Page 126 of Vengeful Guard

“It’s fucking irresponsible, Paige!” Declan bursts out.

I flinch slightly.

He hasn’t been prone to outbursts like this since he and Bree got together. “You should have been focused on staying safe, not on dilly dallying with my best friend. How long has this been going on, anyway?”

“Not that long.”

My heart squeezes. This is all my fault. Still the same useless, selfish brat. Except now, the consequences of my actions fell on someone else. Someone innocent.

I wasn’t trying to get Kael caught. I wasn’t trying to get him kicked out of the family.

Declan will calm down, right? Surely, he’ll let him back in after things calm down. He has to.

“Don’t interrogate her.” Gray turns on Declan. “Kael's older than her. He was in a position of authority. He took advantage of her.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here, Gray!” I stomp my foot. Damn, I need to stop doing that. “I can do what I want with my body, and you two can’t police that.”

“Like hell we can’t,” Declan says. “Things are going to change around here. I’m stationing Jeremy Meyers and Aiden O’Connell here.”

“I don’t know who they are.”

“That’s the point.” Declan furrows his brows. “You won’t go around kissing men you don’t know, will you?”

“She might.” Gray chuckles, and I swear, I’m going to hit him.

But Declan holds me back, and I huff, sitting down in a chair at the kitchen table.

There’s nothing I can do about this.

Gray and Declan are going to do whatever it is they want to do, which includes getting all in my business.

I wish I was at least back in my own place. Now I’m stuck at my childhood home.

I want to go back to my place. I don’t want to stay here anymore. But I can just tell that piece of news will not go down well right now, so I’ll just let them cool down, and then I’ll lay down the law.

I’m an adult woman, and I will live my life without having to be under my stubborn brothers’ thumbs.

God, I need to vent so bad. Where are Lara and Bree, anyway? All I can hope is that they come home soon.

I cross my arms over my chest and stare up at Declan. “Are you going to keep lecturing me?”

Declan scoffs. “Do you need me to?”

“I’m an adult, Declan. You can’t really think I’ll let you command my life, can you?”

“We’ll see.” He storms out, and Gray stands there for a long moment, looking at me.

I keep my face frowning and won’t speak to him, so he finally trails out of the room.

I raid the fridge, grabbing myself a bottle of water and some celery and peanut butter, wanting something to snack on.

I sit down at the little breakfast nook in the kitchen and eat.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? I need to talk to someone.

I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Sophie’s number. It rings all the way to voicemail. I try Tanya next, then Catalina. Nothing.

I just want someone to understand me. I need a friend… No, I need Da.

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