There’s nothing wrong with sticking with what you’re good at, Declan had said to her, in that gentle voice he only used with her. He hadn’t specified what exactly she was good at. Following orders, maybe.

“Who took over for your dad, then?” Lennon asked.

“Declan,” she replied.

“Your ex-boyfriend, Declan? The one…?” He tugged at the bottom of his shirt.

Hadley looked from Lennon to Maisie with a start. “Did you give him a rundown on your dating history?”

“No. I just gave him Declan’s clothes.”

“Did you guys have a heart-to-heart last night?” Hadley’s lips twitched. “Now I’m sad I didn’t come over.”

“We did not have a heart-to-heart,” Maisie said. She looked at Lennon. “Declan took over for my dad, though it’s not quite the same.”

“Lopez calls all the shots,” Hadley said. “Declan just takes orders and yells at everyone.”

“So with Lopez out of commission, there’s no clear leader? Even if Declan is fine?”

Maisie and Hadley exchanged a glance.

“I mean, it’s complicated,” Hadley said.

“No, you’re right,” Maisie said. “Most of the Lopezes wouldn’t just line up behind Declan and let him take charge. A bunch of them trained under him as doctors, and the rest all run things. Like how Hadley controls all the information that goes out.” She gestured at her. “Ceding that power to Declan is unlikely.”

“There are better choices,” Hadley grumbled. Her phone beeped, and she lifted it to read the message. “They’re calling a meeting.”

Maisie looked down at her own phone.

Family meeting, 10 a.m. Beto’s.

—

Maisie deposited Lennon at her apartment before heading to the meeting. She didn’t entirely trust him to stay put, but she also couldn’t bring him to a family meeting. Outsiders weren’t allowed. And a dude from beyond the wall really wasn’t allowed.

Beto Lopez lived in a giant house on the west side of town. Maisie had never understood why people liked being in those houses. She liked her small apartment, with a view of the city. It was easy to keep clean.

And it felt safe. Two doors, one with a dead bolt and the other five stories up. She didn’t worry for her safety much these days, but she had vivid memories of the years right after the walls went up. Her dad once killed two men in one night, after they both tried to break in, hours apart.

Things were fine now, but she was always preparing for when they wouldn’t be.

Hector, one of Lopez’s nephews, greeted her at the door, gun in hand.

It was going to be that kind of meeting.

Hadley was already there, sitting on one of the giant couches in the living room. The back windows showed off views of the massive backyard. Beto’s boyfriend, Owen, sat outside in the grass with a few of the younger Lopez cousins.

Her phone buzzed. A text from Declan.

I’m fine. Had to dig some of my guys out of rubble. Where are you?