

“I’m not going to ask what happened.” She sits on the edge of the bed. “All I know is that you seem sad and angry, and I know that feeling. I just want to be here for you.”

She draws me into her arms, and I fight her at first but eventually, I bury my head in her lap, sobbing like a child as she strokes my hair.

It feels comforting. My mother used to do this for me when I was young and full of big emotions. Right now, I feel like my heart is tearing in two.

Who am I? Am I Bree Murphy or Bree Burke? Am I some combination of the two? How dare Declan accuse me of being a monster like my father is when he’s the spitting image of his?

After some time, I manage to calm down, and Paige smiles at me.

“God, I left a snotty wet spot on your cover-up,” I sniffle, and Bree laughs.

“That’s okay. I’ve got a million more.” She pauses. “If you ever do want to talk about it...”

“I don’t.” I shake my head, but then give her a weak smile. “But thank you. Thank you for being here.”

“I just wanted to help.”

I take her hands in mine, squeezing them. “It really did help.”

I’m telling the truth. Paige and Lara are like the sisters I never had.

Paige stands up, leaving me be and turning off the light as she leaves.

I bury myself in the sheets that smell like Declan and look up at the ceiling, replaying our argument over and over in my mind.

I don’t regret a single thing I said because I said the truth.

Declan may hate me for what I’ve done, and that’s fine. I deserve it.

But I refuse to let him lie to himself.

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