Page 107 of The Boss

Robbie: Isn’t she already on our side?

Command: She seems undecided at the very least.

Zander: She could play both sides like one of her cellos until we all die

Gailo: She plays cello? I forgot about that.

Van: I’ll convince her.

Command: See that you do. Even after learning about her father she went straight to the Russian girl.

Mark: Well, fuck!

Command: Mark. I trust you and Ellie will help Van with this task.

Gailo: Kevlar. Kneepads.

Robbie: She already loves Ellie. Somehow, she loves Van. I don’t think the kevlar will be necessary.

Zander: Well, if Robbie thinks so in all his vast wisdom, I say we’re all good here. No worries.

Robbie: Fuck off, Zander

Gailo: Ooooo Lil Rob with the F Bomb!

Command: Everyone return to your own tasks.

Command: CAD. DAK.

[Communication Terminated]

CHAPTER 47

Van

She stirs. I exhale for the first time in what feels like years. Hours, at least. Since she left, was shot, went unconscious.

“Ellie!” I whisper shout. Luna’s best friend is in the room in an instant. It’s one of her guest rooms in Mark’s house, theirs now, but they’ve brought up the medical equipment from the secret basement. Luna’s on a monitor and getting an IV of fluids. Probably overkill but I don’t care. She was so pale on the chopper off that building, so frail. Peaceful and still.

I hated it.

Luna’s eyes crack open.

“Hey,” I say softly.

“Don’t even fucking think about it,” she manages to get out. Her voice is raspy.

“Here,” Ellie offers my wife water from a straw.

“Is it poison?” Luna spits, eyeing her friend with suspicion.

Ellie’s head recoils back.

“Watch it,” Mark warns from the doorway. I didn’t even realize he was in here. Sneaky fucker.

“You watch it, asshole.” Luna says, her mouth clearly dry as a desert. She looks at the water, then her friend. “Seriously, how can I trust any of you?”

“You take a sip I’ll tell you everything I know,” Ellie tries.