Page 56 of Ignite

“Sure, kid.”

“Is my mom coming too?” a subdued Ian questioned.

Wolf gritted his teeth. “She’s not answering her phone. I’ll keep trying.”

“Can we ride in the amble-ance?”

“Sure. Now hop up, and let’s get this show on the road. Everyone needs to get checked out, yeah?” He turned to Jazz as the paramedics lifted Tugger into one of the vehicles. “Camshaft is coming over with his big truck. He’ll take Freya and get us set up with supplies for tonight. I’ll wait for him and then go to the hospital.”

The boys were excited about the sirens and the drive to the hospital. Jazz was worried about the cost and all the chores she had waiting for her. It was overwhelming even for her. The list of tasks grew longer in her brain. Insurance had to be called. The bank for new cards. A computer, as that was a big need for her. Clothes. Diapers. Food and litter box for Freya. A thousand items filled her to-do list during the ride to the hospital. She added even more after they arrived.

Questions about insurance and guardianship came up for the boys. Fortunately, the social worker was satisfied when Ian identified Jazz as his aunt and caregiver. All three boys were physically fine, which took one load off Jazz’s mind, but none of them wanted to go anywhere without her. The two oldest hung out in the curtained alcove crowded around the bed, the baby napping in a rolling crib, until Wolf made his appearance.

“How ya doin’, babe?” he asked as he leaned over to kiss her forehead.

It was only then that she cried. “My house is gone. I have to tell my parents and my brother about it. I have to call the insurance people. I don’t know where Liz is. I can’t… I can’t….”

“I’m not going anywhere, babe. We’ll get through this. I promise.”

“How’s Tugger?”

Wolf’s grim expression told her all was not good there.

“I’m real sorry about your house, Auntie J.” Ian sniffed.

Jazz swallowed her fears and ruffled his hair. “It’s just a house. I can get another one. What I can’t get is another super-cool nephew like you. I need to introduce you to space, the final frontier.”

“Is that the one with Luke Skywalker?”

Jazz’s jaw dropped. “Dude, we so need to improve your education. Once we break outta here, it’s pancakes, thenStar Trekclassics, pronto.”

33

The naked manlay back in the bed and watched the lazy fan turn. It did little to cool the room in this summer heat, and this cheap motel had no other form of air-conditioning. It suited him and his purposes, though, as the place was off the main roads, and the desk clerk made a point of not looking or speaking to him. Every morning he slid cash through the ridiculous chicken wire fencing of the front desk, and the sour-faced person behind the questionable protection took it. That was the total of their interaction, and he was fine with it.

He should have been ready to leave this place.

He should be on his way back to his home in Khyber Pass.

He should be done with this last job he was hired to do.

Instead, he was pissed.

The fire was supposed to take out the final target, but somehow, she escaped her death. It bothered him, as very few times in his life had his plans failed and the victim survived. His tasks were carefully built after observation and research to make them seamless and unnoticeable. Shooting someone on the street in most cities would trigger police investigations and some media coverage. Watching someone drop dead from a heart attack brought on by poisoning his morning coffee, well, that was natural causes with no need for fussy attention. He preferred to operate quietly. Get the job done and get paid.

He sighed and put his hands behind his head. His body was lean and cut, his skin glowing a shiny bronze. Various scars dotted his chest from burns, cuts, and in two cases, bullets. One of those bullets came from his carelessness at a gun testing range in Khyber Pass. The other came from carelessness during one of his first assignments.

The blonde whore he’d fucked to get information said she liked his scars. They made him look tougher than the pussies at the strip club. He smirked. Yes, he was tougher than the pussies at the strip club. He’d seen them there when he scoped out the place to find his target. Old men trying to stay relevant in a world that didn’t want them anymore. The Slaggers club was worse. Young men too stupid to recognize their insignificance. He had slight respect for Wolf, but that still didn’t amount to much. They were all collateral damage as long as he finished the job and eliminated the target.

He stared at the water-stained ceiling and made his next plan.

34

Jazz threadedher fingers together and flexed them outward from her chest. Several knuckles popped in the silent room. This was so not going to go over well with Wolf, but he was dealing with club shit.

It had to be now.

She took a big breath and shook out her hands. Snacks were laid out next to the keyboard, and two water bottles sat in front of a bank of three borrowed monitors. She’d already peed in preparation. Once she started, she wouldn’t be able to stop until the job was done. It would be hours, and taking a break would be impossible.

---