Lachlan kisses her cheek.‘Love you, babygirl.’
‘I love you, Daddy.’
Jules spends a lot of time with Vasily in his room.
The youngest Sorrenko boy stays in there over the next few weeks, doesn’t want to come out, doesn’t want to see anyone who isn’t Mimi or Jules.Lachlan would like to talk to him, but Jules gently says he’s not ready.
Lachlan understands.
He wonders if Vasily would want to be with Danya if he knew.It’s ultimately not his place but over the course of the next few days, he learns more and more about how Danya was raised, who his mother was, and it makes Lachlan realise he’s never once asked about Jules or Mimi’s mother.
Anymothers, in fact.
His own casts a shadow he much prefers to ignore.
When it comes to Mimi, he assumes her mother was someone bought and paid for.A surrogate who signed an NDA and took Penhalyx’s money is the most likely scenario, but Jules’ mother… where is she?He never sees photographs around the Estate.He’s never heard Jules mention her once.
Unsurprisingly, summer rain moves in to stay for the next few weeks.Lachlan is not completely convinced that Jules is a Brightling at this point, but he strongly suspects he is.Zaitsev was only mildly helpful when Lachlan spoke to him before.There are bigger things to worry about here, always are, but it’s in the back of Lachlan’s mind for now, simmering on low.
He goes to see Savannah three days after they’re back in the Estate although he’d asked twice a day every day and been denied often, told she needed rest.
When he’s finally allowed to see her, he doesn’t really know what to expect.She’s resting in a plush hospital bed in a clean, white space.It’s comfortable, futuristicallyhomey.There’s a water feature trickling nearby.The air is fresh.No nasty sterile static in here.Her hair is gently braided off to the side.
She’s regained a little colour.
Lachlan says her name and she opens her eyes, smiles at him the same way she always does and then her eyes fill with tears and the smile breaks.
‘I s-saw him die,’ she tells Lachlan in a crushed little whisper.‘I loved him so much and I saw him die.’She grieves for Roman with Lachlan in the first few minutes of their time together.Lachlan sits beside her, holds her hand.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he tells her, wishing he could hug her, but he’s too cautious of the bullet-wound.Even so, her movements are easy, no stiffness, no wincing.
‘I don’t remember anything but that.’She wipes away her tears, sighing heavily.‘Just… seeing him.They told me what happened, of course.The attack by the Moroz Front.’
It wasn’t the Front.
Lachlan doesn’t correct her, though.
There are people everywhere here.
‘What else did they tell you?’
‘They told me we were all trapped in a safe room.That they used medical equipment to try and save my mother, but she didn’t make it.’Savannah frowns to herself, voice dropping low.‘It doesn’t sound right, though.’
‘I know.’
‘Will you tell me—?’
‘Savannah, darling.’Alistair’s voice comes from behind Lachlan, several pairs of footsteps accompanying him.Lachlan stands up, releasing her hand.Carrigan and Maddox are with the old man.‘You looksomuch better today.’
Savannah gives a polite nod.‘Thank you.’
‘Now then.I’ve come to explain and answer your questions as best I can,’ Alistair tells her, ‘given that I was witness to all the horrors that affected you, your mother and dear, poor Roman.’
Carrigan looks especially sharp and stylish today.
She hasn’t spoken to Lachlan once and only gives him a cursory nod now.
‘Shall I leave, sir?’Lachlan offers even though he’d rather die.
