Page 176 of Hell Breaks Loose

The taker, never satisfied with what she has. Avarice.

The lover, the biker whore, and her clan of devotees. Ardor

And the worst, most horrifying of them all. The woman looking down without malice.

Only pity resides in her gaze. Disappointment.

Regret.

Inertia. Acedia.

She does nothing. And now, I have nothing.

And the darkness of my mind swallows me whole.

37

HELLENA

“So, that’s it?” Alaya scans the room, giving me a skeptical glance.

She’s hopping on one foot, her other one lifted off the ground, clearly in pain. Otherwise, she’s exactly like she’s always been, a snappy, smartass pain in mine.

“Um. Yeah. There’s nothing left.” I fill them in, divulging the abbreviated version of my dad’s message, what transpired before they arrived to save the day.

“Kind of a letdown,” Ora admits, flapping her lips.

“I don’t know, that was pretty intense, all things considered,” Tell sniffs. He’s bright-eyed, cool and light, like always. But something’s different. He’s mellow. Not a twitch to be seen, even hidden behind a joke or a funny face.

“Not what I meant.” Ora sighs. She’s somehow evolved in my eyes as well. Stronger. More vibrant. Not just a wild child badass, but a tried and true badass. A leader.

Sing’s standing right next to her, as weird as ever.

Gavin shrugs, leaning into me to let me know he’s there. The calm that always lingers around him is deeper, more self-assured.

And Evan, right beside me. He’s been through so much, yet he holds his head high. Not with arrogance, though.

We fall silent in the wake of the chaos.

Take a breath.

It’s over.

Some of our guys came to take Aunt Rachelle away a few minutes ago. She was completely catatonic. Unresponsive.

Tell gave them orders to take her to Norris, his nurse friend.

That’s all I can give her in the way of pity. Or sympathy.

To see that she gets help somewhere far, far away from here, in a guarded cell for the rest of her life.

The seven of us stand around, none of us willing to make the first move to leave. We should.

Evan’s still a bit shaky at my side, his arm as much draped over my shoulder as it is resting there for stability.

All three of my guys are standing around me, as close as they can be. And I welcome the proximity. The warmth.

Goddess, they look good, too.

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