Page 65 of Vengeful Vows

What if he knows? What if he suspects?

And why do I feel awful about this? Don’t I want to be rescued? Because I sure keep thinking I don't need to be.

I am doing the right thing. Right?

I can’t overthink this, so I draw a few balloons in the corner and a big birthday cake on the bottom along with a few hearts, using the multicolored pens that Declan brought me.

Just as I’m finishing up, he knocks lightly on the open door before walking back into the office.

“All done?"

I nod slowly, standing up and handing him the letter.

His eyes scan it quickly, and he glances back up at me.

“I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“Had her since I was a teenager.” I had Molly all my life, a little thing who jumped all over me when I returned home from school or from being out. I do, in fact, miss her. And my father really does have a back injury, so maybe Declan won’t think anything is amiss.

He smiles. “That’s cute. What kind?”

“Cocker spaniel,” I say. “She’s an old lady now.”

Declan nods, something sympathetic around the corners of his mouth. “I had my own dog, Slick. He was a puppy when I was born.”

“Oh?” Guilt washes over me.

“Yeah, he died when I was a teenager,” Declan says tightly. “Poison bait.”

I swallow hard. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Declan shrugs. “I took care of the bastard who did it.”

Fear rockets through me.

Would Declan take care of me just as easily as whoever killed his dog? As much as I’m feeling toward Declan lately, I need to remember that he’s the Irish scourge, that he has a reputation for brutality.

What will he do to my father if he comes after me?

Part of me wants to lunge forward, take the note out of Declan’s hand, throw it away. But then he’d be suspicious, and I’d never get another shot to get a message out.

“This all seems fine.” Declan turns to the door and whistles, putting two fingers in his mouth.

The sound is so loud I wince.

One of the twins, Finn, if I remember correctly, comes to the door, raising his eyebrows.

“Yes, boss?”

“Deliver this to Niall Murphy,” he says. “And be quick about it. Bring a reply if he sends one.”

Finn looks down at the note, which Declan has slipped into an envelope.

He nods and leaves the room, and Declan and I are left alone.

“Is this your office?” I ask dumbly, wanting to change the subject so I can stop feeling so guilty. I have no reason to feel that way, after all. I am a prisoner here, and everything I’m doing is just to save myself.

Declan nods. “When I was sixteen, Dad gave it to me and moved his office to the end of the hall. The other one was bigger, anyway. Gray has an office downstairs.”

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