Page 56 of Vengeful Union

I tighten my arms around her waist, and Lara wiggles back against me.

“Careful,” I murmur. “You’ll make me want to go again.”

“Big talker,” she teases, looking up at me with sparkling green eyes.

I chuckle and then avert my gaze.

I don’t want her to see anything in my expression. If things were different, maybe I’d let myself fall in love.

But they aren’t.

This marriage is a means to an end, to get my father behind bars and protect the Burkes and my sister. I can’t allow myself to actually feel something for Lara.

Nonetheless, I kiss the top of her head, allowing myself to enjoy the moment, to enjoy how close she is to me, the warmth of her skin.

This is nice. It’s not love, but it’s nice.

Chapter Seventeen

17

LARA

I curl into Rory,feeling comforted by being in his arms. I know I shouldn’t lean into this, shouldn’t allow myself to feel anything for him, but he’s really the only friend I have right now.

Rory’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and I jump slightly, feeling it under my hip. He groans.

“It’s probably my father.”

I pout but climb off him, sitting across from him instead of on top of him.

He slides the phone out of his pocket and frowns, bringing it to his ear.

“Bree?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I tilt my head, staring at him.

“Wait, slow down. This is Gray Burke?”

My eyes widen. “My brother.”

Rory stands up, looking around to make sure that no one is watching us.

Then he sits back down and puts the phone on speaker.

“What have you done with my sister, Murphy?” I’d know that growl of Gray’s anywhere.

“Tell us where she is,” Declan pipes up, and I grin.

“I’m right here!”

“What? Lara? What’s going on? Are you hurt? If he’s hurt you?—”

“He hasn’t hurt me.” I need them to believe me. “Rory is the only one who’s helped me. He’s Bree’s brother.”

“And Niall’s son,” Gray says tightly. “You can’t trust him, Lara.”

My eyes flicker to Rory’s, but he’s looking down at the ground.

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