Page 113 of Hell Breaks Loose

Alaya, Tell, and a cluster of Block bikers form up around us, ready to make a push for the exit, aiming to get out before anyone can recover enough to put up resistance.

But it’s too late.

“Stop them,” she cries, and a wall of bodies forms around us.

It’s a mix of psychos and suits.

Worse, there are a few of our people mixed in, too, looking grim for the decision they just made. I guess I can’t really blame them.

We’re kinda fucked.

“I will tell you once more, and even extend the offer to the group trying to break out,” Rachelle announces over the press. “Declare yourselves to the Herald. To the Seven. And be free.”

“I have a feeling that offer doesn’t extend to us,” Hellena mutters, gripping my arm tightly.

“Good guess.”

None of our formation wavers, but we all look at one another. This is it. We’re done.

The chant starts softly, growing louder as it ripples through the gathering.

“To the Herald! To the Seven!”

Again and again.

Until it’s a deafening roar, a frenzy of shouting.

All I can do is pull Hellena closer, wrapping an arm around her as Tell leans against both of us from the side.

22

HELLENA

The chants fade after what feels like minutes of terrifying waiting.

This frenzy could easily turn into a bloodbath for us, penned in and at the heart of a zealous rally.

When the noise does calm down, Rachelle descends, the crowd parting to bring us face to face again.

“You murdered him.”

It’s all I can think of to say.

“I did what you failed to do. What you just tried to do, need I remind you? What you should have had the fortitude to do years ago. And again months ago. And weeks, and days.” Rachelle pins me with a stare. “You could have saved yourself a thousand times over if you had just pulled the trigger one more time all those years ago, before you ran away.”

“What happened to you, Aunt Rachelle?” She is raving. Fucking bonkers.

“I got some clarity, Hellena! Coincidentally, with every single life I took to get here. Each one gained me resources, showed me who was really controlling our lives.”

“So you really called those hits. On the Seven.”

“Most of them. And let me tell you, they were all corrupt, self-serving bureaucrats who wanted nothing more than to pile the bodies of our town higher, to prop up their thrones with more money. To secure their petty little empires.”

“Instead of serving the people they swore to protect. I know. How is this any different?” I beg, still wary of the gun in her hand. Of its proximity to Evan.

I have no clue what she’s willing to do to hurt me.

To manipulate me.

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