CHAPTER TWO #3
Riley tells him, ‘Good job,’ and then goes back to staring through the bars at the intruder, who is still unconscious. ‘Get some rest.’
Seth doesn’t move, though.
Kade quietly says, ‘I’m really sorry about Gage.’
The eighteen deaths are considered acceptable losses, but Kade feels the weight of each one. He got cocky. Pride goeth.
‘Yeah.’ Seth is staring at the bars, expression worryingly blank. ‘Thanks.’
‘Do me a favour?’
Seth looks at him. ‘Yeah?’
‘We’re in a holding pattern for now. Get some rest and lead by example.’
Seth’s jaw works, but he nods. ‘Heard.’
Kade watches him leave and then goes to the bars.
The intruder is lying slumped on the ground, no movement, no sound.
‘Any noise while we were gone?’ he asks briskly.
Finn says, ‘Nothing.’
Kade closes his eyes.
He’s thinking of ways to get this guy contained and safe, can’t keep him in the boss’s space for long. Tranq darts. Net gun. Tasers. Ice foam. Sonic disruptor.
None of it is guaranteed to subdue him.
For now, the only thing protecting them is the iron bars that Kade wanted to rip out when they upgraded this level years ago, but Riley had refused, said the doors must stay put, so they did.
Kade steps closer, eyeing the bare chest which showcases a massive tattoo. A large, winged demon unfurling atop a moon with Roman numerals inside the sphere. VII.
‘Hey,’ Kade says, tone clipped and clear. ‘You.’
The man stirs, wakes slowly, unsurprisingly groggy, but the fog fades fast. His dark hair is thick and unruly where it falls across his forehead and spills past his bare, bloody shoulders. Dark brows frame the intense stare he levels at Kade, and his sharp jaw is shadowed by rough stubble.
‘Jules,’ the intruder whispers, voice tight with confusion and something dangerously close to reverence.
Kade frowns to himself. Jules.
Who the fuck is that?
The man before him stares like he couldn’t look away if he tried.
It’s deeply unnerving.
‘My name is Kade. Who are you?’
The man rises to stand, no sign of a struggle. He comes to the iron divide, looks through it. Kade holds his ground even when the older man gets near enough that Kade can smell his sweat. Strong hands grip the bars.
‘You don’t know me?’
‘Tell me your name.’
‘Jules—’
‘My name is Kade.’
‘They kept you. Oh my God, they kept you.’
‘Tell me your name.’
‘My name is Lachlan Tanner.’
‘Is that supposed to mean something to me?’
‘Jules—’
‘Kade.’
‘They’ve kept you, don’t you understand?’ He grips the bars harder. ‘They took you and Harker killed you, or… I thought they did. I saw you die.’ The older man is very pale. ‘For seven years I thought both of you were dead.’
‘Both?’
‘You and Mimi.’
‘Who’s Mimi?’
The intruder, Lachlan Tanner, looks away again as some foreign pain seems to move through him that requires a few beats to conquer. Kade lets himself stay cool, thinks of Gage and the others who died by this fucker’s hand.
‘Mimi was your little sister.’ Tanner looks back, oddly hopeful. ‘Do they have her too? Is she—?’
‘I have no family but Iron Star.’
Lachlan snarls, lip curling. ‘Iron Star is not your fucking family. They’re the people who took you! They’re the fucking reason—’
‘Who are you?’ Kade cuts in. ‘Hmm? You’re ex-military obviously.
Special forces, obviously, but what’s this, huh?
’ he asks gesturing to the tattoo in the centre of Tanner’s chest. Up close, he can see a kestrel sitting atop the moon as if carrying it.
The demon’s smiling face, sharp teeth and enormous membranous wings and tail.
On the back of Tanner’s wrist, something else catches Kade’s attention. ‘And what’s with the fox?’
‘I can’t believe you don’t remember.’
‘I don’t know you.’
‘Jules, it’s me. It’s Lachlan. I was your—’ He cuts himself off that time, jaw snapping shut, seems to be thinking it through. ‘Let me speak to Harker.’
‘You’re speaking to me.’
‘I need to—’
‘I shot you in the face.’
‘I remember.’
‘You healed right in front of me. Care to explain that?’
‘I’ll tell you everything if you let me speak to Harker.’
‘I want to move you to a secure holding room. Let us take you there, I’ll question you and then, if you co-operate, you can speak with my boss.’
Lachlan briefly falters. ‘Your boss?’
‘Yes.’
‘You work for him?’
‘I’m his bodyguard.’
Something about that seems to absolutely floor Lachlan, whose vacant expression gives little away beyond shock swimming behind the tears that fill his eyes. He masters himself after a few tense beats.
‘OK, fine. I’ll go quietly.’
By now, Kade has figured out a transport method.
‘I’m going to pass you two pairs of handcuffs. Put the handcuffs on your ankles first, then wrists, I’ll give you a body bag to zip yourself into. If you do that under my supervision, we’ll bring you to holding, secure you there and you can speak to my boss after me. Deal?’
Lachlan exhales raggedly, tears falling down his otherwise stoic face, still bloody from being shot. The tears cut tracks that smudge the dry blood when he wipes them away. The older man looks at Kade, determined.
‘Deal.’