Page 65 of Wasp

Moving around to the other, I hunched down again while sticking my gun into the back of my pants and pulling my shirt down over it.

“Found you—are you okay?” Tex asked.

“Peachy. But Rupert Gosling doesn’t look so good.”

“He’s involved in that?” Tex asked.

“Yeah, the driver.” I replied.

I tried pulling the door open, but it too had been damaged.

“I can’t get him out.” I informed Tex. “He’s wedged in there pretty good.”

Rushing back to the truck, I had one of the boys pass me a towel from the back and wrapped it around a fist. Back at the SUV, I slammed the clothed fist against the window until it shattered.

“You.” Rupert sputtered, blood flying through the air.

“You should save your energy right now, Rupert.” I told him. “Help’s coming.”

“We both know I’m not leaving this spot alive.” Rupert panted.

“Then I suggest you make peace with whatever God you pray to.” I grumbled, while reaching in to tug at this seatbelt and to inspect the section of the SUV now crushing his legs.

“Don’t bother looking.” He gasped. “I can already feel my lungs filling up with blood and my legs will never be right again. Listen, her name is Audrey Finch. She hired us.”

He paused.

“And I know you’re friends with Wolf—” He swallowed, coughed up some blood then groaned. “Tell him it didn’t start out being about him. But I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Wasp, I’m gonna need you to clear the area.” Tex’s voice caused me to blink. “You can’t be there when they boys in blue show up.”

I’d forgotten he was there.

“I can’t leave him like this.” I responded. “No one deserves to die alone.”

“You may not have a choice.” Tex warned.

“It won’t be long now.” Rupert closed his eyes for a moment. “I’ve been an inconvenience all my life. My death won’t be.”

“Don’t be dramatic.” I told him, hearing the faint sounds of sirens in the distance.

“Help is coming.” I added.

“You’re trying to comfort me?” He asked, confusion written all over his face. “After every—every—thing?”

“Relax, Rupert.” I told him. “Save your strength.”

But as the sirens grew louder, Rupert passed.

“Wasp!” Tex thundered. “You’re out of time.”

“On the move.”

12

CARTER

Our fishing trip had barely begun when Tex called through about what had happened. And while Charlie had to drive me back, we talked Levi into staying with Jackson.

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