Page 108 of Vengeful Secret

I drive around the building first, being sure that there isn’t an ambush, and there’s not. There’s two men posted at the door of the abandoned warehouse, one I’ve been to before for meetings on neutral ground.

Sutton and I don’t hold hands as we walk toward the open warehouse door.

Murphy’s men are ones I don’t recognize, must be new members, and they only grunt when we arrive, leading us to the back of the warehouse, where Niall Murphy is sitting on a crate.

He stands up as we walk toward him.

His blue eyes are fierce, his silver hair slicked back. He’s got a little weight around his stomach, but he’s in good shape, much like Da.

“Gray Burke,” he greets, and then looks to Sutton with a twisted smile. “And Sutton McIntyre.”

“Niall,” I say in a low tone, gripping Sutton’s hand now, pulling her closer to me.

“Don’t worry, Burke. I’m not after your girl anymore.”

“Because I killed Darragh?”

“No. Because I want to make a deal.”

I stare at him. “I don’t make deals with snakes.”

He chuckles. “I don’t know why you Burkes gave me that nickname. After all, our crest has a wolf, not a snake.”

“Well, you act more like a snake.”

Niall looks me up and down. “Maybe,” he muses. "In any case, do you want to hear the details of the deal?”

Sutton nudges me. “Maybe we should listen to him.”

I turn back to Niall. “What’s your play here?”

He shrugs. “I subscribe to the old laws, Gray. Your father used to, too. I propose an eye for an eye.”

“Meaning?"

“Patrick took my daughter,” he says harshly, pain evident in his voice. “So, I want one of your girls. Now, it’s come to my attention that your youngest sister is with child, and that Sutton has a little daughter. Because I’ve got such a soft heart for kids, I’ve decided Lara will do.”

“You want me to trade Bree for Lara?” I ask with a scoff.

“Precisely. And as a bonus, we’ll stop stealing your shipments. It’s a good offer.”

“Never. I’ll never let you have any of my girls. I don’t trade in people.” I can’t believe he would even ask it, and Sutton is next to me, staring with her eyes wide.

“I’ll warn you that you should listen to your girl, boyo. If we don’t make a deal soon, I’m going to have to assume that Patrick wantsa war.” His eyes sparkle a bit as he smiles. “Or is it you that’s running things now, Gray?”

I ignore the dig, not wanting him to get under my skin. He already revolts me.

“No deal. None of my family gets touched.”

“I can’t promise that if you don’t take this deal.” He pauses. “Lara won’t be harmed, you know. Bree wasn’t harmed, she was just turned into a Burke, which might be worse.”

“I said no deal, Murphy,” My voice booms in the huge warehouse, echoing back to me,no deal, Murphy.

He spreads his hands wide. “In that case, I can’t promise that any of you Burkes will make it out alive.”

“Scorched earth,” I say dryly, and Murphy gives me a wicked grin.

“Scorched earth.”

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