Page 115 of Vengeful Guard

Kael sits across from me, and Gray sits beside me at dinner.

Marisol brings out a potato casserole with ground lamb that smells amazing. She doesn’t eat with us, though, opting to take her dinner up to her room.

Gray follows her out with his eyes. “Marisol is taking Da’s attack pretty hard.”

Declan nods. “She is.”

Lara shrugs. “I don’t know why they don’t just date already.”

Bree gasps.

“It’s true,” I agree. “They should search their hearts, see if it’s right for them.”

Bree looks at me, eyebrow raised, and I blush, realizing that I’ve parroted her words back.

“Either you’re in love, or you’re not,” Gray says flatly. “It’s not that complicated.”

Declan snorts. “Says the guy who’s never been in love.”

“Says who? Besides, I’m just saying, it seems pretty simple.”

“It’s a long way away from simple,” Bree pipes in. “But it’s wonderful, when it’s right.” She leans her head on Declan’s shoulder, and Gray’s face seems to darken for a second, but then he makes gagging sounds.

We all laugh slightly, trying to make it like it was when Da was home, but it rings hollow. He’s not here at the head of the table, talking and laughing with us, and his absence is very much felt.

Kael leans forward. “I’m going to address the elephant in the room. What kind of retaliation are we thinking about?”

“Full retaliation,” Gray states. “We find Niall Murphy and kill him.”

Declan clears his throat, looking over at Bree.

She sighs. “I know he’s my father, but if anyone deserves it...”

Declan puts an arm around her. “I know this isn’t easy for you, a ghra mo chroi.”

“It’s not. But I’m willing to help with whatever you want to do.”

I can’t imagine being in Bree's position, sitting here listening to my husband’s family talking about killing my father. My heart goes out to her. Even though Niall Murphy is a terrible man, he’s still her da.

Speaking of… “And what about the ECMO machine?”

Everyone stops eating and looks at me, as if I’ve said the wrong thing. “We need to decide quickly.”

“Fifty percent survival rate sounds awful,” Lara says brokenly. “I don’t know if we should do it.”

“But there’s a chance it’ll help him come out of it faster,” Gray points out. “Isn’t that what the doctor said, Declan?”

Declan nods. “I say we give him a fighting chance. Let the doctor do what he thinks is best. And if it's that machine... Well, we’ll deal.”

“Everyone vote. Agree?”

All of us quietly raise our hands except for Bree and Kael. I suppose they feel like they shouldn’t have a vote in something so serious.

I glance over at the head of the table, where another vote would usually be cast.

I miss Da terribly, and I know the rest of my family does, too. I just hope to god whatever decision the doctor makes, it’s one that will bring him back to us.

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