Page 42 of Vengeful Union

“My father wouldn't stop planting new ones after my mother left,” Rory says softly. “They’re everywhere.”

“They’re beautiful.” And although I know that Niall is a monster, I wonder if he truly did love his wife.

I know from experience that not all bad men are all bad, and that not all good men are all good. I guess even someone like Niall Murphy has shades of gray.

“If you don’t like to read, there’s plenty of magazines—” Rory starts, and I laugh.

“I love to read, Rory. It’s my favorite pastime.”

He tilts his head. “Really? Me, too.”

“So, you read like autobiographies or war stories?” I tease.

He shakes his head. “Nah, I like fiction. Horror. Drama.” He pauses. “Romance.”

I snort. “You donotlike romance books.”

“I do.” He wrinkles his nose at me. “Just don’t tell anyone.”

My heart skips a beat.

He reallyishandsome. The more I look at him, the more I can see his resemblance to Bree, their strong brows and bright blue eyes.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I look around, picking out a few books. A drama, a horror novel, and a couple of romances.

Rory points at the last romance I’ve picked up, a historical romance. “This one’s a real bodice ripper.”

I burst out laughing. As I’m walking around, I pick up a strange book that seems to have no title. Or at least, I try to pick it up. It just shifts slightly, and the tiles on the floor in the middle of the room open up.

My mouth drops open. “Is that a trap door?”

Rory chuckles. “No. Probably one of my dad’s hiding places. Don’t worry about it.”

He walks over to me, placing his hand over mine and pushing the book back into place. The tiles slowly close tight.

“Guns?” I ask, my throat getting tight.

“Among other things.”

“I want to learn to shoot,”

Rory cocks a brow at me.

I look hopeful at him. “Do you know how?”

“Of course, I do. My father made sure of that.” His voice sounds strained.

“Would you teach me?”

He’s so close to me that he could lean down and brush my nose with his, brush his lips against mine...

Rory shakes his head. “I can’t allow you to have a firearm.”

“Thought we were supposed to trust each other.”

He smiles. “Trust is earned, honey. And you haven’t earned mine yet.”

I pout but follow him back to the bedroom, sitting on the bed as Rory stands in the doorway.

---