Page 125 of Vengeful Vows

He loved her.

My head spins.

“Did. You. Do. Something. To. Her?” Ice and fire run through my veins. I need this answer, but I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

He’s silent on the other line for a long moment.

“Same thing I do to all traitors.”

My world crumbles as my heart shatters. I can hardly breathe, but he will not get the satisfaction of witnessing me break. “Is that supposed to be an answer or a threat?”

“It’s a warning, wean. I love you, but I won’t hesitate to kill you before you become a Burke, a dog traitor.”

“Too late,” I hiss. “You should have rescued me like you were supposed to. Back then, my eyes were still blinded to who you are. Now, it’s too late. I’m not a Murphy anymore. I disown you. I’m a Burke now, and I’ll be the first in line to make sure you get everything coming to you, Niall Murphy.”

I hang up the phone, sliding it back across the desk and putting my face in my hands, sobbing. My mother didn’t abandon me at all. She was hurt, maybe killed, by Niall Murphy.

He really is the monster Declan claims he is. He is the snake.

And all this time, I’ve been a pawn in his fucking chess game.

Patrick comes around the desk to crouch and comfort me, drawing me into his arms.

“I've ruined everything!” I sob into his chest, and Patrick chuckles, stroking my hair.

“Declan will calm down, a’stor. The truth of the matter is… I don’t really blame you, and once he stops being a hothead, he won’t, either. You were taken from your family, from everything you ever knew.”

“Y-You mean it?" I stutter. “You’re not like, lulling me into a false sense of security so you can stab me in the back?”

He laughs out loud. “By god, you’re a suspicious soul. I like that about you. It’ll keep Declan on his toes. No harm will come to you over this.” He pauses, looking at me with a small smile on his face. “You’re perfect for Declan, you know?”

I shrink back, withdrawing into myself.

“He hates me.”

“There’s a very thin line between love and hate, Bree. He’s upset with you right now, upset with himself, but he doesn’t hate you. If he did, he wouldn’t be losing his mind right now. He loves you. Just like you love him.”

“I do love him,” I whisper, and Patrick smiles wider.

“I know you do, sweetheart. And he knows it, too. He’ll come around. It’ll all work out.”

I stand up, my legs a bit shaky, and Patrick gives me one last hug before I walk out of the office, still sniffling.

Lara meets me in the hallway, holding a champagne glass that appears to be full of orange juice.

“How about mimosas and a horror movie on the big screen?” she suggests.

I blink at her. “You don’t... hate me? Don’t you know what I did?”

She scoffs. “You did the same thing any of us would have done in your position. Declan’s being a dick about it, but he’ll get over it. You’re our sister, Bree. Of course, we don’t hate you.”

She takes my arm. “Now. Paige is waiting for us. She says she needs this one last night here with the three of us together, and she’ll start her new life tomorrow.”

Tears spring to my eyes all over again, but this time, I manage to fight them back and let Lara lead me into the entertainment den.

Paige already has a slasher queued up, and she grins at me.

“You’re here!” she exclaims. “I thought she’d never talk you out of bed.”

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