“No, it was…it was a dumb plan. They fired on us, and I had to let them go. We both almost died.”

“Well, you almost died,” Queso said. “When people are firing on you in a car, you should turn so that you’re farther away from them, not closer. Remember that next time.”

“But then you would have been closer to them,” Lennon said.

Queso squinted at him like he was trying to process that.

“That looked like a West Spencer vehicle, didn’t it?” Anna asked. “The SUV?”

“Yeah, it is,” Beto said. “Declan negotiated one.”

“Oh, Val is going to be pissed,” Anna said. She pulled out her phone and jerked her head at Beto. “Come on, I need to call her to tell her the plan has gone to shit, and you need to tell her everything you know about Declan talking to the west.”

“Wait, we need to find Maisie,” Lennon protested.

“Not until I check in with Val!” she called over her shoulder as she walked. Beto trailed behind her.

Lennon swallowed, trying to keep his nerves in check. What if he didn’t find her before the deadline? Was he really going to leave without seeing her again?

Was he even going to be able to make it to the gate without her?

“Why is Declan Myers here?” Queso asked. “The second-in-command of the south, right? That’s who they’re talking about?”

Lennon hesitated, unsure how much he was supposed to tell Queso.

“He’s looking for the shipment too, I think,” he said, and then quickly changed the subject. “Are you going to tell us your name now?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“Is it bad?”

“What?” Queso gave him a confused look.

“Your name? Is it bad? Embarrassing, I mean?”

He rolled his eyes. “Coming from a guy named Lennon.”

“What’s wrong with Lennon?”

“It’s weird, and I think it’s a girl’s name.”

“Names can be any gender.”

Queso’s lip twitched like he was trying not to smile. “Fair point.” He checked his phone again, the expression fading back to worry.

“Something wrong?” Lennon asked.

“No, I’m just…” He slipped his phone back into his pocket with a shake of his head. “It’s nothing.”

Anna walked back to them a few moments later. “All right. Val left it up to me whether to stay and keep helping or go back now.”

Lennon winced, waiting.

“We’re going to stay. We—” She threw up her hands. “Why do both of you look so shocked? Thanks for the faith, dudes.”

“Sorry!” Lennon said. “I just…you know. Ivy died. You almost died. I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

“Whatever, I almost die all the time.” She cleared her throat, blinking quickly like she was trying not to cry. “Since we know it’s a West Spencer SUV, Val’s sending a drone to track it down. She’ll send us the location.”

Lennon let out a breath, relieved. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, it shouldn’t be a problem. But you, my friend, are going to the gate. Val’s orders.”