Page 154 of Vengeful Guard

Declan glares at me, but Gray shrugs.

“I feel like getting out a bit might help us.”

We drive separately to Kelley’s, an Irish pub downtown, and Gray’s already at the bar ordering shots when I arrive.

Declan walks in after me, and I’m surprised he even showed up. I know he’s still angry.

I take two shots before I speak.

“I love your sister. I never thought it would happen to me. Never thought I deserved it. Never thought love could feel like this.” I shake my head. “And she loves me. I mean, me! How, right? So, I’m going to protect her until the day I die, and I won’t take another cent for the privilege.”

“You manipulated her.” Declan points his finger at me. “You seduced her.”

I snort. “She seduced me, Declan. Have you ever known Paige to do anything she doesn’t want to do?”

Gray barks out a laugh. “He’s right about that.”

Declan doesn’t speak, hailing the bartender for more shots.

My head is already spinning after two, but when you’re Irish, you have to talk these things out over whiskey.

Gray’s coming around, but Declan’s a harder nut to crack.

“I’m telling you, I love her. I’m in love with her. This isn’t some fling, Declan.”

“How am I supposed to believe that, huh? You’ve been my best friend for years, Kael. I know you.”

“You don’t know this me.” I point at myself. “Hell, I don’t know this me. I’m learning as I go, too. Because wanting it or not, through all of this, I’ve changed.”

Gray shoots down his shot, grimacing. “I mean, love changes people, Declan. Bree changed you.”

Declan frowns. “This isn’t like me and Bree.”

Gray scoffs. “How so? Being with someone you’re forbidden to be with?”

“Fuck. This is Paige, man. Little Paige.”

“Your sister’s a grown woman, Declan. You should give her more credit than that.”

Declan lets out a long breath. “What about the hookers and strippers?”

“What about them?” I shrug. “You know as well as I do that the only reason I went to them was so that there was no risk of catching feelings. I know what my ma went through with my da, Declan. How she’d cry for nights on end when he was sleeping around. I’d never do that to anyone, let along the woman I love.”

I shake my head and throw another shot back. “I'm a one-woman man, Declan. I only want Paige, and I’ll tear out my own heart before I hurt her for any reason.”

Gray turns to his younger brother. “C’mon, Declan. Don’t be a dick.”

“I’ll be a dick if I want to. He messed with our sister.” Declan huffs, but there’s no more steam behind it.

“It’ll take some time for all of us to get used to this, but I don’t want Paige to feel like she has to choose between you and me. That’s not fair to her.” I look right into his eyes. “I want you in our lives, and I won’t give her up, man. She’s it for me.”

Gray claps Declan on the back. “They’ll pop out a rugrat in a year’s time. Give your babe someone to play with.”

Declan glares daggers at him. “I still don’t know about this. I’m not giving my blessing, but I’m not kicking you out of the family, either. I’m not giving up the right to see my baby sister. Not for this or anything else.”

I nod. “Fair enough.”

Paige is getting ready to come home in a couple of days, but Patrick isn’t quite there yet.

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