Page 13 of Fallout

“How about we all go to Franchino’s and get dessert? My treat.” The senator glanced from Jasper to her.

Destiny spotted something across the room. Her cue.

She tuned back into what was being said on comms. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m sorry, I won’t be able to go with you for dessert.” She breezed through them, across the room. Clare had the company CEOs in conversation. She said something, and both men laughed.

Destiny used a side door, and when it didn’t close, she glanced back.

Jasper was right behind her. “What did he say to you? Did he scare you?”

She shook her head and continued down the hall to the stairwell in the corner, the one that led down to the office on the floor below. “He didn’t upset me.” How was she supposed to explain it was a work thing? “You don’t have to come with me. You can go back to the party. I’m fine.”

He only stared at her. “I’m coming with you.”

In her ear, she heard, “The cop is coming.”

Destiny said, “I just have to check on something for Clare.”

Through comms, she heard, “Shoot.”

Then, “Incoming. Everyone scram.”

Destiny pushed through the stairwell door and found a spiral staircase lit by wall sconces. It was carpeted so that her footsteps made no sound. Not quite the plan, but it could work.

“Care to tell me where we’re going?”

Someone in her ear snickered. “Wouldn’t he like to know.”

Destiny only realized afterward that it was her who snorted. She cleared her throat.

“Something funny?”

Over comms, one of the girls said, “Let him go first. Tell him it was probably an accident.”

Destiny stopped at the door. She waved a hand. “After you.”

“So I can get suspended for trespassing?”

Destiny repeated what came over comms. “Something tells me you want to see what’s behind door number one.”

He shot her a look and retrieved a gun from under his left arm.

In her earpiece, she heard, “Shoulder holster. Classy.”

Destiny wanted to tell them to shush. She should be nervous, out in the field. But having the Famous Ones in her ear and Jasper in front of her, she wasn’t.

Jasper opened the door. He stopped short so fast that she sort of slammed into him. Then, she realized she’d grabbed his hips.Eek.She let go like she’d touched something hot. “Sorry.”

He took her hand. “You don’t ever have to apologize to me.”

Someone in her ear gasped. “He’s so sweet.”

Except she had plenty of things to apologize for. Right now wasn’t the time, though.

Destiny lifted her heels to peer over his shoulder. She got a look at the room and gasped. “What did you guys do?”

SIX

Jasper gaped at the room first, then at Destiny. He didn’t know what was more astounding. Destiny smiling at whatever thought was in her head, or the fact the CEO’s office was covered in spray paint. Someone had come in determined to make a statement.