‘I RANK ABOVE YOU, DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!’
Jules subtly takes hold of Lachlan’s hand, half covered by Danya, and taps once on Lachlan’s knuckle, finger raised.
Help.
Damningly, Carrigan sees it.
‘There,that,see?I’m doing everything I can to keep this place running, and you…allof you,’ she adds, glaring at Blaire, Lachlan and even Zaitsev lurking in the background, ‘are plotting together to be rid of me!’
‘No one’s plotting that.Calm down and stop yelling.’
From behind Zaitsev, Savannah, carrying Mimi on her hip, comes into the hallway beside Vasily.Mimi frowns at Carrigan, mutters something to Savannah, who smiles reassuringly, and says, ‘No, darling, she’s not a bad lady.She’s here to keep you safe.’
Carrigan looks at the kids.‘You’ve turned them all against me.’
‘Please, stop this.’
‘I wore the backpack.I did everything I could.’
‘And you did fucking great,hence why you got promoted.’
‘He’s planning to fire me.You turned him against me too.’
‘Carrigan—’
‘I knew you when you were just a dead-eyed psychopath who failed the BRI, but you’re so much fucking worse than I ever realised.You’retwistingthese kids.You’re dangerous.’
Danya gives a small sigh, throws a half look at Lachlan, who knows exactly what it means.If we have to, I have your back.
‘Jules doesn’t have a tattoo—’
‘Hedoes!I’m not blind!’
‘—and even if he did, there’s no reason for this.Let’s go talk, me and you.Danya, take the kids to the Cove.’
But Carrigan moves in between them and their destination.‘You’re not gonna pull this shit with me, Tanner.I’m not Fenwick!’
‘Then why the fuck are you acting like him?’
‘Because I know exactly who’ll be blamed for this!He likes you too much to ever get rid of you!’
‘Priscilla,’ Lachlan tries, softening his tone because Danya’s stance has shifted and if she takes one step closer to them, something irreversible is going to happen.‘Please.Just talk to me.’
‘Where?In one of your little blind spots?Your blackout patches?’
‘You sound crazy,’ Danya tells her.
‘Except I’m the only one who’s not.You all seem to forget that this is a job!Those children are his!And that boy,’ she adds, pointing at Jules, ‘is a child.’
‘I’m actually twenty tomorrow,’ Jules pipes up from behind Danya, who fails to bite back a snort.
‘Not to mention a Paranatural,’ she adds hotly under her breath and Lachlan’s whole system jolts.Mimi wriggles free of Savannah’s hold and tries to come forward but Savannah and Vasily take a hand each, gently holding her back.Mimi looks mad.
‘I’m in this because ofyou,’ Carrigan tells Lachlan, ‘and you’re so much worse than Fenwick in every way.What you’re doing to these kids—’
‘Daddy bang bang!’Mimi orders, fully serious.
Danya gives a light chuckle, undercut by the dangerous look in his eyes, currently fixed on Carrigan.‘She’ssocute.’
