But there is none.
He doesn’t love them.They both know it.
And if Lachlan dies here and now, he hopes to God his little girl remembers that day in the sunshine, that Blaire does what she can and Jules knows that Lachlan tried.
‘I do not believe you are capable of protecting them.’
‘I can absolutely protect them, but it depends.’
‘On what?’
‘On whether you want me to protect them or prostitute them?’
If looks could kill, Lachlan would be ribbons of flesh.
‘What did you say?’
Lachlan doesn’t look away.‘You heard me.’
‘Who do you think you are?’
‘I’m the trained killer who would die to protect them.’Lachlan steps forward.Alistair blinks rapidly, throat working.‘The mercenary who had to balance their safety alongside the people you saw fit to give free rein when you cracked this place wide open as punishment for a teenager’s insolence.I’m the bodyguard.I amtheirbodyguard.And I answer to you, Mr Penhalyx, but strength doesn’t bend well to ego, and security either exists or it doesn’t, there’s no half-measure.I did my job despite everything, and I always will.’
Lachlan falls silent.He’ll accept whatever the outcome is unless the old man tries to hurt those kids, in which case Lachlan’s going to kill him.Penhalyx stares off to the side, breathing shallow.
Anger suits himill.
Ages him decades.
Whole minutes pass in silence.
‘I think,’ Alistair says slowly, ‘my father would have liked you.’The old man straightens, shuttered efficiently.‘It is hard for me to accept that what you’re saying is true.No one speaks to me that way anymore.But you are right.I contributed to the breach.My presence here is detrimental.’He taps his desk and it comes to life like always.‘My son has learnt his lesson.’
Lachlan doesn’t dare to hope that it means he’s leaving, is still caught in the moment of his own outburst, half certain he’s about to be shot in the face.
‘I will be leaving tonight,’ he informs Lachlan, seemingly busy with the hover screen.‘You may hire a household manager of your own choosing, so long as they are vetted thoroughly.Perhaps your Miss Montbelliard.I will overlook your insubordination this one time given how intensely you feel towards my children.There is much you do not know and never will, but I am not a monster.Iwantthem to be happy and safe, to have childhoods.I simply cannot…’ Alistair frowns, staring at nothing until he blinks it away.‘I leave the Estate and my children in your capable hands.Keep me apprised of the management choice.I will see you next quarter.’
?
Lachlan cleans himself up, looks in the mirror.
He can’t quite believe he’s still alive.
But true enough to his word, come sundown, the helicopter takes off with all Penhalyx’s inner circle staff, one of whom seems to be his highest-ranking assistant.A man named Lionel Maddox, in his late thirties.Lachlan exchanges information with him, has the direct connection now.
He watches the chopper ascend, needs to see him leave.
All the othergueststrickle away, Sorrenko last, who catches Lachlan before he calls a staff meeting.‘Ah, you are alive and therefore available.’
‘What do you want?’
‘To talk.’
Lachlan leads the older man into an empty room nearby.The first floor of the North Wing is mostly untouched, all lounge areas, statues and vases.
Sorrenko waits until the door is closed.
‘I would like Vasily to stay here with you.’
