Page 89 of Silver Tears

I nod my head, relieved that he agrees. “I’ll stick to you like glue.”

He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “Okay, looks like we’re doing this. Which one of you will stay with Chops?”

“I’ll stay,” Rafe says, staring off into the room, clenching his fists. “I think it’s best if Archer goes with you.”

Both boys nod their heads in agreement, and it makes me wonder what Archer is capable of.

* * *

The tension in the car is palpable as we make the short drive to Droyton. I watched in stunned silence as the boys packed a bag with knuckle dusters, pliers, handcuffs, two knives, and a gun. Seb had noticed me gawping at the bag’s contents and smiled apologetically.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, reaching across the car and placing his hand over mine. He insisted I sit up front, relegating Archer to the back. Seeing the king of Hawk Bay taking the back seat was a strange sight to see.

I nod my head and offer him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Just eager to get there and get this over with.”

I can feel his eyes on me, watching my every move and expression. “If we get there and you decide you can’t face him, just know there’s no shame in that and you can always wait in the car, or I can drop you at Peggy’s until we’re done.”

I nod my head, my knee bobbing up and down as the nerves course through my body. He moves his hand from mine onto my leg to calm me and stop my leg from shaking.

Archer’s phone pings from the back and he swears under his breath at whatever he reads. “Eliza is pissed that we’re keeping something from them.”

“I’m sorry,” I grimace, turning my head to the back of the car.

Archer shakes his head in response. “Don’t sweat it, Milly. She knows I’m helping Seb and that it’s Seb’s business and no one else’s.”

I chew on my lip. I feel like I’m driving a wedge between their tight-knit group by asking them to keep my secret. We turn down a road onto an old abandoned industrial estate and pull up at the back of a Victorian disused mill.

“They live here?” I ask in surprise as we all climb out of the car.

“No. This is where they conduct their business,” Archer explains as he takes the gun from the bag and slips it into his jacket pocket. He offers Seb a pocketknife, and he flips it in his hand before closing it and placing it in his jeans pocket.

“Let’s do this,” Seb says, reaching for me and pulling me under the protection of his arm. “Remember, you don’t leave my side, okay? Oh, and whatever Maisie says, just ignore her.”

I nod my head, but then pause and tug on his hand. “Why, who is she?”

Archer snickers and I don’t miss Seb giving him side-eye. “Just one of your boyfriends adoring fans.”

Seb calls his best friend a dickhead, and they both laugh. “She’s just someone I knew once or twice.”

I arch a brow at him as we enter inside the mill. “You mean you’ve slept with her?”

Archer snickers again. “I don’t think they did much sleeping.”

“Fucker!” Seb mutters before smiling apologetically at me.

“Hey, don’t worry about me. I know you are a complete fuck-boy!” I can’t deny, though, that I’m curious to meet this girl now.

“Was,” Archer says, correcting me. “Was a complete fuck boy before he fell under your spell, Milly Silver.” He winks at his friend.

“Whatever. Shall we focus?” Seb hisses, averting his eyes out across the barren space. “This way.”

We climb the stairs to the next floor and as we climb higher, I hear music and voices. What I don’t expect to find is a full on DJ area, a boxing ring, and a cosy area over to the left complete with sofas, a rug, and a large television on the wall.

Archer places his fingers to his mouth and releases a loud, high-pitch whistle that has the music turned off and a guy getting to his feet and beckoning us over.

“Collings. Savage. Good to see you both again. And hello, who do we have here?” He asks, his eyes falling on me with curiosity. I feel the muscle in Sebs’ arms tense.

“No one of your concern,” Seb tells him.

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