“He came in my room with a gun. I managed to get it off him before he shot me. You and Isaac were right. It was him all along. Lennox. The attacks on the casino, the car, the hospital. Isaac. He was the one who attacked Isaac. He would’ve always known where I was. He must’ve…” She stops herself from crying, choking back tears.
I hear Micky’s voice outside and the door opens. “Goldsmith’s singing like a songbird in spring.” He looks at Blair. “You got this? I’m not very good with crying women. One of the reasons I liked that one is that she doesn’t normally cry.”
“Fuck off, Micky.”
Micky laughs.
“Goldsmith’s come round?” I had thought he’d be out of it longer.
“Just now. Had a phone call. And I’ve called that big place in the south to let Isaac know he’s needed.” He looks at Blair. “You know there will always be people out to get you, don’t you?”
“My plans will make it less likely.”
Micky nods. “They will. But you’ll still be a target. But I hope it won’t be worse than this.” He half closes the door before opening it again. “And Isaac was voted in as leader or something. He’s not bad for a southerner.”
The door closes.
Both of us breathe.
Chapter 21
Isaac
It’s still light when I reach the loch. I’m met by castle staff at my car and ushered into the building which feels different. It’s as if there’s been an epic storm and it’s now over. The dark clouds that have been lingering have evaporated and it feels free.
I haven’t thought about my new position. Since the intern walked into the room at Westminster, all I’ve focused on is the phone calls with police and military intelligence and then Ben and Blair.
The outcome of the vote should be momentous, but it’s the last thing I’m focused on since I found out about the gun shot. And my father’s appearance at the castle.
He’s requested me to go to where he’s being held; a military base north of the loch and I will, but not today. Crowns and power and political decisions are irrelevant right now; I need to see that Blair and Ben are okay and in one piece and then I can release this breath I've been holding.
I’m led up the stairs to the private quarters by a man I haven’t met before as he hasn’t been part of Blair’s staff. He smiles when he opens the door, something Franklyn never did, and I head into the lounge where I’ve only ever been a couple of times.
Ben sits on the floor, Blair nestled between his legs with her back to his chest. Her head is resting against his collar bone and her eyes are closed.
“We need a holiday.” He looks up at me as I enter. “The three of us. Or is that out of the question now you have a new job?”
I laugh, because it probably is. “July. Two or three months away. But you go earlier and I’ll meet you there. Like last year.”
Ben gestured for me to sit down with them. I do, taking Blair’s feet in my hands and pressing my thumb onto the sole of her foot. She moans slightly.
“What the fuck happened yesterday?”
“Franklyn and your father came for a little visit.” Ben gives me the grin I see in my dreams. “Blair here remembered what you taught her about using a gun.”
“I killed someone.” She opens her eyes. “I keep opening my eyes and expecting to feel guilty and horrified that I’ve ended someone’s life, but maybe I’m a bad person because I didn’t feel like that.” She sits up and Ben moves his hands to massage her neck. “I should feel something other than relief, shouldn’t I?”
Ben laughs. “Possibly not.”
“How many people have you killed?” She turns around to look at him.
“You don’t want me to answer that.”
Her eyes then go to me, the blue eyes that I also see in my dreams.
“What about you?”
“My guilt lasted an hour. It wasn’t a decision I’d make lightly.” My life or someone else’s? Blair’s life or theirs? The answer would always be easy if that was the question. “What happened this morning?”
