Page 69 of Lawless Rivals

Sparks jump. The flames climb higher, brighter, filling the room with more light and a deeper heat.

He straightens and picks up his bowl before sinking into the armchair. While we both eat, the television murmurs in the background, and the gentle scrape of forks against ceramic seems too loud.

I take a bite of chicken and glance at him.

He’s already looking at me.

Our gazes snare and hold for a silent beat. I hate how my heart races and the intensity in his stare forces me to look away first.

“You can take the bed tonight. I’ll be sleeping in here.”

I nod and continue to chew. “Good.”

“I’ve asked Sera to drop off clothes for ya,” he says, forking his food. “I’ll head into town tomorrow and pick up whatever ya need.”

My brow pinches tight. “Do you mean… Plan B? Because I’m not senseless, you know. You and me fucking was a mistake, but getting pregnant, that’s inexcusable.”

Saint sighs. “I meant woman shit…like body lotion or face wash or a hair dryer.”

“I hadn’t planned on staying that long.” I stab a red pepper with the fork. “You said a few days.”

“Fine.”

The room falls silent again, and once I’ve finished, I reach forward and set the bowl on the coffee table.

“Do you know who sent those guys earlier?” I ask. “The assholes who shot at you?”

His fork pauses halfway to his mouth.

“They shot at us,” he corrects. “Firing at me put you in danger, princess. That doesn’t happen on my land.”

I drag the sleeves over my hands and pull the blanket higher as if the material could stop his gaze from setting my skin alight.

“So?” I push further. “Who were they?”

“Harrington hired help,” he replies. “Apparently, they were last seen talking to one of your da’s men.”

I don’t look away. “So that was about me.”

He shrugs. “It’s about territory.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Saint chews a mouthful of stew and stares at me as he swallows.

“Those fuckers didn’t expect to see me out there. They weren’t sent to bring ya home. They were leaving a job that put down thirty head of my best beef stock. Prime animals, bred for export, already contracted to France.”

“That was him, wasn’t it?” I breathe. “My father sent a warning.”

“Looks that way.”

I frown as the realization sinks in. “Then he knows I haven’t run off with Lucien. He knows I’m at Black Heath Stud.”

He knows exactly where I am, and the first thing he did was kill defenceless animals so Tallon’s would know they’d been warned.

All this time, I’ve been waiting for my father to come for me. To prove that beneath the feuds and threats, I’m still his daughter.

Yet, he knows I’m here.