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“Three,” Eli said quietly

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Josiah spat “What now?”

“The ot wo his arms over his chest

“What, you’re going to liberate them?” Josiah asked incredulously

“I’,” Eli said “Not sure how that’ll play out yet” He looked at Wilson “You need help, I’m there”

“Jesus,” Ephraim muttered “There’s only four of us left?”

We all looked at each other

“I’m out, too,” Lu said, her words soft She spread her hands out, palain with a new tea else”

Josiah leaned forward draainst the table in front of him

“Goddah He pointed to Forrest “You’re out, too I can see it on your face”

“Wilson’s gonna need the help,” Forrest replied

“He’s a full-grown ued

“And so are you,” Forrest said cal the fit here”

“I’ a fit,” he spit back He leaned back in his chair and ran the fingers of both hands through his hair, slicking it backward Turning, he and Ephrai my stomach churn suddenly settled Before he spoke, I knehat he would say

“Fine,” he muttered “Me and Eph will stay, too”

“Don’t feel obligated to offer your assistance,” Wilson replied stiffly

“Shut it,” Ephraio off and make loads of money while you’re all here, savin’ poor wo bad wolves”

“Way to rumbled

I let out a relieved laugh, and the rest of the table joined me

“You are assholes,” Lu pointed out, still laughing

“We’d still be saving people,” Josiah argued defensively “We’d just be getting paid for it”

“Uh huh,” Lu teased

“Just to be clear, we’re all out?” Forrest asked as we quieted down He looked at each person one-by-one “Well, shit Boss onna be happy”

“Fuck hi all of us into another burst of hysterical laughter

We discussed logistics, where we planned onour own co for Forrest and I had been in the business the longest and had plenty of contacts to get us started if that’s the direction anted to go I think, when it ca death and destruction playing out before us day after day We all needed a break, even Ephrai the job they loved