“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” I snarl, my voice rough and gravelly.

“I know you’re throwing away the best thing that’s ever happened to you,” he shoots back, his eyes flashing with anger. “I know you’re making a huge mistake.”

“Fuck you,” I growl, my fist connecting with his jaw.

We tumble to the ground, our bodies entwined as we roll around, trading punches and insults. I’ve never hit my cousin before, but I can’t seem to stop myself. He’s pushing all my buttons, and I’m beyond the point of reason. I don’t know if it’s the hurt, the anger, or the alcohol, but I’m not thinking straight. I’m just reacting.

“Enough!” someone shouts, and suddenly, we’re being pulled apart.

I’m breathing hard, my heart racing, my hands clenched into fists. I want to keep fighting. I want to make him pay for calling me a coward.

“What the fuck is wrong with you two?”

I spin around, fully intent on laying into whoever came between me and my cousin, but the words die in my throat. It’s Gael, of all people. Mr. Bookworm himself is daring to intervene here? I’m too stunned to say a damn thing.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Reiner?” Gael’s voice is low and dangerous. I can’t remember the last time I heard him sound so pissed off.

“I—”

“Shut the fuck up,” Gael cuts me off.

I close my mouth, my heart pounding.

“I don’t care what the fuck is going on with you and your cousin, but you need to get your shit together. We have bigger issues.” He swivels in place to face Rafe now. “Rogues. Clara just said she saw them when she was coming back into town. One of them matched Lionel’s description. We need to go after them. Now.”

“Fuck,” Rafe hisses, his eyes flashing with fury. “Get in the car. All of you.”

I don’t argue. I don’t even think. I just follow orders.

We pile into the car, and Rafe guns it, speeding down the road. I’m sitting in the back seat, my heart racing, my mind spinning.

“What’s the plan?” I ask, my voice tight.

“We’re going to track them down and take them out,” Rafe says, his voice cold. “No mercy.”

“Do we have any idea where they are?”

“They were spotted near the border,” he replies, his jaw clenched. “We’ll start there and fan out.”

“Roger that,” I say, my voice grim.

I glance at Jack, and he looks just as determined as I feel. We’re going to find these fuckers, and we’re going to make them pay.

It’s time to put an end to this madness once and for all.

When we arrive, we split up and begin searching the area. It’s quiet and eerily calm, but I know the rogues are here somewhere.

I move silently through the woods, my senses on high alert. I can’t hear them or smell them, and part of me wonders if they’ve already left. Jack falls into step beside me, his eyes scanning the trees.

“She came looking for you, you know. Last night. She wanted to talk to you.”

I stiffen, my heart hammering in my chest. “What are you talking about?”

“At the bar. I saw her pull up, and she said she was just getting a drink, but she never went inside. I watched her for a while, and she was just standing there, looking through the window.”

I think back to last night. I was at the bar, but I didn’t see her. Oh, shit. I’m willing to bet money that she was there, and she saw me. She saw me laughing and hamming it up with my friends, and she thought I didn’t care.

“Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair.