‘He mentioned a woman.’
Finn asks, ‘You think it’s Céliane?There’s no word of Last Light.’
‘All the more reason to think she might be in town,’ Kade says, offhand.‘How’s reparations?’
‘We’re already back up in most areas, just some externals that need work but we’re solid overall.’
‘Good.You two should sleep soon.’
‘Later,’ Cole says, already back to work.
Riley walks out, dressed for the new day.
‘Morning, boss,’ Kade greets, watching him carefully.
‘Kade,’ is all the greeting he gets in turn, fairly standard.No one hates mornings more than Riley Harker.‘Boys,’ Riley directs to Finn and Cole, ‘No more wasting time on the weirdo.He poked a lot of holes in our Tower.We need to prevent anyone doing the same.’
‘Wait, what do you mean?’
‘I mean don’t waste time on him.’
‘Are you crazy?’Kade blurts out, looking between them.The look he gets from Riley is a flat warning.Kade rolls his eyes onlyslightly,back teeth grinding together for one indulgent moment.‘Sorry, boss.’
‘You should be running drills.’
‘The teams are on it.’
‘Then what do I need you for?’
‘To protect you.’
‘Hard to do that when you’re playing your own games.’
‘I’mnot—’
‘Uh, sorry to interrupt,’ Finn says, ‘but he’s at the gate.’
Riley stares at the screen.Kade’s pulse jumps.
In broad daylight, there he is.
Lachlan Tanner.
He’s in surprisingly normal clothes.
Jeans, sneakers, a hoodie, his dark hair tied up.
No backpack, no visible belongings.
Kade still remembers the photograph.
It’sbrandedinto him.
‘Well,’ Riley says, tone dry, gaze fixed on the screen.‘Nice of him to use the front entrance this time.’
Cole asks, ‘What do you wanna do, boss?’
Riley looks at his bodyguard.‘I don’t think he’s here for me.’
