‘Roman,’ Alistair calls out, clipped and stern.‘Go and check the bathroom for a medical kit.’
Reluctantly, he leaves Savannah where she is, sat on the bed beside Jules.Ariadne is put in the corner like furniture.Alistair reaches for Savannah’s IV stand.He turns the dial attached to one of several drips, cranks it all the way.
‘What the fuck are you—?’
‘She needs to rest.’
From upstairs, Sorrenko yells, ‘Tanner, close the door!’
Savannah’s mouth is in a thin line as she watches him tamper with her IV but she says nothing, offers no argument.
‘You heard him.Close the door now,’ Alistair says.
‘Sorrenko is still—’
‘Mikhail is lost to us,’ Alistair says, like it pains him to speak such a thing into existence.‘We must close and lock the door until help arrives.’
‘I can get him.’
‘I amorderingyou to stay where my son is.’
Jules is almost fully awake.
Savannah is losing consciousness, slipping away as whatever is fed intravenously causes her to sleep.It makes Lachlan sick, but the urgency of the invading threat comes first for now.
‘It’s better she rest,’ Alistair says, reaching for thelockbutton on the wall.
Roman comes out of the bathroom clutching supplies.
He stares at the door, sees what Alistair is about to do.
‘Papa.’
Jules is awake.
Lachlan feels those honey brown eyes on him.Roman breaks into a run out the door just as Jules says, ‘Lachlan,’ and Alistair touches thelockbutton.
The fast-moving world slows for Lachlan.
He makes his decision in a snap second, ignores years of training to do so.
‘Stay quiet, conserve water, keep each other safe,’ he tells Jules as he slips through the door after Roman, steel grazing his shoulder as the door starts to close.‘I’ll come back for you.’
He hears Jules scream his name as the door slams shut, locking tight.Lachlan trusts that Alistair won’t open it for anything.He has everything he needs in that room.There will be no risk worth taking.
He’s outside now, they both are.
Lachlan grabs Roman by the arm to drag him out of range from incoming fire, backing into the medical room for cover.
‘Papa,Papa!We have to—’
‘Be quiet.’Footsteps thud down the metal spiral.They’re coming in droves.‘We’ll get him, all right?Just follow my lead.’
Roman nods, more afraid than Lachlan’s ever seen him.‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s all right.’Lachlan tightly grips his hand.‘You’re brave.’
‘Stupidmore like.’
