Page 10 of Vengeful Union

Finally, Scott slaps me across the face, and everything goes a little fuzzy around the edges.

I go limp.

“What are we going to do about all this? The window’s open.”

“She can’t escape if she’s tied up,” Scott grunts, and Oscar hands him a pair of zip ties.

A few minutes later, after more of my cursing and biting and spitting, my arms and ankles are tied, and I’m lying on my side, staring at the closed door as they continue to speak in the hallway.

Tears stream down my face, but I don’t stop listening.

Anything I can tell my brothers and my father will help them get them.

And I don’t care who gets caught in the crossfire.

Scott chuckles. “I didn’t think she’d be such a hellcat.”

“She’s a Burke. They’re all like that.”

I huff out a breath, rolling over onto my other side so I don’t have to listen to them. They’re clearly not going to give out any information.

I try to roll enough to get up on my knees, and I manage it, but even when I hobble over to the window, I realize I can’t get out and down without breaking my neck, not with my hands and feet tied.

I’m not going to get out of here this way. So, I’ll have to find another way.

I’m not losing hope.

But I can’t help thinking about what I’m holding out hope for. It’s not like I have much of a life or someone special out there waiting for me or trying to save me.

I only have my brothers and Da.

I frown. “You can’t think about how lonely you arenow, Lara.”

My brothers will come for me. I know that they will. And all the men laughing and talking in the hallway will be bloodstains on the aging shag carpet in this house.

“She’s cute enough.” Scott’s voice is a bit louder now, and I freeze.

“Don’t even think about it. Niall says not a hair on her head is to be touched. Not until he gets what he wants.”

What he wants?

What can he possibly want from me? The only thing I can think of is all-out war, and I think we’re on the verge of that already.

If he wants Gray to make reckless decisions, he has another thing coming. Right?

Gray wouldn’t sacrifice our family for me. Would he?

A fresh bout of terror washes over me, and I sit there, trembling, unsure what to do.

I need to find another way to get out of here. Now. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

Oscar curses.

“Ignore her. She’s lying.”

The thing is, I’m really not. The fear has made my bladder full.

“Please.” I let my fear and desperation shine through. “I don’t want to go in my underwear, please.”

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