Page 113 of Fallen Flame

Didn’t know him.

Kingston stepped inside behind him. B followed, shutting the door before jerking a thumb toward the stranger. “We’re here.”

Most people would’ve been intimidated walking into a room packed full of Fallen Lords. This guy looked honored.

Wrecker nodded toward an empty chair.

“Morning, Archie.”

Recognition clicked.

The motel clerk.

Archie gave Wrecker a respectful nod. “Morning.” His eyes traveled around the room. “Good to finally meet everybody.”

Several of the guys nodded back.

Archie took the empty chair without another word.

Wrecker waited until everyone settled. “The van is gone.”

“What the fuck?” Nickel growled.

“What do you mean the van is gone?” Maniac asked.

Wrecker held up his hand to quiet everyone. “Just shut the hell up.” He looked at Archie. “It’s all on the surveillance footage.”

Archie nodded. “Uh, yeah. It is all there.”

Wrecker looked toward B. “Show ‘em.”

B crossed the room to the television mounted on the wall and plugged a flash drive into the side.

The screen flickered before grainy black-and-white security footage filled it.

A timestamp blinked in the upper corner.

2:43 A.M.

The motel parking lot sat empty.

No traffic. No people. Just a white cargo van parked beneath one of the overhead lights.

The room stayed silent.

Five seconds passed. Ten. Nothing.

Then movement. Three figures stepped into view from the darkness. You couldn’t tell where they’d come from; it was like they’d simply appeared.

They all wore dark hoodies with the hoods pulled low over their faces.

One climbed into the driver’s seat. The other two got into the passenger-side sliding door.

The van started and its headlights washed across the empty parking lot.

Slowly... it backed out of the parking space.

“So they were leaving,” Arlo muttered.