Page 290 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘We’re not doing this. It was an accident. I didn’t see a word of it, and if I’d known it was a diary—’

‘Give it back!’

‘—I would never have touched it.’

Stepping away doesn’t do anything because Jules follows him, reaching and grabbing for the book. Lachlan tosses it onto his bed and then heads for the door, but Jules isn’t interested in the book anymore.

‘Oh, I’m astonished, really. You don’t want to hear about the fucking agony you inflicted on me? How shocking. Almost as shocking as discovering that your interest in me begins and ends with keeping me alive!’ He invades Lachlan’s space, blocking the door so he can’t open it. ‘I really am just a body to guard, huh?’

Jules’ voice breaks.

His eyes fill with tears.

He flattens himself against the door.

‘Move aside.’

‘Make me.’

‘I shouldn’t have come in here, I’m sorry. Please move.’

‘No.’

‘I have a job to do.’

‘I’m your job, or am I not even that anymore?’

‘Julian, please move.’

‘Why? Does it make you sick to touch me now?’

‘No.’

‘Liar. Look at you, so desperate to get away.’

‘I’m on shift.’

‘God, you really don’t feel anything, do you?’

‘I need to get back to work now.’

‘What’s in the file?’

In a lowered tone, Lachlan says, ‘Information about Brightlings.’

‘I’m not a fucking—’ Jules looks away, jaw working after he closes his own mouth smartly. He closes his eyes, seeking balance. ‘Whatever.’

Slowly, he moves away from the door, gaze averted.

Lachlan touches the handle.

Thirty seconds max till he can get to a bathroom before his body purges, just has to hold himself together until then, show nothing, nothing, lock it up, lock it down.

‘Just say you hate me so I can get over you.’

Lachlan stops, brought to a standstill by the ruthless efficiency of such a manipulation. There are few people on earth who can ever get under his skin like Julian Penhalyx.

He should walk away, ignore it, give nothing.