Page 94 of Fallen Flame

“Maybe,” Dad said. “Maybe they walked.”

“Maybe somebody picked them up.” Wrecker shrugged. “We’ve got theories but no answers.”

“Was the van registered to one of them?” I asked.

Dad snorted. “Stolen.”

“Which wasn’t exactly surprising.” I sighed. “I guess B’s happy he finally gets to leave the motel.”

Dad laughed. “Oh, his ass isn’t going anywhere.”

“Drew and Demi are staying there now.” A grin spread across Wrecker’s face. “Yeah, Basil’s pissed.”

Alice pointed her spoon at him. “Call him B.”

Wrecker shook his head immediately. “Nah. His name’s Basil.”

“You accepted Ender going by Joker,” Mom reminded him.

“Different. He earned that,” Wrecker reasoned.

“Basil just wants to be called B.”

“Nope.” Wrecker did not care at all about what Basil wanted.

Dad chuckled. “Carnie could’ve picked a better spice.”

Mom groaned. “Oh my God. Not this again.”

“I’m serious.” He shrugged. “I said the same thing when the twins were born. Clove?” He nodded approvingly. “Cool.” Then he grimaced dramatically. “Basil. I’d probably want to go by B too.”

Wrecker pointed his spoon toward Dad. “He wants a road name, he earns one. Until then... Basil.”

Alice sighed happily into her shake. “I love that we came here to talk about the Northbound Reapers...” She looked around the table. “...and now we’re eating ice cream while debating whether Basil deserves a nickname.” She smiled. “Fun.”

Wrecker leaned back in the booth. “Sounds like a normal Fallen Lords meeting.” He looked around at all of us. “I come in here trying to talk business.” He pointed toward Dad’s half-devoured cone. “We somehow end up discussing the violent way Pipe eats ice cream.”

Dad shrugged. “It works.”

Wrecker rubbed a hand over his beard. “Fucking chaos.”

Alice gasped and her eyes lit up. “We need shirts.” Everyone looked at her. She slapped the table excitedly. “‘Fucking Chaos.’” She started giggling. “No names. No logos. Just...” She threw her hands in the air dramatically. “‘Fucking Chaos.’”

Lark raised her hand. “I’d wear that.”

“So would I,” Ever laughed.

Jude pointed toward Wrecker. “Congratulations. You accidentally started another clubhouse T-shirt.”

Wrecker groaned. “Just one time I would have a meeting not turn into a circus.”

Alice winked at Wrecker. “Keep dreaming, baby. One day that might happen.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lark

The room was quiet except for the sound of our breathing.