Page 88 of Fallout

“That doesn’t look good.”

Jasper squeezed her hand. “But we’re going to stay here.”

Maybe he felt the need to reassure himself by saying that. She prayed aloud, watching as the Famous Ones approached the SUV. Peter was with them, and a few other operatives. In the distance, she could hear police sirens.

“We need to clear the traffic.” Jasper found a button on the dash and flicked it on. Lights flashed from the top of the windshield. “Red and blue. Interesting.”

“I have no idea!” Destiny lifted both hands. “Seriously, I don’t know why they have those. They aren’t police.”

“But I am.” He laid on the horn and cars parted in front of them.

Destiny held the door handle while checking her phone. “The text thread is silent.” Why had she felt the need to say that aloud? “That’s how you know they are working.” She smiled to herself, and then a message popped in.

The Famous Ones thought she should back off. She relayed it to Jasper. Before she got the words out, Allyson tossed a black canister under the front end of the SUV. It detonated beneath the engine and flipped the vehicle up, over, and onto its roof.

Metal screamed as the SUV hit the ground like a bug flipped onto its back.

Vanguard’s Famous Ones surrounded the car, pulling open doors and dragging out the occupants. Multiple people. “There’s Simon.” Peter had pulled him out.

“Where’s Harper?” Jasper jogged his foot, bouncing his knee.

“Don’t feel like you have to stay with me if you want to make that arrest. This car is secure, and I’ll lock the doors.” She gave him a nudge. “Go. Do your job.”

Jasper leaned over and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I had a feeling.” She smiled, feeling mischievous, given how close to being over this was. Eventually they’d have a normal day, right? Or this trend would continue, and they would be in for years of it feeling new between them. Even if life settled, she hoped their relationship would feel new for a long time to come. “And you have to know I’ve been in love with you since?—”

Someone thumped the metal of the SUV’s hood.

Jasper’s head whipped around at the same second that she looked. Marcus Harper stood at the front end of the SUV with blood running down his face. He lifted a gun.

Light flashed from the front of the muzzle. The bullet impacted the windshield. It splintered in a few circles, barely wider than the bullet. The rest of the windshield remained intact.

“Huh.”

Behind Marcus, operatives descended on him, dragging the gun from his hand and shoving his face against the hood. There was a lot of yelling, but Destiny tuned it out.

She turned to Jasper. “What was I saying?”

Humor lit his eyes. “You were saying you love me?”

“Was I?” She tipped her head to the side. “Seems to me like you and I make no sense on paper; we sometimes work for rival organizations, and I live in an impenetrable tower.”

“I didn’t have a problem getting in.”

“That is worrying.”

Jasper chuckled. He leaned over. “Enough talking.”

His lips nudged hers.

“I do love you.”

He said, “I know.”

And he kissed her.

THIRTY-NINE

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