Page 98 of Lawless Rivals

Dane whistles and pulls out his phone, typing out a message. “We’ll kick ‘em where it really hurts.”

At the edge of the yard, Ma’s Land Rover comes into view as it speeds in and parks close by.

Sera climbs out of the passenger seat first, and Ma takes her time, lighting a cigarette and checking her salty black hair in the sun visor mirror.

“What have I missed?” Sera asks, strolling past Keira, not giving her a second glance. “Looks like you’re holding a meeting for dummies.”

“You only showing up for work now?” Dane makes a face at her. “What time do ya call this?”

Ma exits the Land Rover and joins us, her attention on me the whole time.

“What’s the plan now?” she asks.

“We put pressure on the men around him,” I say. “This only has one outcome, and Harrington will fucking crumble when his allies start bitchin’ at him.”

Her eyes narrow, considering it, measuring the plan against whatever idea she’d thought of.

“And Crowley’s team?” She pulls her wax jacket collar up higher and glances at Keira. “They aren’t stupid.”

“They’ve done what they can without stepping over the line,” I tell her. “They won’t find anything here.”

“Ya think?” Ma’s eyebrows drift skyward. “They just have to cruise into this yard and little miss fucking trouble here will wave them down, telling all sorts of stories that lead to prison time.”

She takes a drag and exhales as she speaks, “You’re getting sloppy, son.”

Anger knots in my stomach, and my jaw clenches. “Do you wanna babysit the girl, Ma? Because I’m the one doin’ what it takes.”

“I don’t want a Harrington anywhere near me or my home.”

“So you’ve said,” I grit. “Your fucking record is scratched.”

Ma narrows her eyes at me for a beat as she inhales a lungful of smoke.

“And that’s why we call ya Saint. The boy who never got caught with dirt on his hands. But even saints trip up. Make sure that woman isn’t the reason for it. I won’t have history repeating itself.”

She turns before it becomes a bigger argument, heading back to the Land Rover while I stand there wondering what she’s talking about.

Dane and Rafe back away, while Shay tips his cap and wanders into the barn.

Sera comes up from behind me, steps in close, and shoves a plastic bag into my chest.

“That’s for your pet Harrington,” she says under her breath.

I take it without looking inside, noting the weight and feel of clean clothes, aware of the word she used and choosing not to react to it.

“Right.” My fingers fist around the fabric inside. “You did well this morning getting rid of Junior.”

Sera’s mouth twitches as if she’s biting her tongue, then she walks off, already done with the exchange.

I angle the bag toward Keira and watch how the wind plays with her long, loose hair.

“My sister must like ya,” I say, my gaze settling on her. “That’s two Tallons now. Only three more to go.”

She looks up at me with a slight smile pulling at her mouth, and I have to look away before I smile back, because there’s another night ahead of us in that tin mobile, miles from anyone, with open land on every side and only one bed inside.

Chapter 26

Keira