‘Yeah.’
‘He was… nice,’ Kade finishes lamely, can’t think of a better word for it.‘My memory of the first year is fractured.I can see it, but I can’t really think about it.I remember Riley staying with me in the Tower.It was sort of destroyed at first.I remember…’ He frowns, won’t saycuddlingeven though it’s true, ‘being close with him right from the start.’
‘Whatwasthe start?’
‘I can’t pinpoint it.I was just there and it felt like I always had been.’
‘Try for me?’
Kade closes his eyes, sinks back into darkness, quiet nights and short hours and hiding from anyone who wasn’t friendly.‘It was dark, quiet and lonely, just us at first,’ he tells the former bodyguard.‘I remember when he’d go out to get food, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.He was all I knew.The walls of that place were the only home I had.’Kade opens his eyes, stares down at the wet smears of spilled drink, music pounding in his ears.‘Then people came.’
‘Who?’
‘I suppose he was recruiting.I don’t know.The place was a wreck.Whole areas you couldn’t go in.I just remember sitting with him in my room on the windowsill, and it felt better when he was there.’Kade downs another shot, barely feels it that time.‘After the first year, when I’d recovered a little more, we started to rebuild Iron Star together.Make it different.’
‘Different how?’
‘Riley had a vision and so did I.He told me about what it used to be and what itcouldbe.I knew his dad, Troy Harker, ran it before him.’
‘Were any of his old crew left?Did you ever talk to them?’
‘No.Everyone in Iron Star is younger than Riley.’
‘So what was his vision, then?’
‘Balance and direction.’
Lachlan snorts.‘That’s a far cry from the Iron Star I knew of.’
Kade rolls his eyes.‘We still make money, still do deals.We muscle and move whatever we can, but it’s more than that now.The balance he wanted was to protect the city from the other syndicates who were vying for power.’
‘They attacked Iron Star?’
‘Not at first, but once they knew we were rebuilding, the attacks started coming.I came up with defensive plans, schematics, ideas.That’s when Riley introduced me to Lee.’
‘How long since you’ve been his bodyguard?’
‘Six years, give or take.’
‘Did he ask you to do that?’
‘I can’t really remember.There wasn’t a conversation about it.I just knew he needed protecting and he’s… Riley doesn’t fight.He’s powerful in his own way.You’ve seen the respect he commands, but I knew he needed me.’Kade sighs, looks sideways at Lachlan.‘You seem doubtful.’
‘I always heard he was a violent kid, hence why Troy locked him up.’
‘Riley’s not like that.’
‘Did he ever tell you why he was locked up?’
‘No, but.’Kade’s nerves pull taut.‘When I asked what the bars were for, the ones at the bottom of his staircase, he just saidme.’
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘You’re going to anyway.’
‘Did you really never question any of it?Ask him where you came from?Who your parents were?’
Kade glares, helplessly defensive.‘So it’s my fault, yeah?’
