Page 28 of Vengeful Union

I let out a huffed breath. “Well, I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?”

Rory remains silent.

I think about it. Going home seems like such a dream, and I want it so badly. I want to hug my father, see my stupid brothers, my sweet sister and sisters-in-law. I want to hug my niece. But if Murphy’s just going to keep coming after us… Maybe next time it’s one of them, and Rory might not be here when that happens.

Da is hurt. He could barely stand up at the reception. There’s no way that he’ll be coming after me. And Gray and Declan have enough on their plates.

Would it be selfish of menotto marry Rory Murphy?

I look him up and down, at his broad shoulders, trim waist, handsome face.

He smirks. “Like what you see?”

I shrug. “You’re all right.”

In fact, he’s more than all right. He’s pretty stereotypically handsome with his slicked back hair and wide eyes. He and Bree have the same nose and chin.

He snorts but doesn’t argue.

I look into his eyes. “And if I marry you, I’ll be safe?”

“I promise, I won’t let any harm come to you.”

Some part of me believes him. He hadn’t let Scott hurt me. He’d ordered Oscar and Maury to give me comfort.

What reason would he have to lie to me?

Unless this is all some kind of long con to get in with Murphy, I can’t think of a reason. And if that’s the case... there’s not much I can do about it.

It’s clear that I can’t escape this place, and that Murphy will just keep coming back to hurt my family.

“All right.” I nod. “I’ll do it.”

“You know,” Rory says slowly. “This means you do trust me. At least a little.”

I sigh, running a hand across my face. “I trust that you don’t want me dead. Any more trust than that is going to have to be hard-won.”

Rory breaks into a smile. “Fair enough, honey.”

This time, I don’t correct him.

“I’ve got to go and talk to my father. I’ll be back. Oscar and Maury won’t bother you.”

I nod slowly. I guess I’ll just look at the peeling walls while he’s gone.

Rory throws something on my bed. It bounces, and I realize it’s a paperback.

“It’s just the latest law thriller, don’t get excited.”

But I am excited. I’ve been stuck in this place for what seems like forever, with no entertainment whatsoever.

“Thank you.” Small comforts mean a lot in a time like this.

As Rory leaves the room, I wonder what my future is going to be like.

Chapter Ten

10

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