Page 84 of Fallen Flame

“You found it?” Wrecker asked.

“Yeah,” B said with a laugh. “Turns out all we had to do was walk out of our hotel room. It was parked right out front.”

“What?” Pipe muttered.

“Archie says nobody checked into the motel last night, though.”

“Holy shit,” Jude breathed.

“At the motel?” Demi asked.

Every head turned toward her.

“Yeah,” Wrecker answered.

Drew looked between all of us like she didn’t understand why everyone suddenly looked ready to start a war. “When we checked in late last night...” she said slowly, “...it parked next to us.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

It was like she’d sucked every bit of air out of the room.

“You what?” Pipe asked.

Drew blinked. “The van.” She pointed toward the window as if the motel was visible from here. “It parked next to us.”

“There were people in it?” Mason asked.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

B’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Who the hell is that?”

“Demi and Drew,” Demi called loudly enough for him to hear.

“You guys having a party there?” B asked.

A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth despite everything.

Wrecker rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about what we’re doing here.” He grabbed the phone. “You keep your eye on that van. We’ll be there in ten minutes, Basil.”

“Wha—” Wrecker ended before B could finish whatever smart-ass comment he’d been about to make.

Wrecker looked directly at Drew and Demi. “You remember what the guy looked like?”

Demi nodded immediately. “Guys.” Her emphasis wasn’t lost on anyone. “There were three of them.”

The room seemed to get even quieter.

Pipe let out a long breath. “Fucking shit. They’re all here.”

Wrecker looked toward Mason. “I need descriptions.”

Mason nodded. “I’ve got it.” He motioned to Drew and Demi to follow him over to the couch.

Wrecker was already moving. He pointed around the room. “Nickel.” Nickel was on his feet before Wrecker finished. “Cole.” Cole stood. “Fox.” Fox tossed the rest of his coffee into the sink. “Maniac.” Maniac cracked his neck. “We’re heading to the motel.”

“I want to come.” The words were out of my mouth before I thought about them.