Page 153 of Vengeful Guard

“It’s raining,” I complain. “Why is it raining on my wedding day?”

“They say it’s good luck,” Lara looks at me in the mirror, fixing my hair and makeup.

“No, they don’t,” I mutter, but I let her finish curling my hair.

“You’re marrying the right guy.”

I’m worried that when I look up at the altar, it’ll be one of those men who kidnapped me instead of the real groom.

But when I look up, it’s Kael.

And when I wake up—He’s still there, dozing against me with one arm around me awkwardly given my back brace.

I break out in a big smile.

My happy ending starts today.

Now all we need is time to recover from all this. If Murphy will let us.

42

KAEL

There’s still a cloud hanging over our future.

Paige and I will never be completely happy if things aren’t right with everyone. And though Patrick has accepted us as a couple, Declan and Gray still haven’t.

I love the Burkes, all of them, especially Declan, who has always been my brother in everything but blood, and I know family means the world for Paige, too, so I need to make this right for her.

The hours tick away, and my night’s anything but restful, as this plagues me, so when I wake up yet again, and Paige is still snoring, I extricate myself from her, standing up and walking out into the hallway.

I know what I have to do, but I’ll be damned if I actually want to do it.

Knowing how important family is to Paige, how tight knit the Burkes are, I know that she would never want her brothers out of her life.

And Declan being my best friend, not having him in our lives is something that would hurt both her and me.

I just hope that Gray and Declan don’t tackle me when I walk into the waiting room.

When I step inside, they just look up at me, worried.

Gray stands up. “How’s Paige?”

“She’s going to be okay, but it will be a bit. Concussion, few broken ribs, and a fractured spine.”

Declan stands too and starts pacing. “Fucking Murphy.”

“We’ll get him,” Gray promises in a gruff voice.

I take a deep breath. “I need to talk to you both.”

Declan stops pacing and stares right at me. “If this is about wanting my blessing, you’re shit out of luck,”

“Just hear him out, Declan.” Gray sighs. He rolls his eyes looking at me. “I’ve had time to cool down, but this hothead?—”

“Don’t call me that.” Declan elbows him, and I step between them before they start to fight.

“Why don't we get out of here? Paige is safe, let’s go to Kelley’s. We really need to talk.”

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