Page 165 of Hell Breaks Loose

Once I have a pretty good idea of the numbers, I take a breath, look at Ora, still ripping along mountain roads. She’s a pro who has been driving these roads her entire life on a bike and in cars.

And she’s not the only one.

“Everybody, listen up! Sanctum Harbor is our home. Most of you have known her longer than I have. Your entire lives. And she’s a mysterious lady. And I also know that most of you know those secret paths like the backs of your hands. So I need you to stall. I need you to lead these rejects on a wild goose chase. Keep them busy so that we can end this, once and for all!”

I yelp, dropping the mic as Ora careens around a corner at breakneck speed.

Once I recover, I get down to the nitty gritty.

“So, new plan. Anyone I don’t name, you know what to do. Show no mercy. And good luck out there. We’re family. Keep each other safe!”

I can’t keep the grin off my face as Ora throws back her head and howls, smiling from ear to ear, grabbing my sleeve in the rush.

“First up, Gatling-Gavin, you copy?”

“This is ridiculous. Copy,” he rumbles.

“And you love every goddamn minute of it, don’t you?” Tell scratches over the comm.

“Double-copy, and don’t say another word, Tyler!” he clips.

“Gav, stick with your mission. Find the ring. Sing, same goes for you.”

“No callsign?” he chirps.

“Seriously? Fine. What do you want?” As if we have time for this, but I’m flying high on adrenaline.

“Nighthawk.”

If I had a drink, I would have spat it out.

“Did he just—” Tell’s voice is shaking with laughter.

“Why is everyone laughing?” Sing asks, sounding a little upset.

“No reason. Nighthawk.” I cover a snicker. “You have your orders. But I need Alaya for something else.”

“Copy that, Hell on Wheels.”

“Jambalaya, you there?” I snap off, keeping my voice totally serious.

“That is… an awesome callsign!” She cackles.

“Glad you like it,” I drawl. One of these days, I’ll actually take her off guard and get her goat. “I think I figured out where we need to go.”

“Dish, girl!”

“What I mean to say is that I think you know where the place I figured out we need to go is,” I garble out, almost crossing my own wires.

“Come again? That was about as clear as a cracked windshield in a shitstorm.”

“You killed my dad, right?” I ask.

“About like you’re killing the mood, Michaels.”

“Shut the fuck up, Alaya!” I snap, shaking my head. And for the first time ever, she does. “What I’m asking is what came after.”

“Oh. Surprised you never asked about that before.”

---