Page 73 of Vengeful Union

It wasn’t about my father. It wasn’t about a code, or any kind of morals.

It was about Lara. It was because he’d tried to hurtLara, and I can’t think about what that means.

I just nod, and Duncan trails down the stairs while I walk into my bedroom.

Lara’s still dead asleep, cuddled up with my pillow, and I don’t bother to undress before slipping back under the covers with her.

She makes this cute little noise in the back of her throat and rolls over, cuddling up against my side as I lay on my back.

I can’t stop myself from putting my arm around her.

My heart aches just looking at her slack face, her slightly parted lips as she breathes slowly through her mouth.

I’m not in love with her. I can’t be.

I’mnot.

Chapter Twenty-One

21

LARA

I frownwhen I reach for Rory and just end up with empty sheets.

I sit up, wiping at my eyes. I look at the clock on the bedside table, and I’m shocked by the time—almost eleven. I have slept almost twelve hours. I guess I’ve been stressed and not sleeping well, but last night, I slept like a rock next to Rory.

He’d been so upset by what he’d done, but I can’t deny that something about it turned me on. He’d wanted to protect me. He’d done it for me, and that means something to me.

What exactly it means, I can’t say.

Maybe I just don’t want to admit it. It’s getting harder and harder to deny that I have some kind of feelings for him.

I sigh and stand up, heading to the shower. I spend so long under the hot spray that the water starts to cool.

After dressing, I walk out of the bedroom and almost smack into Raquel.

She grins, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. She’s wearing it down today, and it bounces around her throat.

“Hey there, Mrs. Murphy.”

“Please, call me Lara.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Okay. Lara. Rory asked me to watch out for you today.”

I huff out a breath. “I don’t need security following me around the house. What am I going to do, trip down the stairs?”

“You never know.” She grins at me, and I can’t help grinning back.

“Well, I think I’ll go to the pool again.” I miss swimming back at home, and I thoroughly enjoyed it last time, so why not take advantage of it.

“Good thing I brought my bikini.”

I stare at her. “You’re going to swim with me?”

She shrugs. “I can watch out for youandswim.”

I smile, grateful to have some company. “Let’s go.”

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