Page 3 of Vengeful Vows

“Fuck off, Gray.”

“Don’t get pissy at me, little brother, you poked the sleeping dragon. I was all for letting it rest.”

“We should ransom her?—”

Dad’s eyes narrow as they snap to me.

When my father decides on something, it might as well be set in stone.

It’s just that I never thought I would get married.

I’m no slouch, but I’m just not interested in romantic entanglements outside the bedroom. I’m the type of man with blood on my hands, and I can’t imagine ever letting a woman get close enough to see it.

And I may not be what I would call a womanizer, but I don’t discriminate. A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman, and they’re all welcome to warm my bed for a night or two. Maybe three, if they’re lucky.

Lately, I’ve been more focused on growing the Burke name.

And, of course, one day, I’ll have to worry about having an heir, but right now? With a Murphy?

I want to help my father keep Niall Murphy out of our territory. Niall’s actions have nearly destroyed this family more than once. He is a monster. A snake. And I just want him gone. But at what cost?

My freedom? My sanity?

Sure, she looks good. And sometimes, I wish things were different. Sometimes, I wish I could have a wife, a family, a normal life. But at the same time, I’m terrified of it. If things go the way it went for my mother and father... I don’t think I could handle it.

And now that choice has been taken away from me. It is no longer a matter of if I’ll get married, but when.

No more women warming my bed. No more being married to the business.

This is happening.

Well, fuck.

My shoulders sag as my father places a hand on my shoulder.

“Father Harrington will be here in two hours. Send Paige in here to help Bree get ready.”

Two hours?

“I won’t marry him!” Bree cries. “I won’t do it! You can’t make me!”

Ignoring Bree’s pleading, he strolls from the room without a second glance.

“What an interesting turn of events.” Gray smirks as he lifts his glass to his lips. “This should be fun.”

I close my eyes for a moment and try to take a steadying breath as I work through my options.

I expected to be leaving this room with a corpse, not a bride.

“Give us a moment,” I ask Gray as I open my eyes and turn to look at Bree, my jaw aching as I clench it.

“Normally, it’s tradition to wait until after you’re married to fuck?—”

The snarl that escapes my throat is enough for Gray not to finish that sentence.

I know he’s just teasing her. We were taught better than to force ourselves on women or take advantage of them. I may never have considered marriage a real possibility to me, but I was always honest about my intentions. I never mislead any of the women I fucked.

But things have gone way out of my control, and I don’t need the added mind fuck.

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