Page 46 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Uh.’ Lachlan has to really think. ‘Twenty-six.’

‘One whole year with a full-grown brain.’

‘What the fuck is your problem?’

‘I got zero problems with you, but I know operational drift when I see it. You’re in charge of those kids, right?’

Lachlan straightens, sharpens. ‘That’s right.’

‘Then lock in. You’re walking a tightrope holding an M40. You need to stay upright and aim.’

‘There’s fuck all wrong with my aim.’

‘Never said there was.’ Troy claps his arm. ‘Just that you really do look like shit. You trying to get clean or something?’

‘Can you stop talking to me, please?’

‘If you need to level out, I can get you whatever.’

‘I don’t run on chemicals, and we don’t need to talk anymore,’ Lachlan says, walking away, hoping Troy will just shut the fuck up and follow him. He reaches the next door and stops, waits.

Troy is walking, yes, but at his own pace.

‘I ran your file, you know.’

‘Oh my God,’ Lachlan mutters, hitting new levels of impatience.

‘I was the one who did your background check.’

‘Good for you.’ Which means he knew all along about the black sites and was just fucking with Lachlan.

He waits at the door while Troy ambles leisurely.

‘Impressive record.’

‘Thanks.’

‘That’s the problem, though, ain’t it? The shinier the medal, the more broken the man they pin ’em on. Private security’s where a lot of your kind gravitate. Less stress, more money, at least on paper.’

‘Look, I’m on schedule, so do you mind moving your arse?’

Troy chuckles, not remotely offended.

He is irritatingly charismatic in a very basic way.

‘Sure thing, Black Site.’

Finally on the move again, Lachlan clocks Jules waiting up ahead, just outside the West Wing with Danya. Lachlan tenses up, doesn’t want them to meet, but it seems inevitable.

Troy slows and stops in front of Jules.

‘Well now, just by the look of you, I’d say you must be heir to the throne.’ He offers his hand. ‘Troy Harker.’

Lachlan wishes Jules wouldn’t take it, but manners are drilled deep into him, so it’s entirely unsurprising.

‘Julian Penhalyx. It’s good to meet you.’

‘I hear you’re quite the model young man.’