Page 8 of Vengeful Union

For a while, I’d thought I wanted to be exactly like my father. I thought I’d want to follow in his footsteps. But then…

I shake myself out of it, not wanting my mind to get lost in that time.

I hope Bree is all right.

I’ve always wanted Bree to get out, to get away from that godforsaken city, but...

She’s always been stubborn, that’s for sure.

As I sit and wait to board, memories of my time with my sister won’t stop washing over me.

I left the city and my family behind years ago, vouching never to come back, seeking work as far away as I could get.

It was the last time I’d ever seen my father face-to-face.

And now, I have no choice but to run back to the place and the person I want to furthest away from.

Chapter Three

3

LARA

When we arriveat wherever we’re going, I’m pulled roughly from the car.

“You're hurting me.” My words are muffled beneath the burlap bag over my head, and the Murphys probably don’t give a damn about hurting or bruising me, anyway.

God, what are they going to do to me?

I’m thrown into a room, and I quickly remove the bag from my head, taking in my surroundings.

It’s a huge bedroom. A poster-sized bed sits in the corner, stripped bare of sheets.

I have no idea where I am. It felt like we were in the van for a long time, but that may just be the panic racing through my veins.

I try to take in a couple of deep breaths, but my chest feels tight, my arms aching from where they’d manhandled me.

“What kind of idiot are you?” Oscar says, his voice only slightly dampened by the door. There are thin walls in this place.

I glance at the window.

The sill is cracked.

Da has always taught me to scout out anywhere I am to find exit routes. And that window...

I creep over to it slowly, not wanting to make noise.

Oscar continues berating the other man. “That’s what I get for hiring a Scotsman.”

The Scotsman scoffs. “I’m not even Scottish. Scott is just my name.”

“Bloody well might as well be a Scotsman.”

I have their names now. This will be useful when I tell my family what happened.

“You’ll stay here with her,” Oscar says as I make it to the window.

I pull up at the window. It only slightly moves.

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