Page 128 of Lawless Rivals

“Bull-fucking-shit.” I grab him by the collar and shove my gun under his jaw.

Dane’s footsteps come up beside me. “Saint.”

The man’s throat works again, his voice dropping. “I don’t know who they are. You’ll get your money.”

“Bring the rest tonight.” I pull the gun away. “Or you don’t get another chance.”

The air leaves him all at once, his head dropping forward as he sucks in a deep breath.

He nods fast. “I will. I swear⁠—”

I step back and holster my gun, already reaching for my smokes.

Rafe moves in, hauling the man to his feet. He stumbles as Rafe drags him toward the exit, still rambling, still promising, the words running together until the door shuts and cuts him off.

Dane watches me light up a cigarette, his gaze holding as he pushes off the wall.

“You good to keep going?”

I drag smoke into my lungs and let it out through my nose. “We’re done here.”

When he nods, I turn and head for the door, shouldering it open without slowing.

Despite the rain, I push out onto the narrow strip of concrete behind the shop. The alley is tight, brick on both sides, bins shoved against the walls, the ground wet under my boots.

Rafe trails the guy with him, one hand locked in his jacket, pulling him toward the side gate where he can run off.

Dane moves ahead, already pulling his keys free as he reaches the Ford parked along the curb.

I pull the peak of my cap lower and follow, my attention fixed on the puddles.

The wintry cold should bite, but I feel nothing.

Dane unlocks the car and climbs into the driver’s side. I pull the passenger door and wait for Rafe to catch up. Once he ducks into the back seat, I drop into the front and shut out the wind.

I crank the window lower and bring the cigarette back to my mouth as streetlights slide across the windscreen, washing the inside of the car in brief strips of light before dropping us back into shadow

“You’ve been quiet since she left.”

Dane glances at me before looking back at the road, one hand draped on the wheel the other resting on the gear stick.

“Didn’t think you’d let her walk knowing she could sign that land over,” Rafe shouts over the engine from behind me.

I flick ash out of the window and keep my eyes on the street.

“I’ll get the land.” I take another drag.

“How?” Rafe asks. “Does that involve her coming back to ours?”

My temper catches. I lock it down. “I don’t want to see her again.”

“Course ya don’t.” Dane glances at me.

I flick my cigarette out the window and look straight ahead.

“Shay say anything else about the south gate?” I ask, changing the subject.

Dane shifts gear and plants his foot on the accelerator. “Said the latch was off when he checked it.”