Page 20 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Do you like pies?’

‘Do I like pies?’ Lachlan echoes with scorn. ‘Your daddy teach you that?’

‘Did yours?’

‘Oh, by all means, psychoanalyse me, kid.’

‘I’m twenty-nine.’

‘You’re wet behind the ears,’ Lachlan states easily. ‘You ever even been in a fight? Your daddy said you were a killer. Maybe he had another son hidden away, one with balls.’

Kade wonders if Lachlan thinks he’ll actually succeed in what he’s trying to do. Not once has Riley lashed out, lost his cool. A single glance in his direction proves exactly what Kade suspected: Riley is vaguely enjoying Lachlan’s attempts, if the tiny ripple of a smile is anything to go by.

‘Maybe, yeah.’

‘Or maybe he was just so ashamed of you that he lied and said you were a psycho, so no one had to know what a little bitch you are.’

Riley’s small smile stretches full.

It’s like they’re having two different conversations entirely.

‘Little bitch,’ he echoes thoughtfully, his gaze locked without blinking on Lachlan, blue eyes so bright. ‘Did your father ever call you that?’

‘You even know what it feels like to bleed?’

Riley cocks his head wonderingly at Lachlan. ‘Is it hard to bleed, then?’

‘You wanna find out?’

‘For fuck’s sake, just stop it,’ Kade snaps. ‘It won’t work. Stop. Please.’

Lachlan rolls his eyes and heaves an irritated, ugly sigh.

‘Fine. So what does Iron Star do?’

‘We solve problems,’ Riley says.

‘What kind?’

‘Missing people. Asset recovery. Intelligence. Dispute resolution.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’

‘I watched this place for days, Harker. Nothing comes in or out topside. You don’t have those fancy tunnels for fun, and there’s no way all this,’ Lachlan adds, glancing around, ‘is funded by being Robin fuckin’ Hood.’

Kade says, ‘Iron Star does a lot of good.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like finding people the cops give up on. Getting women and kids out of dangerous situations. Paying off medical debt. Assisting with relocations. We track down missing kids, sometimes manage kidnap scenarios, and we help people disappear when they need to.’

Lachlan leans back in his chair. ‘So you’re the good guys?’

Riley says, ‘I’d love to know your definition of good, Tanner.’

‘I think I’m starting to see yours. Look, I’ve worked logistics. I know what things cost. You’ve got security teams, intelligence networks, munitions, vehicles, medics, informants and sufficient infrastructure to operate independently of the government,’ Lachlan reels off. ‘Payroll alone must be astronomical, and that’s before fuel, maintenance, equipment and property costs. Do the people you so kindly help pay for all this?’ he asks with an ungenerous, rhetorical lilt. ‘No, they do not, so don’t bullshit me. Sure, you do your bit for the people of the city because those optics are invaluable, but underneath all that…’ Lachlan’s voice hits a low baritone. ‘You’re the prince of the underworld, so I heard. Got everyone scared shitless. Except for me, you’re a total fucking coward hiding behind my boy. So fill me in, Harker, because I’m genuinely curious. What do you run?’