Page 284 of Eight of Swords, Part One

Then, just as he expected, he casually dismisses them all.

‘It’s a private island,’ he informs Lachlan, who is starting to despise that term. ‘This is how we unwind.’

‘Sir, with all due respect, I appreciate the fact that the island is hard to reach but if reached, it’s exposed in every possible way.’ They’re standing in what passes for a hallway in this place. White stone and glassy rainbows, glittering marble. Lachlan’s getting a headache. ‘I cannot sign off on this.’

Alistair cocks his head. ‘Who asked you to?’

‘As your head of security, I can’t in good conscience—’

‘Then adjust your conscience, Lachlan. You will not embarrass me here.’

‘Sir, I’m only trying to do my job.’

‘Then I suggest you do so without theatrics. A man of your talents should have no difficulty at all managing a place this small, considering what you are accustomed to overseeing back home.’

Lachlan wants to say that back home he had a team.

He had Danya and seventy others.

He had Blaire, and walls, and Jolene Mercer’s tech.

There’s no point, though.

He accepts that this is how it is.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good. Now, go help my son to settle in and remind him of his duties,’ Alistair instructs, walking away. ‘I expect the sun will help him shine.’

✴

Jules’ bedroom is worryingly exposed.

On one hand, Lachlan is thrilled that he has an ocean view, all this space and newness. In any other circumstances, Lachlan would be overjoyed, but he can’t unsee how easy it’d be for someone to climb inside, aim inside.

‘It’s going to be fine,’ Jules tries to reassure him. ‘No one knows we’re here.’

‘These clothes, they had them made for you, brought in special, right?’

‘So?’

‘So, that means anyone watching the place—’

‘No one’s watching the place.’

Lachlan scrubs a hand over his face. ‘They might be.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you’re a high value target.’

‘My father is one of the most powerful people in the world.’

‘Yeah, the thing about power is that without stability, it fails.’

Jules pulls Lachlan closer as he sits on the bed. ‘Come see me.’

‘I’m seeing you, sweetheart,’ he says, tone softer, watching as Jules lifts Lachlan’s hand up to kiss his fingers.