Page 300 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Done.’

The bouncer lets them all inside with a hand stamp while the other unaccompanied men are turned away. Lachlan hands over the cash and heads into the club.

It’s a six-storey fever dream that stinks of desperation and booze.

The central atrium is packed with bodies moving as one beneath strobes. Balconies rise around it, and a huge DJ podium dominates the far end.

Lachlan scans.

Four cameras.

Two staircases.

Emergency exits behind both bars.

Security is minimal, watching only for fights. Pills change hands openly. Couples, and two throuples, eagerly consume one another against graffitied marble columns. Open-fronted velvet booths offer glimpses of bare skin, leather restraints and hands slipping beneath flimsy clothes.

Nobody looks twice at anything.

This place is hell on earth for Lachlan.

And picture-perfect for Julian.

He takes the stairs two at a time to the third floor, passing a guy vomiting in the corner while his friends laugh and record him on their phones.

The third floor is significantly darker.

Lachlan drives through the dancing crowd, searching every face, alcove and exit for auburn hair and amber eyes, but there are very few lights and all of them are moving.

The main bar on this level is absolutely packed.

He decides to take a risk and moves to the side, calling a bartender over with a serious look. Harried, the guy approaches with a refusal already poised, but Lachlan beats him to it.

‘Stolen card just cleared terminal fourteen.’ Lachlan holds up Julian’s picture on his phone. ‘You seen him?’

The bartender’s irritation vanishes. ‘Shit.’

‘Yes or no?’

‘Yeah, he’s here. He spent a fucking ton.’

‘Where is he?’

‘He was here, like, thirty seconds ago with some poser.’

Lachlan turns towards the dance floor, touching his inner ear.

‘Control, he’s here. Tell Danya to park by car five and post up outside the club.’

‘Heard, Kestrel.’

‘If he comes back here, you stall him, OK?’

‘How the fuck am I meant to do that?’

‘Who do you think they’re gonna blame when those charges get reversed and it was you overserving someone under twenty-one?’

‘He had ID.’