Page 53 of Tempest’s Torment

I hear Savage laugh in the background, and then Venom's voice carries clearly enough through the phone that I don't need a speaker. "See? I told you, he's already planning where she's gonna sit."

"I said no such thing."

Sniper laughs. "Doesn't matter, we all heard it."

Savage joins in. "He's got it bad."

"Shut up," I grumble.

"Didn't deny it," Venom says.

"Twenty quid," Sniper says. "Pay up."

"Bastards," I grunt.

Ghost chuckles. "We'll fill you in after church."

"Appreciate it."

"Check in tonight," he tells me.

"Will do." I end the call.

Lilah looks at me. "Was that about me?"

"Partly."

One eyebrow lifts.

"The club's having church. Ghost wanted to know if I was coming."

"And?"

"I'm staying with you."

She looks away for a second. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know."

We walk another few steps. "They like winding you up," she says.

"Yeah."

"It's nice."

I look at her. "That they do?"

She shrugs. "Means they're not worried. If they were, nobody would've been laughing."

I smile. "You're catching on."

Dinner's finished and we’re in the living room where she's curled up on one end of the sofa with a mug between her hands. I'm in the armchair opposite. The television's on but neither of us is watching it.

"Lilah," I call out and she looks over. "Can I ask you something?" I ask and she nods instantly. "What was Lucy like?"

She goes still, not because she's upset, but I reckon it’s because nobody's asked her that in a long time.

She looks down into her mug. "I don't know where to start."