She looks at him.‘What do you think?’
‘I think…’ he says slowly, staring at nothing, can’t say what he really thinks, ‘I need to see the kids.’
?
Carrigan escorts him to the Cove.
Along the way, she fully recounts all those who died by name.Lachlan walks past several places he saw it happen.The bloodstains are already gone.
He’s dressed, walking, albeit slowly, and breathing fine despite the bullet that came too close to his lung.A through-and-through isn’t so bad.His right arm, however, is worryingly weak.
He’ll have to learn to shoot with his left, just in case.
As soon as he’s in the same room with them, he smiles, kneels down(ouch)and opens his arms(big ouch)to catch his little princess who jumps where she knows she’ll be caught.It surprises him when Vasily and Savannah quickly follow, both hugging him too.Lachlan chuckles, piled on by kids.
Only Jules and Roman hang back.
Lachlan kisses Mimi’s cheek eight times, their secret language for,everything is fine, don’t you worry.She then sternly tells him off for getting hurt.He ruffles Vasily’s hair and pats Savannah’s shoulder, groaning slightly as he stands.They’re in Jules’ former room, currently empty but for quilts, pillows, books and snacks on the floor.Lachlan studies the other two.
‘You’re all right?’he asks them, scanning.He already knows Jules isn’t hurt, but Roman was out there in the hallway, he could have been shot.‘Ro, you good?’he prompts gently and the older boy nods while Jules looks between the two with a small frown that doesn’t bode well.‘I’m glad.’
‘I told you he would not die,’ Vasily whispers to Mimi who huffs, says she already knew that.
‘No one can kill my Daddy,’ she informs him, settling into the space where she fits best, face buried in Lachlan’s neck.
‘Have you seen your parents?’Lachlan asks the kids, gets confirmation that they all have, including the little nod from Jules who still seems less than thrilled about the nickname he gave Roman.
‘My mother was so upset about Alberto,’ Savannah tells him.They’re all in different clothes, fresh and clean.As far as he can see, no one is injured.‘She said I’m not setting foot outside again until I’m twenty-one.’
Lachlan looks around.‘Where’s Blaire?’
Carrigan says, ‘With Mr Penhalyx.’
‘I need to go see him.’
‘No, Daddy, stay, youstay!’Mimi demands, gripping tight.
‘I’ll come see him and then I’ll come back.’
‘No!It’s dangerous out there and they said I can’t have a gun!’
‘Youcan’thave a gun, babygirl, but maybe for your birthday tomorrow you can have a knife, hmm?’he adds in a whisper, kissing her cheek.
Mimi makes a face.
‘Daddy,’ she complains, only needs one word to do it.
‘I’ll be back soon,’ he promises, setting her down.Savannah sits with Mimi, offers to play a game until he gets back, but his little girl ismad.Her dark blue eyes are full of unshed tears and Lachlan hates that this has to be so hard on her.‘Carrigan, stay with them.’
‘Heard.’
?
Lachlan goes to the West Wing alone.
Along the way, he takes stock of the attack.The areas that were directly exposed because of Alistair’s interference and what needed improving from the start.This was a tactical invasion, and they should have been better prepared.When he gets to the old man’s office, he knocks and waits.
‘Come in,’ Penhalyx bids.
