“Gross,” Lennon said.

“So Val was like, ‘Fuck you, have fun by yourselves, boys,’ and took off with, like, three-fourths of the women in East Spencer.” Anna laughed. “I bet they regret their choices now. There are, like, five men to every woman in the east.”

“Men started defecting up here because of it,” Jessa said. “We don’t take them anymore, but back in the early days, we let some in. That’s how Val got so powerful. She didn’t even have to convince people to come to her territory after a while. They were begging to get in.”

His mom was going to love that when he told her. She often joked about forming a girl gang like the ones she’d read about in books when she was a teen. She’d probably secretly be jealous.

Anna glanced at something behind him, and he turned to see Maisie approaching. Beto had gone back to the Vals who were guarding him.

“Making friends, I see,” she said with a smile.

“They were explaining why East Spencer is terrible,” he said.

“And Lennon was telling us about getting dropped in the Q,” Jessa said.

He’d actually told the story twice since Maisie went to talk to Beto. The first time to Val, who had listened quietly and then disappeared.

Maisie’s hand rested lightly on the back of his head, in his hair, and he took in a sharp, quick breath. Her fingers brushed the nape of his neck and then landed on his shoulder.

He really wished they were alone. He might have turned around and kissed her right then.

“How’s your head?” she asked.

“Better. They gave me a painkiller,” he said, gesturing to Anna. “I think it’s starting to kick in.”

“You took pills from your kidnappers?” she asked, amused.

“I took one first,” Anna said, before he could. “And the Vals have never poisoned anyone, thank you very much.” She looked at Jessa. “Have we?”

“I don’t think so. Not Val’s style.”

Val emerged from the back of the building, beckoning at them. “Maisie, Lennon, I need a minute.”

He stood and fell into step beside Maisie. “What was that about, with Beto?” he asked quietly.

“Just making a deal,” she said.

He tried to ignore the twinge of jealousy in his chest. The two clearly had history, and the way they’d looked at each other was sort of…well, they were fond of each other. Lennon wondered just how much.

It wasn’t like it mattered, though. He was still on track to be out of here in less than eighteen hours. It would be years before he saw Maisie again, if ever. He wasn’t sure he’d even be able to communicate with her at all once he got back.

What a depressing thought. He kept his gaze on his feet as he walked.

Val was back at her desk, waiting for them.

“I’m sorry about him,” Maisie said. “Declan. I had no idea what he was planning, but I know you lost some people.”