Vengeful Secret (The Burkes Mafia #3)

31. Sutton

31

SUTTON

Ciara comes home that afternoon with a note in her backpack, and I’m a bit worried that it might be about her talkative nature. Instead, though, it tells of a school party they’re having on Friday, a reward for the class all passing their recent quiz.

“I got a hundred,” Ciara says proudly when I mention it to her. “Everyone is supposed to bring something.”

I look at the list, quickly writing off the baking goods because I’m not a cook at all. They need supplies, though, napkins, paper plates, and cups. I circle them on the paper and smile at Ciara.

“Aunt Lara and I will get what you need, honey.”

Lara perks up where she’s been lying listlessly on the couch. “We get to leave the house? Oh, thank God.”

“Can I come, Mama?”

I shake my head. “I want you to stay here with Daddy. He’s lonely in this big house without me, you know.”

Gray chuckles, sitting in his father’s recliner. “Exactly. A prince needs his princess, after all.”

“You’re not a prince, Daddy. You’re the king ,” Ciara says, and Gray smirks.

“I guess I've moved up in ranks.”

“You certainly have.” I chuckle, standing up. “Should we go now?”

“Yes, please,” Lara pleads.

Gray nods, pulling out his phone. “Just give me twenty minutes to send some men with you. Liam and a couple others. One will be in the car and two will stand guard at the store.”

“Isn't that a little excessive?” Lara asks with a groan.

“Not at all. Murphy’s declared war, and we have to stay ready.”

Lara seems annoyed but doesn’t complain, letting Gray make his calls.

At the door after the guards arrive, I kiss Ciara on the cheek and then kiss Gray softly.

“Be safe,” he says in a warning tone, and I nod, smiling.

“Always.”

Liam drives us, and Lara slides into the back seat with me as the other two guards follow behind us.

“I know it’s just a party store, but I’m hype to be out of the house. Plus, sometimes those places have excellent wigs,” Lara points out.

I laugh. “You wear wigs?”

“It’s less damaging than changing my hair all the time.”

I shake my head. “You Burkes are something else.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Nothing,” I say, smiling a bit, and Lara just looks confused.

The Burkes are nothing like what I’d expected after just meeting Gray. I’d thought of them as a cold mob family, not close-knit at all.

Boy, was I wrong.

“I hate being watched like this.”

“Well, they’re keeping us safe.”

“I guess,” she grumbles.

It would be hard, I guess, being Lara. Being under constant surveillance by your family. I can’t imagine it provides much privacy.

We arrive at the party supply store, and Lara and I start picking up paper plates and cups. I even find a few party favors I think the class will like—some necklaces and bracelets made of beads.

Lara gasps and makes a beeline toward the wigs, and I turn to see two men guarding the door of the store. I feel less exposed with them watching.

It’s strange, I guess, how differently Lara and I view having guards.

But Lara has never really been in real life, has she? She’s always had her father, her brothers, the Burke mansion, guards. She’s probably a lot more tired of it than I am.

They just make me feel safer.

I trail toward the end of the aisle where a man is perusing the napkins.

“Excuse me,” I say, reaching for a pack of castle themed napkins, and the man grunts.

Something prickles at the back of my neck, my hair standing up.

He grabs my arm as I turn away, and I open my mouth to scream.

He claps his other hand over my mouth.

“Listen,” he snarls. “I’ve got a proposition for you. If you scream, I’ll shoot.”

He puts his hand at the small of his back, and he turns so that I can see the glint of the silver gun.

I swallow hard, nodding and trying not to glance over at Lara or the guards.

I’m in between aisles, and no one can see me.

“I know you can guess who I work for.”

“Murphy,” I whisper.

He nods curtly, his face calm. I jerk away from him, rubbing my skin.

He holds out his arms in defense. “I just want to make you an offer.”

“What kind of offer?”

I need to keep him talking. Sneak slowly backwards so the guards can see me…

“Murphy can give you asylum.”

I freeze. “Asylum?”

“For you and the little one. All you have to do is give him up.”

“Give who up?”

He looks at me like I’m stupid, but I feel like my head is spinning.

What is he talking about?

Maybe I’m just too scared to think.

My heart pounds too hard against my chest plate.

“Gray,” he says quietly, calmly. “Give us some information. Where he’ll be. How many men he’ll have with him. If you give us that, we’ll set you and your girl up in a safehouse. States away. So that no one will ever find you.”

So that no one will ever find us.

Isn’t that what I once wanted? Isn’t that why I spent five years trying to avoid Gray Burke?

I hadn’t moved out of state because I didn’t have the money, and I needed my mother’s support with Ciara.

If I take this offer, Ciara will be safe. I’ll be safe. No more looking over my shoulder. No more worrying that something will happen every time I leave the house.

I figure the nightmares will remain. They’ll just be different. Full of Gray’s green eyes.

I take a deep breath. “And that’s it? That’s all I have to do? You’ll leave me alone?”

The man’s eyes widen. “Yes. That’s all you have to do. I can make one phone call, and you’ll be safe. Your little girl will be safe.”

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment.

All I can see is Gray throwing Ciara across the pool and laughing, snuggling up with her at night. Gray looking into my eyes as he makes love to me, kissing along the side of my face.

Can I give him up? Even for this?

“No,” I say firmly. “I won’t do it.”

I’ll stand by him, no matter what dangers are involved.

The man’s face falls, and he sneers at me. He reaches into his back pocket, and I wince, thinking he’s going to pull his gun. Instead, he takes out a business card.

“If you change your mind, call me.”

Then he’s gone, striding toward the door, and I breathe heavily for a few moments before peeking around the corner and seeing he’s gone, Gray’s guards still standing at the door.

I’m breathing hard when Lara comes around the corner looking for me.

She freezes when she sees me, taking both my hands in hers.

“What happened? You look white as a ghost.”

I shake my head, not wanting to talk about it. “I'm fine. I just want to go home.”

Lara frowns but keeps one of my hands in hers, leading me to the cashier where we check out. I’m barely breathing as I pay the cashier with Gray’s black credit card.

I feel like I’m drowning until we get into the car, and finally I take in a few gasping breaths.

“Are you okay?” Lara asks, looking at me curiously.

“I’m fine,” I say, but my hands are shaking.

What have I just done? Did I piss away an opportunity to keep my daughter safe? And for what? Because I’m in love with her father? Isn’t that selfish?

We head home in near silence, I only answer Lara’s questions and nod and smile when I need to.

Lara seems to still be worried about me as we walk in, but when Gray meets me at the bottom of the stairs, I throw myself into his arms.

Lara heads upstairs, always good at knowing when we need time alone.

“Sutton,” Gray whispers against my ear, chuckling as I clutch at him. “You sure are happy to see me.”

“I need to talk to you,” I say quickly. “After Ciara’s in bed tonight.”

He frowns but nods. “Okay, a ghrá . You know I’m here for you, anytime.”

He kisses my temple, and I feel slightly better as I pull away from him.

I go through the motions the rest of the day, eating dinner with the family, giving Ciara her nightly bath with Effie, and telling her a story about a princess and a knight as she goes to sleep.

Did I make the right decision?