Vasily smiles properly, his first one of the night.‘Really?’
‘Absolutely.I’m starved.’
?
Alistair doesn’t return for Jules’ twentieth birthday, nor does he offer to throw some lavish party.It’s probably the best gift the old man could give.It’s no surprise that Alistair isn’t throwing a party as his inner circle has been fairly decimated.Even so, his absence is a relief.
But the day before Jules turns twenty, Priscilla Carrigan sets something in motion that can never be undone.
The morning before, Blaire and Lachlan are deciding what to do in terms of cake and gifts when Zaitsev comes inside their small meeting room.
Lachlan instantly snaps to attention, standing.
‘The kids?’
Zaitsev shakes his head, reaches for his radio and creates the wraparound only briefly.‘Your middleman knows about the tattoo.’
‘Whattattoo?’
‘Ten seconds max, she knows about this too,’ he adds and then releases the button and adjusts his tone.‘There’s a problem that needs your attention.’
Lachlan and Blaire share a look before they follow Zaitsev, meal forgotten.
‘Why didn’t Danya tell us?’Lachlan asks as they briskly walk, but the reason becomes clear the moment they enter the East Wing.
Danya is standing in front of Jules, shielding him from Carrigan.
Lachlan has never seen Carrigan so furious.‘Stay back,’ he tells Blaire, who scoffs and does no such thing.‘What’s going on?’he asks loudly, approaching.
Everyone looks at Lachlan, who comes to stand beside Danya.
‘A whole load of bullshit is what,’ the Russian tells him.
Lachlan gives Carrigan a quick once over.She’s red-cheeked, panicked and angry, a little breathless.‘What’s wrong?’
‘Yourchargehas a tattoo.’
Lachlan doesn’t react.
It’s news to him entirely, but then again, it’s a Sunday and he hasn’t seen Jules since they trained early that morning.Danya makes a big show of rolling his eyes and tutting much like Vasily does sometimes.
‘Ispen,’Danya drawls insolently.‘So he drew on his wrist, big deal.’
‘It’s not pen,andI’m not blind!’Carrigan snaps.‘Move aside so I can see it.’
‘You are not security,’ Danya informs her.‘You areceremony, and ceremonydoes not touch him while I breathe.’
‘Tanner, get him under control.’
‘Let’s all calm down.’
‘Don’ttell me to calm down!’she warns, raised finger in his face.‘Don’t you dare.This is all your fucking fault, and I’m not taking the fall for this.It’s in your contract, but it was in mine too!’
‘Carrigan, let’s go somewhere else and—’
‘Show him!’she snaps at Jules.Lachlan, previously calm, bristles instantly.‘Showhim your fucking wrist!’
‘Don’t yell at him.’
