Page 86 of Vengeful Vows

Gray gives me a dark look. “Jimmy’s been loyal to us for twenty years, Declan.”

“I know what you’re implying,” I say, just as darkly.

Part of me wants to hit him, but I don’t. I push down my anger at him because if I’m honest, I have my own suspicions. The timing does seem a bit convenient. “But I read the letters—both of them. There was nothing in them.”

“Maybe they have some kind of code.”

I sigh. “You’re reaching, Gray. It’s probably just that someone used an unsecured line. It doesn’t always have to be something nefarious.”

“You’re blind.” Gray rubs a hand across his face in frustration. “You’re blinded by that girl, Declan, and this isn’t going to end well.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I look up at him. “Besides, you and Da were the ones who pushed me into this marriage.”

“It was Da’s idea, not mine,” Gray insists.

“Nevertheless, you went along with it. And she is never around when we discuss business, so again, Gray, how would she know?” I open the door to my office. “Now get out. I’ve got work to do.”

“You and I may butt heads from time to time,” Gray grumbles, “but I’m still your big brother, and I only want what’s best for you. Bree may be pretty. She may act sweet. Hell, she even snowed me here for a while. But she’s still a Murphy.”

“She didn’t know,” I say fiercely. “She didn’t know who her father was until Da explained everything.”

Gray scoffs. “You really believe that?”

“I do.” My fists clench. “Now, get out before I throw you out.”

Gray finally leaves, slamming the door, and I sigh, looking down at my desk, which is scattered over with papers, mostly bookkeeping.

Usually, Lara deals with the books, but lately, I’ve been trying to do it myself. I need to learn how to run it. Da won’t be around forever, and one day Lara will get married and move out.

But I’m not worried about money right now. All I want is to think this through.

I find myself wishing that my best friend, Kael, was in town. He’s been away for a bit for business, and I usually hash this kind of thing out with him.

Perhaps it’s for the best that I call Cillian instead of Kael, though. Cillian is only peripherally involved in the business, so maybe he’ll have a clear head about this whole thing.

Besides, I need to let off some steam.

I pick up my phone and dial his number. He picks up and I don’t even give him time to say hello.

“Meet me at the gym.”

He groans. “Aren’t you injured or something?”

“Almost healed and just cleared by the doc. So, I can do cardio.”

“You’re a madman,” Cillian complains. “I’ll see you there.”

I head upstairs, changing into a pair of basketball shorts and a tight shirt. My biceps bulge in it, and I like seeing the difference in size after I’m able to lift. Unfortunately, I can’t lift today or for a while, not wanting to ruin all that is healed already.

I head to the gym, and I don’t see a glimpse of my sisters or Bree, which is also probably for the best. I don’t know how I feel about her right now. Everything has gotten so confusing.

I’d thought, for a while, that I was swiftly falling in love with her. But it turns out that I don’t even know what that means. I’ve never been in love before, after all. And can I fall in love with a woman who comes from our greatest enemy? The man who killed my mother?

She didn’t know, I remind myself as I step onto the treadmill next to Cillian.

“What’s on your mind?” Cillian asks quietly as I start up an incline.

“How do you know something’s on my mind?”

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