Page 70 of Fallen Flame

I smiled back before turning around, only to find Wrecker glaring directly at me.

Oops.

I pressed my lips together and slowly raised both hands. “Sorry.”

Nobody said anything.

I cleared my throat. “Don’t I get a pass since I was almost kidnapped?”

A couple guys snorted.

Wrecker grunted. Instead of answering me, he looked at Alice.

Alice smiled so wide I thought her cheeks might hurt.

I looked between them.

“...What?”

“Yes, Wrecker,” Nikki announced from the other side of the table. “We all see it.”

“...See what?” Nobody answered me.

Again.

Confusion really was becoming my entire personality.

Wrecker finally looked around the room. “Enough.” Just one word. The room immediately settled. “We all know what happened this morning.” His eyes landed briefly on Ever and me before sweeping around the rest of the club. “They made their move.” Nobody smiled now. “They tried taking Lark and Ever in broad daylight.” The room felt even quieter somehow. “We’ve also got nothing new from the motel.” He looked toward Basil and Kingston. “There haven’t been any more calls to Jester’s room.”

Basil sighed dramatically. “I’ve been living next door to Archie for days.”

Kingston grinned. “It’s been entertaining.”

“It has not.”

“It absolutely has.”

Basil rolled his eyes. “I’d rather be punched.”

“The plan doesn’t change,” Wrecker continued. “You two stay put. Whoever was calling may decide to show up looking for Jester.”

Both men nodded.

Wrecker looked toward Pipe. “The van?”

Pipe rubbed his beard. “I’m looking into it.” He shrugged. “But I’m betting we already know how that’s gonna end.”

“Stolen,” Nickel muttered.

Pipe nodded. “My guess too.”

Wrecker looked back at Ever and me. “You two okay?”

Ever nodded. “I’m good.” She smiled weakly. “I just wouldn’t mind things not being so crazy for a while.”

“I second that,” I said.

Everyone looked at me.