Mia’s startled and scuttles behind Dane like she needs protection. “He gave it to me.”

Lark pivots, gaining ground by leveraging her boots against the same ground that has me sliding against my slick soles. “Give it back. Dane, give it back to me!”

My hold tightens as her anger grows. Amanda moves in, closer to Dane, and points at Lark. “That was her mother’s.”

Dane swings his arms behind him but glares at me as if I had something to do with it. Fuck him. “Shit, that sucks, doesn’t it, Westcott?”

“Fuck you. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I know you’d hurt your friend without a second thought.”

Amanda’s shaking her head. “Where’s your loyalty, Dane? We’ve been there for you—”

“To the mother of my baby.”

The words themselves appear to temper Lark, her body losing the fight and weakening in my grip. When her arms fall to her side, I wrap my arms around her. She turns to me suddenly, tears breaking the dam of her lower lids, and her eyes desperate with pleading. “Please, Harbor. Help me get it back.”

“You can’t have it,” Mia shouts, intent on dragging Lark back into this fight. “It’s mine. Tell them, Dane.”

This is probably the first time he thinks before he jumps into a fight. His eyes land on Lark, who’s buried her head against my coat. I would make a move if it dried her tears and stopped her helpless cries. Amanda comes to her, hugging her from behind. Even encased in the love from both of us, her pain is palpable. But Dane still chooses to hurt her. “Some fucking friend you are,” I spit at him.

“I’m sorry, Lark,” Dane says. “But it was a good deal I couldn’t pass up.”

Through whimpering cries, she turns her head while still tucked in my arms. “Where did you buy it?”

He still doesn’t answer, just standing there shaking his head like he’s trapped between a soft and a hard place. He’s not. He’s making his choice known. He’s not budging. He’s not choosing his friend.

I almost can’t blame him. I’d choose Lark if I were in the same situation. The difference is, I wouldn’t give her something stolen.

I need to get her out of here before this escalates and gets worse, if that’s even possible. It’s pretty damn bad as it is. Kissing her head, I whisper, “We’ll get it back. I promise. Let’s just leave for now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

Betrayal sinks into her beautiful features, forcing them to fall under the weight of her tears.

Something sets Dane off, stealing our attention, and he sends his girlfriend to wait in the truck for him. Mia’s covering the diamond pin with her coat, hiding it from us as if Lark will steal it back if given a chance. I’m not sure she wouldn’t.

As soon as she’s gone, Dane says, “I’m sorry, Lark. You know I wouldn’t hurt you—”