Page 127 of Last Fall

“Yeah, that’s not theproblem.”

“If I’m not, it will still be fine. Smythe is my backup for a reason.” My biggest fear used to be getting hurt and being replaced. But that wasn’t the case anymore. It barely even registered on the list. All my fears now centered on Zoe, with her wellbeing at the top ofthelist.

The elevator stopped and the doorsslidopen.

The entire team stood in thelobby.

“Yeah, that’s still not the problem,” Weschuckled.

I didn’t find this funny. Not even a little bit. If they tried to stop me from getting to Zoe I was going to fight every single one of them. I was one mediocre member of the team. They could win without me. “I don’t want anytrouble.”

“We’re all going with you,” Wes saidinstead.

I stopped dead in my tracks. “I’msorry?”

“We’reallgoing with you,” herepeated.

“I don’tunderstand.”

Chris shrugged. “We’re all going. The team plane is fueling uprightnow.”

It still didn’t make sense. “Butwhy?”

“Zoe’s got some trouble, right?” Wes said as he clamped his big ugly paw on my shoulder. “Well, the team decided we shouldalltake care of it. It’ll probably be faster and easierthatway.”

Everyone nodded but I still didn’t understand. This was my problem. Most of them barely knew Zoe. “Guys, this isridiculous.”

“So is a guy bothering Zoe,” Wes said with a hell of a lot of anger. “Look, this is your fault, Bear.Youmade us a team.Youmade us care. One of us has a problem, we all have aproblem.”

“Whoever this asshole is who’s bothering Zoe? Let’s go scare the piss out of him,” Sethgrinned.

Even jerky little Don was there smiling and readytogo.

And I had to admit, twenty men were a lot scarierthanone.

“We should leave nine guys behind just in case.” At least enough to fieldateam.

Wes made a face. “This is not the time to be practical. Get your ass inthevan.”