Page 39 of Vengeful Vows

My father would never allow it. But I guess the Burkes have more money than he does. He’s always saying they take up too much of the territory.

I look at Lara, then Paige. “He’s not very good at Blackjack?”

“Oh, he’s extremely good.” Paige shakes her head. “But he plays until he loses, that’s the problem.”

I smile a little, thinking of Declan having the gambling bug. It doesn’t seem like him, but then again, I don’t know much about him.

Maybe he was right the other night, suggesting that we get to know each other. Maybe this honeymoon will be a way to do that.

“Has Declan always liked gambling?”

Lara shakes her head. “He used to be against it, but back then, Da spent a lot on the races. When Declan discovered cards when he was fifteen, he never looked back.”

“Yeah, he was gambling well before Vegas,” Paige says.

I try to imagine him at a poker table with smoke in the air and drinks in glasses, looking up over his cards at the crowd. It’s kind of hot, actually.

A lot about Declan Burke is kind of hot, and that’s the problem.

I’ve got to keep my head in the game. Keep my eye on the prize. All those sports metaphors, or whatever. What matters is that I just have to focus on slipping away, getting ahold of my father so that he can come and pick me up. There’s got to be a way out of this.

It’s not like divorce is illegal. I just need to get far enough away from Declan to file the papers.

Maybe gambling is the way to do it.

“Did he get into trouble a lot when he was younger?” I ask.

Paige smiles, “God, all the time. He was a lot more rebellious than Gray.” She pauses, looking at Lara. “And you’ll never believe who the rebellious one was between us.”

“Lara?” I gasp, shocked, and Lara takes another pull from the vodka bottle, winking at me.

I have to admit, the Burke family is fascinating. They have such interesting personalities, and such intriguing pasts.

I want to know more about all of them, not just Declan.

But why? I’m getting too wrapped up in all of this.

Sure, I’ve got whatever I ask for, except for freedom, and Declan has been kind to me, for the most part, and amazing in bed. Paige and Lara act like my real sisters, and Gray stays pretty far away from me.

Even Patrick treats me like his daughter-in-law.

But I have to remind myself I’m still not here of my own will. As charming as the Burkes may be, I need to get away. I need to be free to make my own choices.

As Lara and Paige pack my things, I start planning a way to escape in Vegas. I won’t be so guarded there, and I’ll even be outside for a while. This is a chance I can’t miss out on.

After an hour, we’re all tipsy, but I’m all packed, and Paige hugs me impulsively at the door. I hug her back, and Lara does the same.

“We’ll miss you around here.” Paige pouts. “But have the best time.”

“I will.” I wave as they walk away.

Declan walks up to me, putting his arms around my waist after nodding goodbye to his sisters on the way by.

He pushes me inside or room, and all thoughts that aren’t him fade away.

I can’t think of anything but his mouth on mine, his hands on my hips as he pushes me down onto the bed.

This is bad. This is so bad.

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