‘Can I carry you now?There could be thorns.’
‘God,fine,but don’t let anyone see.’
‘Heard.’
Lachlan carries him bridal style behind the summer house, around the back through nettles and thorns where it’s dark, emerging three houses down right by the SUV.He unlocks it with the key, very gently settles Jules inside the backseat.In this brighter light, he can make out the handprint.
A nasty blow, he knows that hurt.
Lachlan has hit Jules before just like this only no ring to snag.
Jules looks so pale, so fragile.
Lachlan says, ‘You kicked his ass,’ smiles the way a parent would orshould,and gently pets his hair.‘I’m gonna go back to get your shoes now.’
‘No,’ he says quickly, grips Lachlan’s shirt.‘Stay with me.’
‘I’ll only be a minute.’
‘You’re gonna kill him.’
Lachlan is.‘Jules—’
‘I asked you not to.’
‘He doesn’t deserve to live.’
‘It’s not up to you to decide!’
‘Of course it is,’ Lachlan tells him gently.‘I’m your bodyguard.’
‘You’re a psychopath!’
‘But I’myourpsychopath,’ Lachlan reasons fairly, looking around.‘I’ll make it quick, OK?’
‘No,no,I mean it, Lachlan!Don’t you dare.’
‘Why?’
‘I’m not being responsible for anyone else dying!’
‘You’re not responsible at all.I am.It’s on me.’
‘I don’t want that.’
‘Well I do.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he hurt you in exactly the way I never wanted you to experience,’ Lachlan says, mentally calculating methods, generally favours efficiency but this would be a time he’d make an exception.‘He’s gonna die for it.’
‘I won’t forgive you if you do.’
‘I don’t need your forgiveness.Stay in the car.’
‘No,no!’Jules scrambles out, almost falls hard on the asphalt but Lachlan catches him.‘I don’t want justice or punishment.That helpsyou, not me!’
Lachlan supports his weight, confused.The simplistic mindset ofFocus Modecan only allow for certain aspects of scrutiny.He can’t think what else Jules would want in this scenario.
