Page 85 of Vengeful Vows

“Do you feel better now, baby?”

I’ve noticed that he’s using pet names a lot more than usual. I wonder if that means that he feels more for me if he’s accepting me as his wife.

I want that, so desperately, but I also know now that he deserves better. He deserves someone who wouldn’t try to get out, who didn’t almost get him killed. He deserves someone without the blood of a monster flowing through her veins.

I think about it, briefly, about what it’d be like if I saw him with someone else, and it makes me want to vomit. I can’t imagine Declan with another woman. It would kill me.

I sniffle, tears coming to my eyes. “I do feel better,” I say shakily, and Declan frowns.

“You don’t seem like you feel better.”

“I do,” I insist, biting back the tears. “It’s just... a lot. Everything that happened and finding out about my father...” Falling in love with you...

Declan pulls me closer with his good arm, kissing the crown of my head. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Just know that I’m here for you, okay?”

God, he’s being so sweet. It’s not even out of character, though. Declan is a good man, and that’s becoming clearer and clearer to me.

Paige and Lara were right when they told me that Declan is a good guy. I just hadn’t believed them... not until it was too late.

I know that I need to tell him what I did. I know that he’ll cast me out if I do, though, maybe even kill me, so I can’t bring myself to do it. Even if maybe I deserve whatever the family decides to do to me.

I tell myself I can enjoy this for one more night, and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping that my slumber will be dreamless.

22

DECLAN

Thank god I’m being discharged by Doc. I’m ready to get back out there.

We’re finishing up when Gray walks into my office.

“I’m done here,” Doc says, and I hand him a stack of cash before he leaves the room.

“How’s everything healing?”

I roll my shoulder around, only a minor pull reminds me of the shot in the chest. “Good as new.” I look at him. “I assume you have business to discuss with me.”

“It’s about Murphy.”

I frown, putting my shirt back on and buttoning it before turning back to him. I’m sitting behind my desk.

Paige and Lara just got back from Paige’s new home that dad bought for her, and they took Bree upstairs, giggling and talking like schoolgirls, so I’m not too worried about Bree listening in.

Gray looks at me with the most serious expression. “We can’t figure out what happened that day you and dad were checking the shipment. There are no leaks in our organization.”

“You can’t know that for sure.”

He sighs. “You don’t think it's a little too coincidental?"

“What do you mean, coincidental?" I already feel defensive, and I can’t even pinpoint why.

“You sent a letter from Bree to Murphy, and then suddenly, he knows when we’re checking a shipment?”

“Doesn’t he always know?” I clench my jaw. “He’s always got his little spies around, listening to us. Besides, we never discussed anything while she was around, so how exactly would she know?”

“But the only people who knew about that shipment were Burkes and Jimmy.”

“Exactly. So, what about Jimmy?”

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