Page 101 of Hell Breaks Loose

Backtrack for a sec.

To that lab in that building with that doctor and that syringe.

The lab stinks. The lab coat stinks.

I stink.

Rather, the doctor does.

Oh, how Doctor Oxy has fallen.

Not the real guy. I paid him a hefty sum to disappear for good. Last I heard, he checked into rehab.

Wanted to get clean so he could see his kids again.

All the best, Doc. Goodspeed and all that bullshit.

Now where was I…

Oh, yeah.

About to stick a long ass needle into my girlfriend's arm.

Subduing the protests from my conscience telling me to break her out, jam this needle into Marco Vice’s eyeball, and make a dash for the door and never look back.

The two heavies in the way aside, I realize it would also compromise a hefty amount of planning.

Gavin taking his spot as a liaison for our side in her ranks. Sing coming back with us as a show of good faith.

Can’t say Ora was too pleased about that.

I mean the ‘being observed by the enemy’. She and Alaya wouldn’t leave the poor guy alone in the worst way outside of that.

And by the worst way, mostly his butt.

Guy’s fucking hot, though. No lie.

In the time it takes me to draw back the plunger, filling the syringe with the substance in the bottle, the past few days pass through my head again. It’s all going to work.

It has to.

“So, what happens if Marco shows up all of a sudden?” Ora posits, kicking her feet off the table and leaning forward. She’s taken to bouncing a rubber ball all the time. I love that girl to death, but it’s. Fucking. Annoying.

“We’re ready with a solid defense.” Alaya shrugs.

“She means about Hellena. She’s in the fucking lion’s den.” Gavin’s voice sounds quiet over the phone, like he is worried about being overheard.

“So are you,” I point out.

“With one of theirs as collateral and an escape plan if things get hot.”

“Ooh, things are getting hot?” Ora smirks.

“Spicy or blisters?” Alaya. Always with the bad jokes.

“Definitely spicy, probably third-degree burns if we get caught.” Did he just snort laugh?

“You asshole,” I grumble, leaning close to the speaker.

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