‘I wanted to kill him.’
‘I’ll do it for you.’
‘No.’
‘OK,’ Lachlan says calmly.‘We don’t have to talk about it.’
‘Don’t kill him.’
‘Sweetheart, I’m obviously gonna kill him.’
‘I don’t want you to.’
Lachlan hands him more wadded toilet paper.‘Why not?’
‘B-because he’s a normal fucking person and it’ll get, like, the attention of the cops or whatever!He’ll bemissedand you’ll be in trouble,’ Jules says, fretful and panicked, skin blotchy as he blows his nose.Lachlan smooths his sweat-damp hair back, lightly caresses the side of his face that’s not inflamed by the blow.‘I don’t want you to be—’
‘He’s gonna die for what he did to you,’ Lachlan says without the slightest room for adjustment.‘Now, can you see OK?’
‘Bodyguard, youwill notkill him.’
‘Any blurry lines?Wiggles?What about colours?’
‘Lachlan!’
The bodyguard cups his face, gaze roaming.‘What is it, baby?’
‘You…’ Jules blinks several times.‘I don’t want that.’
‘Whatdoyou want?’
‘I want to leave.’
‘Of course.’Lachlan casts around.‘Do you need anything?’
‘No.Just.Get me out of here andstay with me, OK?’
‘Whatever you say.Should I carry you?’
‘I’ll lean on you.’
‘It’ll be faster if I—’
‘You’re not carrying me.Help me up.’
Jules is shaking from head to toe, works his jaw to loosen it from the adrenaline grip.Carefully, they navigate a path out of the summer house.‘Got your phone?’Lachlan asks him, holding the door open.
‘Yeah.’
‘Your shoes…’
Jules isn’t wearing any.
‘Leave them.’
‘It’s quicker to the car if we cut around the yard.’
‘All right.’
