Page 33 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

The skittering crash it makes is of no comfort.

‘I know I’m going to die here,’ he snarls, ‘but you don’t have to. All you needed to do was not cause this fucking bullshit!’

‘That’s rich coming from the man who pulled me into this mess knowing there was a high chance I’d never get free.’

He thinks of that night in the bar.

To put twelve lives, including mine, in mortal danger for a kid who doesn’t know what it feels like to be hungry or cold, that’s unreasonable.

Of those twelve, eight are dead so far.

‘I’ll take responsibility for it.’

‘I already specified that it wasn’t you.’

‘You had no right to do this!’

‘I did what needed to be done, unlike you.’

‘This wasn’t necessary.’

‘You lost sight of necessary long ago, just like you lost sight of your job, your training and your fucking mind along the way.’

‘We can tell him it was a mistake. Say it was henna, that it’ll wash off in a few weeks. Carrigan, please. Please don’t do this.’

‘It’s already done. Now get the fuck out of my office.’

✴

Julian Penhalyx is twenty years old, and his birthday party goes off without a hitch. Cake, candles and small, thoughtful gifts. He dances with Vasily, and they play musical chairs, and everyone lets Mimi win, falling dramatically to preserve her victory.

Lachlan only checks in now and then.

At the end of the day, when things are quieting down and the night shifts are setting up, he goes to Jules’ bedroom.

‘Did you have a nice day?’

He’s lingering in the doorway, which makes Jules frown.

‘The best,’ Jules says. ‘What are you—?’

‘Why don’t you go out?’ Lachlan offers, nodding towards the window. ‘Call your friends, go have fun.’

Jules blinks softly. ‘You’d let me?’

Lachlan barely holds back a sigh. ‘I’d let you do anything.’

‘What if I wanna stay out all night?’

‘I’d let you do anything if I reasonably could.’

Jules grins wryly. Lachlan mirrors it helplessly. ‘I do wanna go dancing.’

‘I know you do, so just be outside by—’

‘But I want you to come with me.’

‘What do you mean?’