‘Your brother was all the best of yourself you saw in the mirror.’
‘MY BROTHER DIED AT THE HANDS OF A MONSTER!’
‘And your brother,’ Riley goes on, tone level, ‘would be the first to agree that if it’s useful to us, we work with what we’re given.The other outfits we cooperate with have killed our people in the past.They attacked Kade the other night in the city, but the Accords hold up and we maintain this truce because that’s what keeps the most people alive.Your need for revenge is just twisted grief with nowhere to go.It’s childish and weak.Your brother would never have entertained it.’
‘He can’t entertain anything.He’sdead!’
‘And you’re not.’
‘I… it doesn’t… that’snotit.’
‘You’re here without him for the first time in your whole life and it hurts so bad you can’t breathe, but mutilating Lachlan Tanner won’t make it better, and even if it would, he’s useful to us and that should be enough for you.’Riley lowers his gaze slightly.‘Is that enough for you, Seth?’
Five damning seconds pass with no answer until Seth gives a shaky nod, staring away.‘Yeah, boss.It’s enough.’
‘Good.’Riley looks directly at his bodyguard.‘Kade?’
Kade goes where he’s bid, clears his throat.He has no issue giving orders or addressing people, but this is a fine line to walk and after that… he can feel how uncertain the room is, how unmoored.Eyes track him the whole way over to Riley who, when Kade stands beside him, whispers under his breath in near total silence, ‘Pull ‘em back for me, dig deep.’
It’s a fucking tall order, but he’ll do his best.
Kade focuses hard, tastes salt on his tongue.
‘OK, look.I fought this guy when he came in, broke protocol to do it.I emptied a clip into his face, and he came back to life right in front of me.This is bigger than one breach and eighteen deaths.That doesn’t make it right, but it’s reality and,’ he says, borrowing aRiley phrase, ‘there’s no use dancing around it.If Lachlan wanted to destroy Iron Star, we’d already be gone, but that’snotwhat he wants.He attacked us under a severe misunderstanding.The boss is right.We make deals with people who’ve tried to kill us.We bargain with the other outfits despite blood being shed in the past.I think it’s fair to say that the core of this anger isn’t just the loss, but also the fear of the fact that, like the boss said, he can’t be killed.He’s different.He’s not human.’
Seth won’t look at Kade.He’s still staring determinedly down.
Kade will talk to him later, he’ll make it right.
‘I know some of you have a problem with things like that and it’s no secret I’ve never exactly been comfortable with it myself, but if I’m honest, deep down, that discomfort comes from fear.Fear keeps people small and none of us were made to live small lives.The Tower is our home.Iron Star is our life.I trust this arrangement to stand while we figure out what the fuck is going on.That doesn’t mean I trust Lachlan Tanner.’Kade’s gaze moves steadily across the room.‘It means I trust Riley Harker.If he says Lachlan’s not a threat to us right now.’Kade gives the last part all the subtle emphasis he has.‘Then I trust that completely and I’m asking you to do the same.’
He falls silent, watching to see how it lands.
Almost everyone in the room seems to come around, the hostility thinning into slow acceptance.Everyone except Seth, who still hasn’t moved or even looked up.Kade will talk to him privately later.
‘We trust it,’ Luca says, and many people nod in agreement.
‘Thank you.’Kade looks back at Riley for guidance, gets a tiny wink from his boss that loosens something tight in his chest.‘OK, so.Let’s talk logistics.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Rike is promoted to QG.
Mara, Timo and Hiru are elevated to Captain status.
After the meeting, Kade tries to talk to Seth, but he walks swiftly away before Kade can even get close.
Luca hangs around Kade, seems concerned.‘How are you doing?’
‘Uh, not great,’ Kade tells him honestly as they head out to make rounds.‘I’m losing time.Blacking out.I think…’ He has to swallow to say it.‘I think the bodyguard is right.I was that rich boy before or whatever.’Kade glances around to ensure they’re alone.Luca has been here for five years.He’s one of the people Kade has known the longest and he’s never questioned it, has never really questioned anything about Iron Star, his life, his friends, his boss.‘Can I ask… how did you come to work here?’
‘I heard about this place through a friend,’ Luca tells him.‘I needed work.’
‘Right, yeah.I’m sorry.You’ve told me that before, I’m sorry.’Kade scrubs a hand over his eyes.‘I’m just tired.’
‘You did great in there.Really pulled it back.’
‘You think?’Luca nods.‘I don’t know.It didn’t feel great.’
