Page 36 of Vengeful Vows

What does that mean for someone like me?

10

BREE

Declan didn’t come home last night, or if he did, I didn’t see him, and I feel pretty strange about it. We haven’t talked about fidelity, although I’ve always been of the mind that wedding vows are wedding vows. I don’t care that most mobsters have mistresses, that’s not what I want for my marriage.

But I don’t want this marriage at all, right? Except, while I’m stuck in it, I want him to respect me. To not be with other women. So, I’m not sure how to approach this.

We’re getting ready for dinner, and I dress in a pair of high-waisted shorts and a blue blouse, looking casual chic, while Declan wears just a button-up shirt and a pair of tailored slacks.

It’s strange how all the Burkes always dress for dinner, how they always have things to say to each other. It’s not like that at my house. Hell, I can’t even remember the last time my father and I broke bread together. He’s always so busy, and I am, too, keeping up the books and making appointments.

We live separate lives, and sometimes I feel more like a secretary or one of his employees than his daughter, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. Right?

I watch Declan sweep his hair back from his face, slicking it back in the mirror, and I frown slightly.

“Where were you last night?”

He stiffens, which doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence, and keeps looking in the mirror.

“Why do you care?”

I scoff. “Because you didn’t come home?”

He turns to look at me, half-smiling. “You jealous, princess?”

“Do I have a reason to be jealous?”

Declan grins wider. “No. I just find it cute that you are.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “So, this... this whole marriage thing, we’re faithful?”

“You fucking better be.” His face is serious, his brows drawing together, and his smile fading.

I laugh. “I’m pretty much trapped here. Not even sure where I’d meet someone.”

Declan keeps frowning. “Do you want to meet someone?”

I shrug. “I guess not. I’ve got everything I need for the moment.”

“For the moment?”

“I mean, you can’t expect this to last forever.” I let out a long breath through my nostrils.

Declan keeps frowning, but then Paige knocks softly on the door.

Declan calls for her to come in, and she pops her head in. She’s got her hair curled, and it makes her look even younger than she is.

“Marisol says to hurry up, dinner’s getting cold,” she says brightly, and then starts off down the stairs.

I begin to walk out into the hallway, but Declan catches me by my wrist.

“I’m serious, Bree. You belong to me, now. I won’t stray, and neither will you.”

I pull out of his grasp. “Not like I have a choice.”

I wouldn’t stray if I could. This might have been forced on me, but as soon as I said the vows, they became mine. But I’m so confused because I don’t want him to stray either. The thought alone makes my chest hurt. But why do I care?

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