Page 42 of Vow of Vengeance

I don’t want to be a victim… especially not a victim of my own fucking husband.

It’s like I’ve said it out loud, or else Declan reads my mind. Because his timing is perfect when his hands frame my face, and I open my eye to look at him again.

“But you’re not anymore. You survived him, and it made you stronger.”

Stronger?

I snort indelicately. “I’m not strong. I’m…”

Honestly, I don’t even know what I am. I didn’t know who I was without Vin… while he was alive. Once he died, I was agrieving widow bent on revenge. But now? Now, I don’t know who I am; I don’t know what to do with myself.

“You’re mine.” Declan says fiercely, still gripping my face so I can’t look away from him… as if I’d want to. “And that’s all that matters.”

It’s a lovely sentiment, but I’m not sure he’s right.

Could that be enough for me?

twenty-one

Declan

Icrushthecanin my hand as my thoughts turn to Tony putting his fucking hands on Soren again.

In the seat next to me, she stirs, lifting her head just a little and muttering something that I don't quite catch.

I turn my attention to her to confirm she's sleeping. It's a toss up on what she will get when she falls asleep. Sometimes, sleep seems to be the only peace she gets to experience... other than the moments after I've fucked her into complacency. Other times, her sleep doesn't seem restful at all, as she tosses and turns, clearly agitated by something, though she claims to never remember what it was by the time she wakes. She needs the sleep, which is why I've taken the stakeout on solo. I still text Khan from her phone every hour, and he assures me that he's got eyes on the backdoor.

She'll be mad at me when she wakes and realizes I let her sleep for the last three hours, but there really is no need for us both to be watching the same spot. As it is, the night is winding down. And by night, I mean early morning.

The last patron comes out the front door at three thirteen, pisses on the side of the building, and ambles into his truck. A moment later, he's gone.

I texted Khan to let me know when the building is entirely empty, and he's given me updates every time someone else leaves the bar.

Just Tony and Pete left now.

Twenty minutes later, I get a new message.

They're gone. All clear over here.

I put my car in drive, and the sudden sound of the engine turning on wakes Soren, who straightens fast, like she's trying to pretend she hasn't been passed out for the last couple of hours. I chuckle as she blinks rapidly, wiping drool off her cheek.

"The bar is empty?" She asks.

"Everybody is gone." I confirm, easing the car into the parking lot as Khan pulls up alongside us.

The only other car in the parking lot is Soren's from earlier, no longer barricaded in by the fucking assholes she called family.

I don't know what they had planned for her if I hadn't been there... if Khan hadn't been there.

Was it just a show of intimidation? Or were they going to take her somewhere?

Soren darts quickly from the car once I've turned off the engine. She doesn't even give me a chance to enjoy the feeling of standing up and stretching before she bounds up the stairs.

Khan and I follow quickly behind, and I stop her just as she's fitting the key in the lock.

"Is there an alarm?" I ask, wary of alerting anyone that we're here. I can handle cops or a security company, but if there's a patch to alert Tony when someone enters the premises, we need to act fast.

"No." Soren assures me. "Vin didn't trust how easily they could be hacked. It's why we never had one at home, either."