Page 116 of Vengeful Guard

KAEL

After dinner is over, the girls go upstairs, and Declan, Gray, and I stay at the dinner table, talking about our plans for the near future.

I look at Gray and Declan in turn. “Where do we start?”

Declan shrugs. “I can ask Bree to call him. Tell him to meet her somewhere, and then we’ll be waiting.”

“Do you really want to do that?” Gray shakes his head. “That’s her father we’re talking about. And sure, he might be a snake, but I can’t imagine the guilt that would put on her shoulders, sending her own father to be a lamb in a slaughter.”

Declan curses. “You’re right. We have to do it without Bree.”

I hesitate for a second, but then just go for it. “We ask for a ceasefire.”

Declan and Gray both look at me, raising their eyebrows.

“A ceasefire? You mean, a retreat? Burkes don’t retreat.”

I point my finger at Declan. “But he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t know that we’re not backing down. We ask for a ceasefire and a meeting, and at the meeting, we take him out.”

Gray hums, looking at me. “That actually sounds like a good idea.”

Declan nods. “Thanks, Kael. But I think maybe we should wait and see how Da is doing. I don’t want to be in the middle of avenging his injury if he....”

Declan swallows visibly and stands up. “Maybe I should be with him. Maybe it was wrong to leave him alone.”

Gray stands and grabs Declan by the shoulder. “It wasn’t wrong. Da would want us to be home protecting the girls.”

Declan nods, but he doesn’t seem convinced.

“If it makes you feel better, go. I’ve got Paige, and Gray can keep an eye on Lara and Bree. Right?”

I glance over at Gray, and he nods.

“We got this. If you want to be with Da, then go.”

Declan sighs and claps Gray on the shoulder, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you. Both of you.”

He tries to be discreet about it, but it doesn’t escape me that he wipes his eyes before leaving the room.

Gray sighs, looking over at me. “You’ll watch out for the girls while I sleep? I haven’t been sleeping well, and I think they’re having a monster movie marathon.”

I nod. “Of course.”

Gray nods back tiredly and heads up the stairs.

I follow him, trailing apart from him to find the theater room. When I open the door, Lara is yelling and throwing popcorn at the screen with Bree doubled over, laughing.

I smile, happy they’re having a good time.

“Where’s Paige?”

“I don’t know,” Bree says. “She watched a bit with us, but then said she was tired. Maybe she went to bed?”

I frown and leave the room, hearing Lara’s peals of laughter through the door.

Why would Paige leave when the girls seem to be having so much fun?

I head to Paige’s room, opening the door without knocking, but the room is empty, her bed is made up, and the shower isn’t running.

---