Page 31 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Above you.’

‘In pay scale, yes.’

Her eyes narrow. ‘No, not just pay scale.’

‘Let me apologise for yesterday, and we can figure out what to do.’

‘Tanner, I rank above you in all areas. That’s an academic fact.’

‘Not all areas.’

‘Yes, all areas, including oversight of Penhalyx’s children. I want you to understand that I’m in charge now, and that means my arse is on the line for everything that goes down here.’

‘I recognise that you’re directly responsible for a lot of what goes down.’

‘Don’t play with me,’ she warns. ‘I’m not in the mood.’

‘Security comes before ceremony. That is an academic fact.’

‘Then maybe I should be more directly involved in security.’

‘That’s not your job anymore.’

‘It was once, though, and knowing how you operate, I almost feel bad for Fenwick. I helped you subvert him.’

‘We were in alignment.’

It goes unspoken that they’re not anymore.

‘The tattoo is a perfect example of how you’re failing your duties as head of security. We both know that the contract is more than just the kids’ safety from external threats. You’re breaking multiple rules for reasons that would probably get us both killed. Therefore, I have to step in.’

Lachlan really doesn’t want that.

‘Running the household is an incredibly stressful job, and if you overextend yourself like Fenwick did—’

‘Don’t compare me to him,’ she warns. ‘My point yesterday was valid.’

‘You didn’t have a point. You were lobbing grenades.’

‘Am I wrong? Was Fenwick wrong?’

‘Don’t talk about that,’ he warns her, deadly serious.

Carrigan leans back, waving his concerns away. ‘The office upgrades included anti-surveillance. It’s not quite as good as your little blackout patches, but it’ll do. Fenwick was right about Julian. He’s not human.’

‘This isn’t about Julian.’

‘Oh, wake up, Tanner. Everything is about him. All of this. His cute little wrist tattoo is a death sentence for someone in the Estate. Do you expect me to just sit back while the pendulum swings?’

‘We can figure it out together.’

‘I’m glad you came here, actually. I was feeling not great about the call, but your arrogant arse sitting there talking down to me reminds me that it was necessary.’

It takes a moment.

Lachlan replays her words, seeking sense.

‘What call?’