Page 92 of Vengeful Vows

I swallow hard.

Does my father have anything to do with this? It makes everything crash down around me, and my good mood is spoiled.

“Be careful,” I whisper, and Declan nods tersely, his mood changed, just like mine, as he walks out of the door and leaves.

I sigh, gathering up my book, a true crime novel, and heading to the sunroom.

It’s peaceful here, with the open skylight and the big windows, the stained glass making different colors stream into the room.

I try to read my book but end up reading the same paragraph about twenty times before I give up, closing the book and putting it in my lap.

What am I going to do? Declan isn’t going to take this kind of betrayal lightly. For all I know, he already knows and is plotting to kill me.

But would he act that way with me this morning? And even last night, he was all over me in the shower. Surely, he wouldn’t be so close to me if he still hated me.

But at the end of the day, I have no idea how he feels about me.

It’s only about half an hour before someone walks in, and I look up to see Lara.

I’m grateful that it isn’t Paige. I love Paige to death, but her bubbly, outgoing personality can be a lot when I’m in such a weird mood.

Lara smiles and sits next to me. “What are you reading?”

“Truman Capote.” I flash the book cover at her.

“In Cold Blood,” she murmurs. “A classic.”

“I’ve never read it. Paige recommended it.”

Lara blinks. “I’m surprised she reads that kind of stuff.”

I laugh. “She doesn’t. But I told her I didn’t want anything about love.”

“Not much love in that novel, that’s for sure.” Lara gives me a small smile. She looks at me for a moment longer before speaking again. “So, what’s going on with you?”

I stiffen. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’ve been in a weird mood ever since Declan got hurt.”

“I’m just worried about him.” Not exactly a lie.

I’ve been hoping ever since he left that he won’t get hurt again, and who knows what my father is up to?

“It’s more than that,” she says. “You’ve seemed really... off the last couple weeks.”

I bark out a laugh. “As if any of this is normal.”

Lara smiles softly. “I guess you’re right about that.”

I’m quiet, hoping that she’ll get the hint and leave, but it appears like she’s settling in.

I could leave, I suppose, but that would seem rude.

Lara isn’t a bad person. None of the Burkes are, and I think I’m falling in love with all of them, not just Declan. Of course, it’s not the same kind of love, but I have always wanted a stable family.

“I know how you must feel sometimes,” Lara murmurs. “Like no one is on your side.”

I look at her, my eyes widening. “How could you possibly know how I feel?”

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