‘One more thing.Danya Yashin.’
Lachlan’s instincts coil protectively.‘Sir?’
‘How did he find Sable Key?’
‘That was my doing, sir.’
‘Explain.’
‘I could feel something was off on the first day, so I activated a contingency trigger with Danya.If there was no contact after twenty-four hours, he was to locate the island and send help.Carrigan was instrumental also, she used her Navy contacts.I described the island, gave him a rough location.’
‘I see.It is fortunate he arrived when he did, but the involvement of the Navy troubles me.Carrigan has overstepped.’
‘No, sir.I asked Danya—’
‘You may go now, Lachlan.Rest when you can.The rains will pass soon, and you’ll be outside in the sunshine again with my children in no time.Thank you for everything.’Alistair taps his desk, brings it to life, gets back to work.‘You will receive a hefty bonus cheque.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
A hefty bonus cheque.
Four words that mean absolutely nothing to Lachlan beyond the fact that he needs to start making concrete plans to get the kids freebeforeJules turns twenty-one, and money will help.Lachlan doesn’t know much, but he knows in his heart now that twenty-one will somehow be too late for Jules.
So the money means nothing unless hemakesit mean something.
Putting it to use towards the life he wants for Jules and Mimi once they’re free is all that money is good for now.He doesn’t know what it’ll look like for them once the dust settles, so it’s better to be prepared.
Armed with Zaitsev’s clever ability to wraparound surveillance, Lachlan, Blaire, Danya and Zaitsev meet twice a week to speak about certain things.
Lachlan explains everything Alistair told him about the attack “gone wrong” although he doesn’t tell Jules, who hasn’t really asked much.He tells them about Alistair’s plans to adopt Vasily.
He tells them about the “bloodlines”remark.
Blaire makes a face of mild disgust when he says that, muttering in French aboutfamily traditions.
Lachlan takes his chance.
‘Do you know who Julian’s mother is?’he asks her.‘It wasn’t…’
‘It was not Ariadne,’ Blaire says, quick to reassure him.Beside her, Danya skins an apple with his knife.He seems to relax in Blaire’s presence.
‘Who is she, then?’
‘Julian’s mother was Alistair’s wife since he was a young man, formerly Isabel Seravienne before marriage.She died nineteen years ago.’
‘She died giving birth to Jules?’
‘All told, yes.’
There’s something determinedly neutral about her expression.
Lachlan watches her closely.‘What?’
‘Nothing.’She chews her lip nervously.Blairenevergets nervous.
‘Holy shit,what?’he demands under his breath.
She swallows and exhales measuredly.‘You must never repeat this.’
