Page 89 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Well, it’s not your choice.’

‘If it’s not mine, then it definitely shouldn’t be his.’

‘He’s not just my boss. He’s my best friend. The only family I have.’

‘You have such a capacity for love. I don’t want to see it wasted.’

‘Loving Riley isn’t a waste.’

Lachlan winces. ‘I hate hearing you say that.’

‘Why? Am I only supposed to love you?’

‘He’s not like you, Kade. Don’t you understand? I know a killer when I see one. He’s cold. He doesn’t have a hard line.’

‘So he’s like you, then?’

‘Yes,’ Lachlan says, surprising Kade, who was expecting a scathing denial. ‘And I know exactly how fucking dangerous I am.’

‘Just when I was starting to like you,’ Kade mutters.

✴

Kade shadows Rike through the Tower, assessing security, logistics and maintenance in the wake of the attack. Reinforced choke points, guard rotations, armouries, vehicle readiness. Then fuel reserves, medical stock, generator integrity. Last, they assess necessary structural repairs.

Rike is one of only a handful who know about Seth.

They examine the main gate entry together.

No one has ever got inside Iron Star this way.

‘When will he be executed?’ Rike asks Kade as they head up to the Watch together. Kade stares ahead, guilt squirming.

‘It’s not my decision.’

‘Yeah, but you know the boss. I thought Seth would be dead already. Are we waiting to extract intelligence?’

‘No, he’s...’ Kade shakes himself and can hear Lachlan’s voice in his head, telling him things about Riley that aren’t true. ‘Riley’s just being smart, waiting it out in case there are other waves, staggered patterns.’

‘Heard. Lemme know if you need help. His bullshit metaphobia never sat right with me, especially given...’ Rike shrugs. ‘Well, y’know.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

They stop before the doors to the Watch.

Rike reaches to open them, but Kade forestalls him, a hand on his arm.

‘Hold up.’ Kade lowers his voice, studying Rike. ‘Especially given what?’

‘Well.’ Rike glances around before pulling his shoulder-length locs back into a hair tie at his nape. ‘Y’know.’

‘I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.’

‘The boss.’

‘The boss what?’