Page 109 of Vengeful Secret

I stare at him for a long moment.

Sutton squeezes my hand, supporting me.

“Too bad. I guess we’ll have to see who the stronger clan is.”

Murphy shrugs. “So be it. Finn, walk them out, would you?”

Finn and the other unnamed man gesture toward the door, and Sutton and I walk out.

I’m walking a little fast, angry, and Sutton hurries to catch up with me.

Back in the car, I curse, and Sutton stays quiet, looking down at her hands.

“Did he really think I’d agree to that?” I ask incredulously. “He thought I was going to give up my sister?”

“I guess it’s a deal he would have made,” Sutton replies.

“Fucking snake.” I scowl, and Sutton puts her hand on my knee, trembling slightly.

I turn toward her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she assures me, but her face is pale. “I just didn’t expect him to be so… intimidating.”

“He’s nothing,” I assure her. “I’ll protect you. I’ll never let him or his men lay a hand on you.”

I think about what Murphy said.

Scorched earth.

That means all of us are targets now, not just the girls.

Well, let him come at me.

He’ll see what the Burkes are really made of.

29

SUTTON

Gray and I return home,and it’s late, and of course everyone’s asleep. Lara had graciously offered to watch Ciara and put her to bed.

I peek in on my daughter, and she’s sleeping soundly.

Gray heads into the bedroom, and I follow him, watching as he pulls his T-shirt off and unbuttons his slacks, undressing for bed.

I change, too, into a nightie that Gray purchased for me a few weeks ago. It’s kind of a sexy one, silky with a low neckline. But right now, I’m not feeling very sexy.

In fact, I’m feeling terrified after meeting Murphy and seeing how formidable he seems. He’s in such good shape, and Patrick is still bedbound.

“Gray,” I say slowly. “Aren’t you worried about the consequences of this parlay?”

Gray shrugs. “Not really. We were already on the verge of war, and Murphy knew I wasn’t going to accept his deal. He nevereven would have offered a thing like that unless he was protected by the parlay laws.”

“Parlay laws?”

“No bloodshed. Weapons are fine to be carried, but they can’t be discharged or used.”

“And everyone just abides by these laws?”

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