Page 76 of Vengeful Vows

I put my hands up in defense. “I just wanted to see you. I can leave if you want.”

“Don’t want you to leave,” she mumbles, climbing back into bed.

“You need to eat something,” I say gently. “Can I get you some soup from downstairs? It’s cream of chicken with wild rice, Marisol’s specialty.”

“I don’t want to eat.”

“I know, baby, but you have to.” I sit on the edge of the bed and when I reach out to smooth the baby hairs from her face, she wrenches away.

“How can you stand to touch me?” She draws in a ragged breath. “How can you stand to even look at me?”

“Bree, you’re not your father.”

“I have his blood,” she says stubbornly. “I have his eyes, his stupid chin.” She rubs at her face, as if wanting to rub away the resemblance, which is remarkable.

I’ve never met her brother, Rory, but if he looks as much like his father, they’d probably look like twins.

“You don’t have his black heart.” I climb into bed with her, pulling her into my arms even as she protests. Eventually, she relaxes against me, her back against my chest, her baby hairs tickling my jawline.

I don’t say another word, but she falls asleep. If her night was anything like mine, she needs it.

With her body next to mine, I can relax for the first time since dinner last night.

Soon, I drift off too, and we sleep in each other’s arms.

Monday seems to come quickly. Bree is still a little quiet, but she’s better, engaging with Paige and Lara, almost back to normal. I think she’s finally accepted her role here, that she’s part of the family.

As much as I hadn’t wanted it at first, I have to admit that I’m over the moon about it now. I want Bree to be a part of my life, and I’m trying to come to terms with that.

I knock on Gray’s door, and he groans in response. I raise an eyebrow, grinning.

Is there a girl in there?

I throw open the door and Gray’s alone, looking pale and drawn on his bed.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I had gas station sushi last night after a pitcher of beer,” he says, gagging, and running to the bathroom.

I laugh out loud. “You should sit this one out, brother.”

He throws me a thumbs up, hunched over the toilet, and I walk to my father’s office, knowing he’ll already be up and ready to go.

I’m wearing a suit because we have a few people to offer protection to today.

Da is in his office, fully dressed and standing behind his desk.

“Gray is... under the weather.”

Da laughs. “I knew he would be. He and Cillian went out last night.”

I chuckle. My friend can really raise hell, so I’m not surprised. I am, I guess, a little surprised that Gray went along with it, but he’s been letting loose a little lately.

And it’s a good thing too because he needs it.

“It’s good to see him letting his hair down,” Da says, and I nod.

We head out in my father’s Escalade, driving to the south side to collect some payments. All goes well and everyone is happy—or alternately, terrified—to see my father out and about.

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