Page 466 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘I know you two were close.’

‘He was… my best friend,’ Luca says, still so quiet and slow, but determined. ‘You didn’t kill him, but it was still your fault.’

‘Luca,’ Noah warns. ‘You need to rest.’

Luca’s brown eyes hold Riley’s without fear.

‘You lied to him, you manipulated him and you trapped him here. He loved you so much that he never saw it… but I see it now. You chose not to tell him because… he kept us here. Kade held Iron Star together because you…’

‘Luca, that’s enough now.’

‘…are weak, and we don’t follow… weakness. He died loving you in a way you don’t… deserve.’

‘Boss, he’s tired and coming out of heavy sedation,’ Noah says.

Only Luca’s eyes are clear.

The anger Riley smells is true.

‘You failed him, Riley.’

For a long moment, Riley stares at the younger man.

Not a word of it is false.

And yet, Riley’s own anger stirs beneath seven years of forced control for Kade’s sake, and something coldly focused emerges.

‘You came into my Tower under Sorrenko’s banner,’ Riley says quietly. ‘You let us believe you were something you weren’t. You built a life beside Kade while keeping your true purpose from him. Do you realise that I always knew?’

‘I don’t care.’

‘Kade didn’t care that you betrayed us. He didn’t care that your friendship was built on a foundation of lies. That you were an insider for a man who was trying to destroy us,’ Riley says calmly. ‘He loved you, and for Kade, that was enough.’

Riley moves closer.

Noah steps away from Luca, clearing the space.

‘You’re right. It is my fault. I was the one who died and he paid the price. I was the one who kept the secrets that hid him from his father for seven years, and I was the one who let him befriend a traitor. But do you know why?’

‘I don’t fucking care why.’

‘Because I never needed to worry,’ Riley tells him. ‘Because love was the weapon he wielded for me when I needed it. It’s not inside me,’ he whispers, close enough to touch the metal bars of Luca’s bed, ‘to love and inspire love in others, but I didn’t need to.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying maybe your change of heart had a little nudge. I’m saying maybe it wasn’t the power of friendship that made you turn your back on Sorrenko so fast.’

Luca’s anger has him trembling. ‘I loved him.’

‘That was his power, his gift, but it’s gone now, so watch your newly healed tongue, Bellitane.’

‘Fuck you.’

Riley graciously ignores that.

‘I expect you to report in tomorrow. You’re needed in the Tower.’

He walks away, and Noah goes with him.