Page 404 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Kade can already smell the water.

Cold lake water, the kind they use for the Drowner.

Lachlan comes through the adjoining corridor with Riley and Blaire behind him. The moment he sees Kade, composure vanishes from his face. He crosses the space at a run.

‘Are you hurt?’

‘No.’

Lachlan catches his face between both hands, turns it, then checks his throat, chest and ribs as if Kade’s answer means nothing.

His breathing is fast and shallow.

‘I’m fine,’ Kade insists, gripping his wrists. ‘Lachlan, I’m fine.’

Lachlan searches his eyes for another second, then he kisses him.

‘Don’t scare me like that.’

‘This wasn’t me,’ Kade says, returning the kiss helplessly for a single greedy second and then he breaks away sharply to look at Riley, who is staring at the steps with something akin to fear.

‘The explosions collapsed both tunnels and destroyed the Drowner controls. The lake’s filling every sub-level.’

Vasily looks towards the basement. ‘Roman.’

Everyone stills.

‘He’s in the Drowner,’ Kade says.

Riley looks up at the central stairwell, calculating. ‘Put him in my room,’ he says. ‘We can lock him in there for now.’

‘I’m going with you,’ Lachlan says, pulling his boots off.

Kade does the same. ‘No, you stay and protect Riley in case they’re coming in.’

‘They’re not,’ Riley says. ‘The boys said the explosions were internal. They had to be planted already. The perimeter is completely clear.’

‘When were they planted?’

‘No clue.’

‘Are they yours?’ Riley asks Lachlan. ‘Leftover from your attack?’

‘I’d never collapse my own escape route.’

‘But you planted other detonators around.’

‘Not down there.’

The radio comes to life.

Rike says, ‘I’ve got two live ones.’

‘Anyone from the garage?’

‘Unsurvivable.’

‘Fuck. We’re coming down, meet you halfway.’