‘I was kept in solitary most of the time and whenever they let me out it wasn’t for social pleasantries.They tried to trick me into lengthening my stay.Each new death inside picks up at least a dime, so I had to walk the line very carefully.No one talked to me about the outside world and I wasn’t stupid enough to ask given that Iron Star had put me away in the first place.’
‘Iron Star didn’t put you away.’
‘How would you know?’
Kade wants to answer but it’ll just sound like he’s defending Riley, when he has no need to do that.‘OK so three days ago, what happened?’
‘Three days ago I was trying to locate kidnap potentials, anyone Harker cared about.My priority was his son, Riley, but far as I knew, he kept him locked up in the top room, so I didn’t think I’d get close.’
Kade’s curiosity spikes sharply.‘You knew about Riley before?’
‘I knew he was the psycho son of a kingpin thug, so out of control that he had to be locked up.Harker told me once that he wished his son was like you.’
‘Julian knew him?’
‘Harker came to the Estate a couple of times.’
‘Why?’
‘Overflow.Anyway, I was debating just firebombing the Tower, but I didn’t want to kill anyone who didn’t deserve it.I got desperate enough that I reached out to an old friend.’
‘Who?’
‘Had to swallow my pride,’ Lachlan says, mouth twisting, ‘but she was waiting for me anyway.She gave me a book.’
‘What kind of book?’
‘Something old.It had a lot of pages inside.She told me to find the animal that made me stop.I flipped through.As soon as I saw the kestrel, I stopped.’
‘And?’ Kade prompts when Lachlan says nothing.
‘On the page, there was a ritual.’
‘Like a fucking magic spell?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘It seemed simple enough once you waded through the poetry.Blood circle, speak aloud the words, that kind of thing.I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was willing to try anything.’
‘You actually thought it’d work?’
Lachlan opens his eyes, gaze moving slowly over Kade as though he needs to make up for every second he spent not looking at him.‘I was open minded.’
‘Why?’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘So it’s Paranatural shit, then?’
‘It’s magic.’
‘Oh comeon.’
‘You wanted to know.’
‘Have you always believed this kind of thing?’
