Page 85 of Lawless Rivals

“Forget it.” I back up. “You’re here now.”

Another few shots are fired and my chest tightens. Sera’s out there, holding her ground with Shay while bullets are flying. Sure, she’s a Tallon, but I don’t want the woman dead.

And if that happened, it would only add fuel to an already hot hatred between our families.

“You need to call them off,” I say, my voice steadier than my emotions. “No one needs to die over me.”

Riley’s forehead creases, and I get the feeling he has orders to leave a mess behind.

“They made the first move by taking you from the gala,” he says. “Now stay close.”

“Tell your men to stand down,” I snap, twisting away. “They’re shooting at Sera Tallon.”

His jaw tightens, and he glances toward the doors.

“Yeah, and that bitch would shoot you in the back, Keira,” he says. “Don’t ever forget that.”

I draw a breath and hold it. I’m about to walk away from Saint, even with that spark of ours still festering under my skin, stubborn and impossible to ignore.

Despite that, it doesn’t change what I am to him.

I’m his leverage. That was always clear.

A Harrington he used to suit his family’s needs. Someone he’ll trade for land.

However, walking away unsettles me to the core. This will be the end of us… Of whatever truce we’d built and attraction we shared.

But I refuse to stay here as his hostage and pretend it’s anything else.

If Saint Tallon wants me—the woman I am with my family name branded into my DNA—then he can come for me, without walls or gates or men with guns.

I choose freedom.

If he wants me, he knows where I come from. He’s always known.

I force my feet to carry me into the frosty night air. A tightness pulls at my ribs and refuses to ease, even now, even knowing I’ll be home soon.

Men like Saint don’t choose the girl over their pride. So I won’t stay and make it easier for him not to choose at all.

I’m already in the yard with Riley when there’s a change in movement at the gates.

The next thing I know, Saint’s truck speeds between the posts and drives straight into the center of the yard.

Riley drags me behind him, but I peer around his arm to watch the truck rock on its suspension as the brakes slam. The driver’s door flies open while the engine is still running.

Saint jumps out, draws his gun and aims straight at Riley’s head. “Move away from the girl.”

His gaze locks on mine, and when it does, his eyes look wild, filled with a darkness that makes everything else fall away. The shouting, the gunfire, the man in front of me—it all fades.

A shot goes off near the fence, and Saint reacts, his chest angling and his hand already coming up to take a steady aim as he returns fire.

Nothing about him is rushed or careless, even now.

“Shay?” he calls. “You with Sera?”

“We’re here,” Sera shouts back. “We’ve got your back, Saint, and we’re gonna kill these bastards.”

“Don’t shoot,” he says, his gaze locking onto mine. “Not until I say.”