Page 275 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Worse than Tanner.

‘I love you,’ Jules continues, each word held brutally steady, ‘and I want you to be happy. So don’t make me sit through some speech about how much I mean to you in a different way. I deserve a little better than that.’

Lachlan’s throat closes around something sharp.

‘Only one of us is a psycho.’

‘No argument there. Go away now.’

‘I want to make it better between us however I can.’

Jules finally looks at him. His eyes are dull with deep-cut disappointment and a dozen other things Lachlan is too afraid to name.

‘You sound like my father.’

Lachlan takes the blow without flinching.

He earned it.

‘I came here because I need you to understand that nothing has changed where your wellbeing and future are concerned.’

‘Oh, here it comes. You’re actually gonna do it.’

‘Julian—’

‘You still care about me, you always will. What we had was special but not made to last. It’s you, not me.’

‘All of that is true.’

‘You’re my bodyguard and that won’t change,’ Jules goes on, tone dead as he recites verbatim what Lachlan planned to say. ‘It’s your job to protect me. You’ll always do whatever you can for me, and one day, years from now, I’ll realise this was for the best.’

‘Yes.’

‘Beautiful. We’ve saved so much time, then. Now fuck off.’

Lachlan closes his eyes briefly. ‘I mean all of it.’

‘I know.’ Jules gathers the quilt more tightly around himself. Only one hand remains exposed against his knee, fingers pink with cold. ‘That’s what makes it so fucking humiliating.’

The nearest camera sits high on the stone projection behind them.

Lachlan installed it himself.

He knows its angle, the reach of its lens and the narrow portion of roof obscured by the parapet. If he shifts slightly closer and keeps his hands low, Control might see movement but not meaning.

He turns enough to block Jules’ hands from view.

Jules notices.

His gaze drops as Lachlan begins to sign.

Next year, Blaire and I will get all three of you out.

Jules watches his hands, face giving nothing away.

He subtly signs in return. Why are you telling me this?

I need you to forgive Danya.