Page 52 of Fallen Flame

“You can’t be serious.”

Wrecker nodded once before pointing toward Kingston. “And you can go with him. You’re both staying at the motel until that phone rings again.”

Kingston held up both hands. “I don’t have a problem with Archie prospecting. Why am I being dragged into this?”

“Because I said so,” Wrecker answered.

Kingston lowered his hands. “I guess that’s a good enough reason.”

Basil looked between them. “How long are we supposed to sit at the motel?”

“Until the phone rings,” Wrecker replied.

“That could be days.”

“Then I suggest you get comfortable.”

Kingston leaned toward Basil. “I call the bed by the window.”

Basil glared at him. “I’m not sharing a room with you.”

“I don’t want to share a room with you either, but here we are.”

Wrecker shook his head.

“What about the rest of us?” I asked.

He pushed his chair back and stood. “We watch our fucking backs and stay ready for when they strike next. Stick like glue to your ol’ ladies and the rest of the girls. Always two guys together. Nobody goes anywhere alone.” His eyes swept around the table. “That includes inside town. Just because we haven’t seen the Reapers doesn’t mean they aren’t here.”

Nobody argued.

Wrecker turned and stormed out of the room, clearly irritated that the meeting had turned into a debate about garbage cans and prospects. The door slammed behind him.

Fox leaned back in his chair. “Well, that wasn’t exactly the big news I was hoping for.”

“It’s better than nothing,” Boink replied. “Three days of calls means someone expects Jester to answer eventually. Archie gets something useful out of one of them, we might finally have somewhere to start.”

Freak glared at Basil. “You don’t think you could’ve buried that shit about Archie, Basil?”

“It’s B,” Basil insisted. “And no. The guy was an asshole to me in high school, and I highly doubt that’s changed in a few years.”

Kingston stretched both arms over his head. “Well, looks like you and I are going to find out firsthand whether that’s true.”

Nickel hitched his chin toward them. “Pack a fucking bag, boys, and get out of here.”

Basil shoved away from the table and stood with a scowl on his face. Kingston followed him, looking far too amused about the entire situation.

It was good that we finally had some movement.

It was more than we’d had yesterday, but it didn’t change anything for me.

The Northbound Reapers were still out there, and until every last one of them was handled, I was going to keep Lark safe.

Chapter Twelve

Lark

Wrecker was the first one out of church. Even I could tell he wasn’t happy.