Page 81 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘You’ve been a soldier for a long time, right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Fighting for your country, for other people, then for the Penhalyx kids.’

‘I never fought for my country. I killed for the government.’ Lachlan’s voice comes under strain when Kade drags his nails across his scalp. ‘What’s your point?’

‘My point is, have you ever fought for yourself?’

‘Just once.’

‘So then do it again.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Why not?’

‘Some things aren’t worth fighting for.’

‘You’re worth fighting for, Lachlan.’

‘You don’t know me.’

That’s fair.

It brings Kade up short.

‘I don’t really know anyone,’ he admits, frowning. ‘Myself. Riley. Lee. Not even Luca. The point is, maybe you don’t need to be known to be worthy of some decent treatment, y’know?’

‘There’s just no point.’

‘People lose the ones they love. They carry on anyway.’

‘They have to. They have someone else to live for.’

‘And you don’t?’

‘Kade.’

‘You have a cousin, right? Margot.’

‘She’s safer without me.’

‘And you have nephews.’

‘Please don’t.’

‘You could help other people. You could, like, I don’t know, walk the streets at night and protect those who need it.’

‘I destroy everyone I love.’

‘Or you love people who break easy.’

‘The result,’ Lachlan says slowly, flexing his fingers and watching the steam curl off his hand with fascination, ‘is unfortunately the same.’

Kade huffs. ‘Rinse.’

Lachlan sinks obediently into the water.