Page 42 of Vengeful Secret

“Fine.”

My father narrows his eyes. “If you were fine, you wouldn’t be in here watching an old man sleep.”

I shift in my seat, having forgotten my father’s ability to read all of us. It’s disturbing, really.

“I have a friend and her daughter moving in here,” I say, not wanting to move them in without him knowing. It’s his house, after all, and just because he’s injured that fact doesn’t change.

“Oh? What friend?”

I grit my teeth. “Sutton McIntyre.”

Da looks at me blankly. “Don’t think I know any McIntyres.”

He wouldn’t.Not her. I never told anyone about us.

“They’re from out of state.” I pause. “But she’s a friend, and she needs my help.”

“Murphy?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. Someone’s been following her, so she’s just moving in for protection.”

Da nods, taking a bite of his pasta. It must not be too bad, because he takes another fork full right after the first one.

“You know it’s always the more the merrier here.”

I smile, loving my father’s generosity.

He continues, though, surprising me. “You don’t have to always keep everything together, Gray. You know that, don’t you?”

My chest feels tight with emotion I can’t quite name. “But someone has to, Da.”

“You have three siblings who can help. Lean on them all you want.” He takes a deep breath and then coughs.

I think it sounds too deep in his chest, but since he’d had lung damage from the bullet, they’re recovering as well as his heart.

“I’m sorry that all this has fallen on you,a stor. I know it’s a lot.”

“It’s fine.” And most of the time, it is. Most of the time, I can keep it together. But the last couple of weeks… Something’s changed, and I’m not quite sure what it is.

“You look pale and tired, son. Is there anything I can do? Any weight I can take off your shoulders?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “There’s no big fight right now. It’s just trying to figure out what Murphy’s game is and what he wants from us.”

“He wants us all dead.”

I nod. “That’s true, but I don’t know when or where or how he’s going to strike.”

“That’s always the hard part.” Da leans forward with a wince to pat me on the hand. “But you’ll figure it out, Gray. You always do. And you can ask any of my men for help.”

The problem is, not many of Da’s men actually know how bad off he is. I’ve only told a select, trusted few. I don’t want dissention in our own ranks due to my father’s injury.

I don’t want to tell Da that, though. The words that come out of my mouth next startle me.

“I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I’m ready, if I’m good enough. What if?—”

“Don’t start with the what ifs, boyo,” Da drawls in his Irish brogue. “You’ll never get out of the hole you dig for yourself with those. You’re doing an amazing job.”

He points his fork at me. “And don’t think I don’t have my own little spies around. I have more than just you and my other kids to update me.”

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