Page 18 of Lawless Sinners

No man gets the better of me. Especially not a Harrington.

“If you grip that glass any harder, it’ll crack,” Eilish says.

I loosen my fingers and relax my jaw.

Fionn reaches us and stops at my side, close enough that moving away would look like surrender. I sure as hell won’t give him that satisfaction in public.

So, I hold my ground, even as my pulse blips.

His attention sweeps across the crowd while he lifts the whiskey to his mouth. He behaves as if I crossed the room and planted myself in his path, which makes me want to throttle him with that neatly knotted tie.

“You look like a lost dog, Harrington.”

Fionn cocks his head and lowers his voice to a taunting, deep rumble. “Woof.”

Christ, that shouldn’t tingle down my spine, but it does, and the field returns in a violent rush.

Dogs tearing through the moonlight. Wet dirt beneath me. Fionn’s strength pinning me down, his eyes fixed on mine, dark with something that had nothing to do with violence.

I clear my throat before my body fully betrays me and glare into my champagne. “Try the bar. It’s safer.”

Fionn’s shoulder angles closer to mine. “For me or for you, Tallon?”

Eilish steps closer. “I heard Mick Hennessy wasn’t impressed when your father brought Harrington trouble to his Dublin associates.”

The mafia don’s name lowers the nearest conversations. Fionn smiles, all charm and bad intentions, his dimple appearing far too easily.

“You mean he didn’t appreciate the Tallons calling in debts from half of Dublin and pretending it was strategy?"

Eilish takes a slow sip, eyeing him over the rim. “That would be one version.”

“Hennessy knows exactly who caused trouble,” Fionn says. “And he’s not known for overlooking disrespect.”

His gaze slides to me.

The warning ought to be political. With him, it’s not that simple. I narrow my eyes, ready to argue when Keira joins us.

Fionn notices her before I do, and the playfulness in his expression closes.

“Keira,” he says, leaning in to kiss his sister's cheek. “Our father sends his regards.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“No.” Fionn sighs. “He’s at home pretending he expected better from the daughter he gave everything to.”

“I know what he gave me. That’s why it hurt when he turned me into one more thing he owns.”

For a moment, Fionn says nothing. His gaze drifts past Keira and lands on me before he takes a drink.

And just like that, the Harrington manners return.

He turns to Eilish. “You’re Eilish Kinnane, right? Art’s daughter.”

Eilish offers her hand, and Fionn takes it.

“Please…” I sigh. “Get your paws off my best friend.”

Fionn’s fingers wrap around hers while his eyes find mine. “Why? Are you jealous?”