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“She’s my best friend.”

“And Fionn’s nothing like Keira,” Rafe mutters under his breath.

“I’m here to support Eilish, not Fionn,” I say. “She’s not happy about the whole forced wedding thing.”

“You think because Keira is shacked up with Saint that Fionn will play nice?” Rafe’s voice drops lower. “That he won’t screw with ya again? Jesus, Sera, you’re literally rubbing shoulders with the fuckers who kidnapped ya.”

A cold line moves down my spine. He’s right, and somewhere along the way, I forgot the truth and only remembered how alive I felt when our bodies collided.

I clear my throat. “Eilish needs me.”

“Eilish needs a lawyer,” he says. “You walking into their house is a big fucking mistake.”

“I’m here now…”

“Listen to me. Get the hell out of there.”

“I came with Eilish in one of the Kinnanes cars.”

“Then take Eilish with ya.”

“She has to stay.”

“Jesus fuck, Sera. Do I have to come get ya myself? Because I won’t be alone, and I’ll be armed.”

My scalp prickles because my gut told me coming tonight was a bad idea, but somewhere underneath it, I wanted to push Fionn harder for how he made me feel that night.

“You’re in danger, Sera.”

I close my eyes. “I’m leaving now.”

“Get your ass back home and don’t lie to me again, or l’ll tell Ma.”

I end the call, take a steadying breath, and slide the phone into my purse before turning toward the door.

But the moment I take a step forward, my heart stops so violently it feels like the rest of me carries on without it.

Fionn’s gaze drills into mine from the doorway. “Leaving so soon, little wild thing? The party’s only started.”

Chapter 9

Fionn

I should be standing next to Eilish, getting ready to publicly announce our engagement and hand her an heirloom ring.

Yet for some irritating reason, I pretended I was taking a call, dipped out of the main room, and now I’m staring at Sera Tallon with her long, soot-black hair falling across her cleavage.

Working the room was the same old shit, different event. The boredom doesn’t change because the guests are there for me, and standing next to Eilish reminds me how dead I am inside.

I feel nothing when she smiles. Nothing when I look into her eyes. Nothing when she puts her hand in mine.

And I don’t need to. All I have to do is say my vows and get back to business.

Sera’s navy-blue eyes glide over my suit, and that bratty mouth of hers parts a fraction because she’s about to rattle off another insult.

“Are the conversations too intellectual for you?” I slot my hand into my trouser pocket. “Given you can’t remember the important things like the host's name.”

Fuck, even her smirk sets off a buzz in my veins. I bite down on the split inside my mouth until blood blooms over my tongue and concentrate on the metallic taste instead.