Page 126 of Vengeful Vows

“She didn’t. Your father did.”

“Knew the old man was good for something.”

I sip my mimosa, and she’s already pouring more in my glass. I pull my glass back a little, but Paige frowns.

“If anyone needs this, you do,” she says, and I nod after a moment.

“I guess you’re right.”

Champagne doesn’t tend to give me the headache that wine or liquor does, so I suck down my mimosa and let her refill it.

Two hours later, the movie is over and I’m laughing, doubled over, at Paige’s impression of one of the dead teenagers.

“Thought I’d never hear that laugh again,” Lara comments, and I smile at her, sobering somewhat. My vision is doubling but I feel lighter and freer than I have in a long time.

Everyone knows what I did, and the world didn’t end.

I know Declan hates me, and I know I deserve it. He’ll probably hate me forever.

The only thing keeping me going now is the hope that Patrick might be right.

He might never love me again, and I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me, but I’ll do everything I can to show him that I’m sorry. I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to the Burkes.

I’ll show Declan, show all of them, that I belong with them. That this is where I want to be. That I am worthy of being a Burke. If they’ll have me.

“I’m glad you became a Burke, Bree,” Paige squeezes my hand, a little tipsy, and I smile at her.

“I'm happy that I did, too.” And I mean it.

My life was a lot emptier before the Burkes took me from my father, and I was living a lie. I didn’t know the kind of monster my father truly was, and now that I know, I know that I don’t want anything to do with him.

Talking to him on the phone had only exacerbated that truth.

He is a snake, just like Declan always said. The problem is, Declan thinks that I’m one, too.

“Don't start getting glum,” Lara warns.

“I can’t help it,” I mutter. “Declan’s so mad at me.”

“He gets mad at the drop of a hat,” Paige scoffs. “He’ll be over it in a couple of days.”

I hum, not so sure about that. “I don’t even know why I did it.”

“Because you were scared,” Lara suggests. “I’d be scared if I was alone in enemy territory. You didn’t know that we were good people.”

“I don’t even know if we’re good people,” Paige jokes, and I can’t help but bark out a surprised laugh.

“Morality is pretty gray around these parts,” Lara agrees, and she flips through the streaming service to find the sequel to the slasher. “Now, drink up. Every time you hear a scream.”

I chuckle and we go back to watching and drinking.

By the time the movie is over, Paige is passed out on the chair, and Lara and I are fading fast.

“Why don’t you stay in my room?” Lara suggests. “You shouldn’t be by yourself right now.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not.” She pauses. “Besides, I have to get you to help me carry Paige to bed.”

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