‘I know you do,’ Blaire says, nodding.‘I love you, too.’
Lachlan wipes his eyes, exhales roughly.‘God, I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘Everything.’
‘Don’t be.I was out of line.’
‘No, you were honest.You’re the one person I can take it from.’
She sits beside him now that he’s upright again.‘Danya too.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’
‘You need to sleep.Tell me about these dreams.It might help.’
‘It’s all just sharks.I never evenhadnightmares before, not since I was a…’
Ever since I swallowed his come, the nightmares won’t stop.
‘What?’Blaire asks, when he trails off.‘What is it?’
‘Nothing.Um.I don’t know.’He shakes himself.‘We should probably get back to the schedule,’ Lachlan says, signing to her very subtly, their backs blocking the cameras in the room.
Ask you something?
She pulls her tablet across the table, sets it down on her lap.‘You’re right.’
Beneath it, she signs,Ask me.
It’s been a long time since Lachlan had to spell out a word.
Do you really think Jules is a B-R-I-G-H-T-L-I-N-G?
?
Jolene Mercer builds Lachlan a way to search the internet without his activity being observed or traced, especially by Carrigan.
They meet once in the weeks following Sable Key.
As always, the warehouse she operates from is packed wall to wall with technology, but for the first time, Lachlan finds himself unsettled by the fact that she still hasn’t changed locations.
Someone like Jolene should always be moving.
There never is much small talk between them, but she makes him a coffee,French Roast,while he looks around at the space.‘Still the same blind spot?’
‘Don’t fix what isn’t broken.’She hands him the cup.‘You’re all healed?’
Lachlan looks down at his coffee.‘I’m fine.’
‘Good.So—’
‘How did Danya know to contact you?’
Danya never explained how he knew Jolene existed, let alone how he contacted her for help locating the island.
‘He must have back-traced our contact,’ she tells Lachlan, offhand.When Lachlan stares, she gives a roguish, untouchable grin and says, ‘HeisRussian.’
