Page 64 of Vengeful Vows

“Today.” He smiles, as if he’s done some big favor for me. And in a way, I guess he has.

Declan takes me into his office, handing me a sheet of paper and various pens in different colors.

“Just in case you want to draw some balloons or something,” he mutters, like I’m a little kid making a card for her dad. It’s kind of cute.

I smile. “Thank you.”

He nods, leaving the room and giving me my privacy, and I stare down at the blank page for a long time. I’ll have to word this carefully.

My father and I have a code. We always have, since I was little, because he was paranoid that anyone would read something important. This code has been engrained in me ever since I learned how to write and even more when I started helping him with the books on business matters.

A different person’s name for each day of the week. Thursday is Tony, Saturday is Salvatore, and so on.

I know exactly what to say so that he’ll know when to come for me.

Yet for some reason, I have a hard time putting my pen to paper.

What if my father comes and saves me? What happens then? Will my father want blood?

My breath catches in my throat when I imagine something happening to Declan or my father. I don’t want any of the Burkes to be hurt, but I know my father, and he can be vengeful. Ruthless.

I have to get out of here.

Just because Declan isn’t the Irish scourge people made him out to be doesn’t mean that I should stay in a forced marriage. Maybe if things were different—maybe if we’d met and fallen in love, maybe if I’d chosen this...

I can’t think that way. I have to focus on the present, and on my future, and I’ll have no type of future being trapped here with the Burkes.

I draw in a sharp breath and force myself to start to write.

Daidí,

I’m doing okay. I am well taken care of.

I hope you are okay too.

How’s Molly? Give her a big cuddle for me and tell her she’s a good girl.

There. This will be enough to let him know Monday is the best day.

Are you having a good birthday? How is your back? You need to rest it more often, especially after your injury.

And this will let him know to be careful and bring backup.

Take Molly on a long walk as a surprise from me.

I love you and happy birthday.

Even though being here has felt more like home than I ever felt with my father, I do miss him.

I reread it and sign it.

It’s short and sweet and enough to let him know I’ll be waiting.

I don’t think Declan will have any qualms about delivering it or sending it.

Everything in the note is somewhat true. Except Molly died eighteen months ago from old age.

My palms are sweating, the hair standing up on the nape of my neck.

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