Page 112 of Vengeful Union

Rory pulls out his phone when Duncan leaves, putting it to his ear.

The sounds of his conversation with my brother, and then my father, make it clear to me that Rory wants no part of this.

“You can have it all. I can’t promise you that his men won’t still fight you…”

“Let me talk to him.” I hold out my hand, not even sure exactly which one of my relatives is on the other line.

“A’stor?”

My father’s voice comforts me like I would have never imagined, and I brace myself on the desk to keep my knees from going weak.

“Da, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

“It’s good to hear yours. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, but my voice sounds thick and liquid. Tears burn at the back of my eyes and for once, I just let them fall. “I’ve just missed you, Da.”

“We’ve missed you too,a’stor. We’ve been worried sick, but from what I hear from your brothers, you’re in good hands with Rory Murphy. Is that so?”

“That’s so.” I smile at Rory, and he gives me a weak smile back. “I’ll see you soon?”

“Later tonight. We’re sending some men to wrangle up all the guys who might try and avenge Murphy, but they’re few and far between. I wouldn’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

“Nice to know I finally don’t have to worry.” I laugh softly. “I love you, Da.”

“I love you, Lara.”

I hang up the phone and hand it back to Rory. He’s looking down at his father’s body, his expression unreadable.

He takes my hand wordlessly, leading me down the hallway and toward our bedroom.

I follow him without arguing because I just want to be there for him.

He strips off his blood-stained shirt first before removing the rest of his clothes, and I walk into the bathroom to run him a hot bath.

By the time he slides into the water, it’s cooled off slightly, but he still hisses when he gets in.

The blood pools on the surface of the water, but he doesn’t seem to notice, looking at me instead.

“I told your father to talk to Bree.” His voice almost startles me as I take a cloth and start to wipe him down, making sure to get rid of all the blood on his skin.

“Aye?"

He nods. “I don’t care what she does with the house or with his clan. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all Burke territory now.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“It's not like I ever had a problem with your family, Lara. It was always my father. Some decades-ago grudge that he could never get over.”

“Da says he doesn’t even remember what started it.” I continue to wash him.

By the time we’re finished, the water is tinged pink, but Rory doesn’t seem to notice.

Rory and I almost mechanically get into bed together.

I lay there for a long time, staring up at the ceiling.

I’ve seen so many men die in the last couple of days. I’ve been so afraid. And now that everything is over, I’m still afraid, but in a different way.

---