Page 105 of Lawless Rivals

“Ya got anything?” Saint asks.

Rafe exhales a cloud of smoke.

“Not yet,” he replies. “We’ll find her. And if we don’t, this one pays the price.”

His gestures to me and glares.

“What about her?” he asks, his expression twisted. “Does she know where her da’s taken Sera?”

Saint angles himself closer to me and stares at his brother.

“How would she know? We’ve had Keira with us this whole time.”

“Keira?” Rafe makes a face at him. “Since when did ya start⁠—”

“Using her fucking name, Rafe?” Saint grits. “Don’t be an asshole.”

I steel my spine, meeting Rafe’s icy stare. “Riley handled that side of things for my father. He was the one who followed his orders. I wasn’t involved.”

Rafe exhales smoke through his nose, not satisfied.

“Of course ya weren’t. What about Fionn?” he goes on. “Your brother isn’t squeaky clean.”

“You’ll have to ask him that.” I fold my arms across my chest. “We haven’t spoken much since I lived away from home.”

He takes a step toward me, closing the gap in a way that’s meant to be intimidating, except I raise my chin and meet him head-on.

“You’ve been wandering around here like Saint’s fucking queen while your da’s out there doing whatever the hell he wants.”

I hold his gaze and clench my jaw, the truth about my father chipping away at me, and the accusation of my being Saint’s queen ridiculous.

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth, Rafe.” Saint moves between us, his fist clenching his brother’s jacket. “In case ya hadn’t heard, she’s been living away from home. The girl isn’t like them. Focus on finding Sera. Head to Ma’s for the meeting.”

Rafe’s expression hardens, irritation still there, but he doesn’t argue.

“That one’s not as innocent as she lets on,” Rafe says. “You’re just dick blind, mate.”

“Ya wanna start something, little brother?” The edge in Saint’s tone sends a prickle of unease over my scalp.

For a second, Rafe’s expression contorts as if he’s about to unleash a storm, then he drags on his cigarette, holds it, and lets it out slowly before stepping back.

“Fine,” he mutters, and his gaze clashes with mine. “I meant what I said. If Sera’s hurt, she’ll get treated the same way.”

Saint’s fists clench as Rafe pivots and stalks across the yard, disappearing into shadow.

“Stick to my side,” he bites out over his shoulder, already moving in the same direction. “You’re about to walk straight into the fire.”

I freeze. “What do you mean?”

He stops and glances over his shoulder, the light catching only one side of his face.

“We’re going to Ma’s house for a family meeting.”

“No way. I’ll wait out here.”

Saint retraces his steps, snares my wrist, and tightens his fingers around it.

“You’re a smart girl, Keira,” he says, his thumb pressing into the pulse beneath my skin. “You know you’re in enemy territory and my sister disappearing has caused a shitstorm. I’m the only safety net ya have.”