Lachlan looks out at the water, seeking equilibrium.
It’s harder to find than he expected.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The party wears on until around three when Jules, Roman and Savannah are finally excused to their rooms and theadultsmove the party to the pool.Lachlan is thrilled to leave them, hopes there are sharks in the water and they’re all painfully eaten alive, but sharks cannot survive in chlorinated water.
Inside the air-conditioned room, Lachlan performs his checks.
If he had anyone else here that he could trust, he’d leave them here while he went to do the same for Roman and Savannah.God, he wishes they could all sleep in here.Keep them safe, keep the kids together, keep them—
‘Lachlan?’
He blinks, comes back to himself with a snap.
They are all children to us because we never were.
Jules is standing in front of him.
‘Sorry?’
‘You kinda… went away,’ Jules says, worried.He strokes Lachlan’s cheek, searching for answers unspoken.‘I know tonight was hard.’
‘You all right?’Lachlan asks, his default concern always.
‘I’m fine.’Jules smiles warmly.‘You kept me very safe.’
Safe.
If they were attacked on the beach, Lachlan would have been useless.
If they were shot at from a boat, Lachlan would have been useless.
There’s nothing he could have done to ensure Jules was safe.
It’s only the lack of an attempt that kept him so.
Lachlan shakes his head, doesn’t know what to say.Jules guides Lachlan towards the bed in the corner.‘I’m sorry she touched you.It wasn’t right.’
‘I don’t care about that.’
‘You did a nice thing for Savannah.’
Lachlan looks away, lets Jules make him sit.‘I can’t protect her.’
‘But you did.’
‘Not always.Not really.’
‘You can’t protect everyone.’
‘Do you know what’s going to happen tomorrow?’
‘The party?’
Lachlan thinks back to what Roman said.
My father started when I was nineteen.
