Page 199 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

He begged Riley to allow the trip.

Pride fucking goeth.

‘When will he wake?’

‘Tomorrow, if the swelling comes down. We’re keeping him under until we’re certain his airway is stable.’

Kade reaches for his hand. Luca doesn’t wake.

‘I’m sorry,’ Kade tells him anyway. ‘I’m so… fucking sorry.’

‘We’ll do everything we can for him,’ Noah says. Even the amber light can’t bring warmth to his brown complexion. He looks so exhausted, yet always functional and clear-minded. ‘I promise.’

‘Yeah. Please do.’ Kade lets go, turns around, can’t look at Lachlan or Vasily. He just needs to leave.

Get away.

Get the fuck out of Medical.

But before he makes it to the door, Noah speaks.

‘You’re listed as his next of kin.’

‘Yeah, he’s mine too. What does that have to do with this?’

‘I’m simply saying if he does have any family,’ Noah says, ‘now might be a good time to tell them or bring them into the city, at least.’

‘He…’ Kade swallows to speak clearly. How will that feel for Luca when he wakes? ‘He had a sister and a brother-in-law, but they’re both dead.’

‘I see. If you like, we can look into locating other relatives. Do you know his last name? I know recruitment policy erases it as standard, but I would be happy to do this off my own back.’

‘Um.’ Kade closes his eyes, thinking way, way back. ‘Lucas Bellitane.’

‘I’ll do what I can.’

‘Thanks.’

When they’re outside the room, Kade leans against the wall, exhaling slowly, shaking all over, hot and cold. He feels like he might throw up.

‘Céliane can do many things,’ Vasily tells Kade, hovering. ‘I think—’

‘Kade,’ Lachlan says, tone stricken. ‘I’m sorry, but… Lucas Bellitane.’

Only when he’s less dizzy does Kade look at him. ‘Yeah?’

‘I’ve heard that name before.’

‘Where?’

But it’s not Lachlan who answers.

Vasily says, ‘Lucas Bellitane is Danya’s brother-in-law, and he was the one I sent in here to see if Harker really had kept you for himself. But this is,’ he says, gesturing towards the exit of Medical, ‘most definitely tea talk.’

✴

Kade isn’t allowed to shower yet.

He changes clothes in his room. There’s no point in putting on his uniform; therefore, he doesn’t really give a fuck what he looks like, so he drags on the oldest, softest things he owns. Sweatpants gone shapeless at the knees, a loose T-shirt that hangs from his shoulders and thick socks pulled halfway up his calves. The clothes are an exhausted shade of dark grey. In the bedroom mirror, they swallow what remains of him.