Page 27 of Vengeful Union

Rory looks into my eyes. “It’s the only way you can survive this, Lara. I want you to get out of this unscathed, and I want to get back to my life.”

I smile. “As an accountant?”

He shrugs. “Sue me. I like numbers.”

I finish the sugar-filled donut and sip more of my coffee, feeling more like a person as I begin to wake up.

“What’s your plan?”

Rory looks hopeful yet apprehensive, like he doesn’t trust me either.

“We do exactly what Bree and Declan did?”

I raise an eyebrow, confused. “What?”

“We get married.”

“What?”I put down the coffee and stand up, pacing around the room. “Why the hell would we do that?”

“Because it’s the type of shit my father will love. An eye for an eye. And once it’s over, we can get out of this without a war.”

I’m not so sure about that. I bite my lip.

“But Murphy is still going to want to kill my father.”

“Maybe, but he’ll think this is all for retaliation. He’ll have gotten his revenge by doing the same thing as the Burkes. It’ll stop this war of yours.”

“It’s not mine,” I say quietly. “I’m just as much at a loss during this as you are.”

He looks at me curiously, as if trying to decide if I’m telling the truth.

“You really don’t know anything about what your father does, do you?”

I shrug. “I know a few things, but they keep me mostly in the dark.”

Rory nods slowly. “So, what do you think? Will you marry me?”

He gives me a slow half-grin, and for a moment, I think about how handsome he is.

I swallow hard. “Temporarily?”

“Of course. Just until this business is done.”

“It's a lot of risk on my side and not much reward.” I sigh.

“The reward is your life. I’d say that’s something.”

I pace around some more. “It’s not what I want, though. I want to marry for love. I always have.”

He stands, facing me. “We can have it annulled. It’s not like we’re going to...”

“What? Consummate it?” I stiffen. “Not like I’d ever let you touch me.”

Rory groans. “I didn’t say I was going to touch you. Who says I’d want to?”

“Well, the way you kissed me yesterday?—”

“That was just to shut you up!”

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