Page 399 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘I guess.’

‘When are you gonna cut him a break?’

‘When he lets you go.’

Kade rolls his eyes.

The room is clearing out.

‘I liked your little note you passed me.’

Lachlan’s grin is warmly wicked. ‘You did, huh?’

He pulls Kade in all the way, his back against the wall.

‘I was gonna sign back, but people would have seen.’

‘You already were,’ Lachlan whispers, lifting his ring finger and pressing a kiss there. ‘The code. Our code.’ When Kade shrugs, he demonstrates. ‘One tap, finger up, is asking for help. Two taps, finger down, is all good.’

‘Like eight bells?’

‘Exactly. Three taps, finger down, is I love you.’

‘No, it’s not.’

‘It is. Or it was.’

‘No way.’

‘Three taps, finger raised, is I love you, but you suck.’

Kade looks down at his own hands.

The wrist press. The rings in a cut-down tree. The finger taps.

It’s almost like Julian is inside, whispering in a language Kade forgot.

‘That’s beautiful,’ he says, oddly choked up. ‘Why was it needed?’

‘Because I was always near you, but we couldn’t always talk.’

Kade puts his hand atop Lachlan’s heart.

‘I really do love you.’

‘I love you too. So fucking much.’

‘Tell me where we’re gonna go first, when we leave.’

Lachlan throws a look over Kade’s shoulder. The main door closes. Silence falls throughout the newly vacated space, and without looking, Kade can tell they’re alone now by simple virtue of the fact that Lachlan draws him in by the waist, kissing the corner of his mouth.

‘I’m gonna take you to a beach.’

‘What kind?’

‘A really pretty one on the other side of the world.’

Kade seizes a kiss. ‘What are we gonna do on this beach?’