Page 142 of Lawless Rivals

I hold him there, long enough for him to know I’m not asking him to understand this. I’m fucking telling him.

“She walks to me, or she doesn’t,” I say. “And if she does, you’ll get the fuck over it.”

Rafe straightens his jacket when I unhand him. “It’s not me ya need to convince. Ma will try to kill her.”

“Then you’d better stop her,” I tell him. “Stay here.”

His eyes flash. “Saint.”

“Stay here.”

This time, he hears the order under it.

Dane opens the Ford passenger door. “C’mon.”

I get in and light a cigarette while Dane starts the engine and puts his foot down. He drives in silence for the first mile.

The road out of Black Heath runs narrow between overgrown hedges, black fields on either side, the sky navy and moonless.

“This is more than her name being on the land, right?” Dane asks. “It’s about you and her.”

I stare through the windshield. The headlights carve the road into brief, violent pieces.

“Yeah.”

I don’t say anything else. Some truths turn weak when spoken out loud, and this one is still raw enough to hurt. When the solicitor told me her name was on it, I knew I couldn’t make her stay, or the land would’ve torn us apart.

“Drive faster.” I draw in more smoke and fidget with the lighter.

By the time we reach the Harrington estate, the front gates are closed. Black iron rises between stone pillars, the Harrington crest worked into the center as if old blood becomes cleaner when it’s forged into metal.

Lights glow along the treelined drive beyond, the gothic mansion set back in shadows, all windows, wealth and power pretending it has better manners than everyone else.

Dane slows the car in front of the gates.

Two security men move out the gatehouse when he pulls up the handbrake. Another appears near the side entrance, hand already moving to the radio clipped to his jacket.

When I get out one of the guards lifts a hand. “Mr. Tallon, you need to leave.”

“I’m here for Keira.”

He comes forward, palm out. “You’re not getting in.”

“Tell her I’m outside.”

Another guard speaks into the radio. “Saint Tallon is at the front gate wanting to speak to Miss Harrington.”

I move closer and catch a guy’s wrist when he pushes me back.

He has half a second to regret it.

I twist, throw him down against the bonnet of the car, and strip the baton from his belt. My elbow catches a second guard under the jaw, sending him into the stone pillar.

The third guy rushes at me. I catch his punch on my forearm and drive my fist into his ribs until his body folds around the impact. Another guy swings wild, but I put him on the ground with enough force to take the wind out of him.

Dane gets out of the car and swears.

Someone comes at me from behind. I reach round, grab him by the jacket, and force him into the gate.