Page 419 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Riley is crying as he pulls Kade down into a painful hug.

Lightning strikes nearby.

Thunder follows quickly.

‘I’m sorry,’ he croaks, gripping tight. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.’

‘Just stay. Please just stay.’

‘I will. I’ll stay. I promise.’

‘Kade, are you hurt? What the fuck—’

Riley sits up and Kade climbs off when partially hauled by Lachlan. Blaire bends low, talking to Riley.

Kade can’t hear what they’re saying in the rain.

‘It’s OK,’ he tells Lachlan, wiping blood from his nose. ‘It’s all OK.’

‘He hurt you?’

‘No. It was—’

‘Lachlan,’ Riley says. Blaire helps him up. ‘It was me.’

‘You hurt him?’

Riley takes a deep breath. ‘I called Alistair Penhalyx seven years ago and told him who had his kids. I’m the reason Julian’s plan went so wrong. I’m the reason you lost them both. It was always me.’

The rain is a vast ocean of white noise.

Lachlan stares, brow creased. ‘You?’

‘Me. I’m so sorry.’ Another breath. ‘I’ll accept whatever you decide.’

The former bodyguard stares for a long time.

No one speaks.

The hatch is left open.

The rain is pouring in.

Then Lachlan gives a ragged exhale. ‘Wasn’t your fault.’

‘No, it was. I called him and told him Troy Harker had them.’

‘You were trying to help, right?’

‘I… yeah.’

‘You were a kid.’

‘I was twenty-two.’

‘Yeah well. I was a fucking idiot at that age too. It wasn’t your fault.’

‘You should kill me.’