‘Well, you have to become it.Like how I’ve been teaching you to be quiet and pretend like you’renotthe coolest little girl in the entire world.You become like a stone.’
‘But I love stones.’
‘Me too, but these people don’t care about them.They just walk on by and don’t even pick ‘em up like we do.My point is, you’reverygood at pretending, princess, and you make Daddy so proud.’
She climbs into his lap for hugs, stays a while.
‘Can we shayshift Jewel?’
Lachlan sighs, wishes he could.‘I don’t think so, babygirl.’He kisses her hair, sets her back down.‘You get some sleep now, my little shadow sneak.Mari’s gonna make sure you don’t have any bad dreams.’
He stays until she’s asleep at which point Blaire takes over, and then he heads for the ballroom.
‘Kestrel en route.Status check and give me eyes on Cascade,’ he radios in.
‘Eight bells, Kestrel.Be advised Cascade is outside by the lake.’
Lachlan’s focus sharpens.‘With who?’
‘Dreadnought.’
Mikhail Sorrenko.Fucking of course.
Thus far, Alistair’s friend has been well-behaved, but the fucker is here for amonth,and Lachlan knows who it is he has eyes for.He sees the way he looks at Jules sometimes.
There’s a shortcut out to the lake which he takes.The earth is damp and warm, summer storms abundant lately.He spies Jules in the water, far out.Sorrenko is sitting on the shore, watching him swim.
All Jules’ clothes are in a pile by his shoes.
‘Hello, Tanner,’ Sorrenko comments lightly when he approaches.‘Your boy likes the water.’
Lachlan scans around for context.
No big disturbances on the shore, no drag path, no sign of a struggle.Those touchstones of reassurance are only the most basic.It’s not like he expected Sorrenko to try and rape Jules, he’s far too smart for that but Lachlan needed to know anyway.
‘And you don’t?’he asks Sorrenko, coldly insolent.
The older man smiles up at Lachlan.‘I don’t swim in warm water.’
Lachlan looks out at the lake.‘Julian,’ he calls, clipped.
Jules doesn’t answer.He’s swimming, backstroking beneath the milky moon above.There’s a bottle of champagne on the shore.Lachlan doesn’t want to have to swim in after him, but he absolutely will if need be.
‘Jules,’ he tries again, louder.‘Come back in, please.’
Lachlan watches his movements, trying to ascertain how drunk he is.
‘Headstrong,’ Sorrenko observes, drinking out the bottle.‘Your hands must be very full.’
‘You should go back inside, sir,’ Lachlan tells him, eyes on Jules.
‘You are right.’To Lachlan’s surprise, Sorrenko gets up, takes the bottle with him and pats his shoulder.‘Good luck.’
Lachlan waits until Sorrenko is a good distance away before he unties his laces just enough to pull his boots off and then sheds his clothes down to underwear.‘Julian,get back here!’he tries, voice no longer politely constrained for company, but it does nothing.He pulls his rig off last.‘Fucking hell,’ he sighs and then wades out to swim.
It’s not remotely warm despite what Sorrenko said, but considering all the rain, it’s nowhere near as cold as it could be.A few sharp, deep breaths help him to level out before he dives under to fully submerge.Lachlan is a good swimmer, reaches the kid in no time.
‘Hi, Bodyguard,’ Jules greets dreamily, staring up at the moon.
