Page 5 of Vengeful Vows

I’ll be ready for him and all he has.

I’m just not sure if I’m ready for the hazel-eyed menace I’m about to marry.

2

BREE

These people are insane. Not just crazy, but like straightjackets-and-padded-white-rooms mad!

My father’s words repeated to me throughout the year keep echoing through my mind. “God knows I hope it never happens, but if you’re ever behind enemy lines, remember one thing, wean. Keep. Your mouth. Shut.”

So, I didn’t open my mouth when I was grabbed, just clawed and fought for all I was worth. I’ve broken a couple of nails and my fingers sting, and I’m otherwise none the worse for wear.

But I had to say something when that lunatic Patrick Burke made that crazy announcement.

Patrick Burke and his sons have lost their minds, clearly.

And it doesn’t seem like there’s a clear way out of this.

They haven’t hurt me yet, so that’s a plus at least.

I need to get out of here, escape, but I don’t want to die trying.

So, I’m going to have to go along for now, bide my time, until something breaks. Because something always does. And when that happens, I’ll run for my life.

When Declan leaves, a dark-haired woman comes in.

“Have fun, Paige.” Gray empties his glass and walks out of the room, leaving me alone with the woman he called Paige.

She is older than me, but not but all that much, I don’t think.

She comes up behind me and unties me.

When she is done, I slowly stand up, massaging my wrists and looking around studying my surroundings now that I can move. I’m not much of a fighter, but if I see an opening that doesn’t kill me, I’m taking it.

She starts walking outside the room. "Come, please.”

She waits by the door until I pass her, and she closes the door behind me, grinning at me brightly, taking my elbow and leading me down one of the halls.

“Who are you?” I ask, and Paige tilts her head as if confused.

“I’m Paige Burke, of course. From what I heard, I’m your new sister!”

Another, taller, lighter-haired woman comes into view. “And so am I. Your new sister, I mean.”

She’s long, lanky in a way that the petite Paige isn’t, towering over me. She’s statuesque, elegant, where Paige is cute and tiny. She smiles softly. “I’m Lara. The second oldest. Paige here is the baby.”

Paige pouts. “I’m not a baby anymore.” She looks me up and down, but not in a judgy way. More like she’s gauging my measurements in an analytical way. “You look to be about the same size as me.”

She takes my hand, and hers is small and warm, and leads me up the stairs. Lara follows close behind me.

I feel like it’s on purpose, so that Lara can keep me from sprinting out of the house.

The whole Burke clan is fucking nuts, apparently. These two are acting as if we’re new best friends. We are supposed to be mortal enemies. What is wrong with this family? Have they all lost their fucking minds?

“What are you, a size four? Six?” Paige asks.

“Something like that,” I mumble, my mouth feeling like I’ve eaten cotton. I keep looking down at my cracked and broken nails.

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