Page 29 of Vengeful Secret

Kael hums. “I think so, too. You’ve been doing a great job.”

Although I know they’re genuine, their words don’t ring true to me. I think it’s because I’m so hard on myself, putting so much pressure on my shoulders about everything that’s going on with Da.

I blame myself in many ways, even though Da has assured me that it was no one’s fault but Niall Murphy’s. I still feel like I should have known, should have somehow stopped it.

But even if that’s true, I can’t go back in time. All I can do is try to lessen the damage from here, and not bothering Da about every little thing will help him get better faster.

“But we are going to retaliate,” Declan assures Kael, looking back at him. “We’re not letting Murphy get away with what he did to our family.”

“What’s the play?” Kael asks, and Declan glances at me.

I nod. Kael’s family now, after all.

“We play the long game,” Declan says quietly. “We let Murphy think that we’re rolling under, and then we attack.”

“When?”

I know he’s worried about Paige; I know that he’s even more worried now that they’re together, but I need him to trust me, to trust that I have her best interests at heart.

His repeated questions make me feel like he doesn’t.

I can protect my baby sister. I can protect all of us. I have to.

This is my family, after all, and I’m not going to be pulling any punches when push comes to shove. Especially when it comes to my baby sister.

“Be patient,” Declan answers for me, and I’m grateful, because I likely would have snapped at Kael.

I’m under a lot of pressure, and I find myself feeling angry or annoyed easier than ever.

I’ve been wanting to find Sutton, but with everything going on, I simply haven’t had the time.

Kael sighs. “I know I’m being a pain, but I just don’t want him to get away with it.”

“He won’t,” I state, looking up at Kael, who meets my eyes with a glare of resolve. “That’s a promise.”

Kael looks at me a moment longer and then nods, and I know he trusts me to make the right decision.

My shoulders relax and the anger drains from my system.

Declan’s always been the hothead, but lately, so have I. I’m glad I managed to get through this meeting with a cool head.

“So, all that’s left is what do we reveal to Da and what do we keep under wraps?”

Declan puts his chin in his hand. “I think we just give him a report if he’s awake and asks. Otherwise, we let him rest. If something big goes down, we’ll discuss it and go from there.”

“I agree,” Kael says, always a man of few words.

The buzz of the intercom startles me. “Let’s table this for now. We’ll meet back here tomorrow, same time.”

“Aye,” they say, almost in unison, and I chuckle.

“Two peas in a pod, you two.”

The best friends are more alike than they think.

Kael and Declan snicker and open the door, presumably to go back to their respective partners.

When they leave, I answer the buzz from the man at the gate. “What is it?”

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