Page 29 of Hell Breaks Loose

“You shouldn’t have come.”

“You shouldn’t have made me…”

“Not what I meant.” I giggle, covering my mouth. “It’s dangerous. Foolish.”

“I had to know you were alright.”

“You see that I am. Mostly.”

“Then let’s keep it that way. Get you out of here.”

My silence says more than anything as I watch him, watching me. I see the realization dawn on him as I square my shoulders.

“You really plan to see this through. To what end?”

“To the end.”

Tell’s gaze falls, finally. “We should clean up.”

“I will. First, tell me what’s going on in Sanctum.” I want to say “back home.” But it would hurt too much to say those words.

“I’m guessing Marco’s kept you in the dark by and large,” he says, and I know he sees me flinch at the wording. “Sorry…”

“It’s fine. They just… never mind. What happened after the flood?”

“I–I don’t know. I’ve only checked in once with Ora and the Block, let her know I was following a lead. Trying to find you.”

“So they know I’m gone. Good. You should get back to them. Help them plan. People are going to need help after the disaster.”

“Hell, I can’t?—”

“You have resources. Contacts. Money. Use them to get the people ready for Marco. I’ll do whatever I can on this end.”

“Hell.”

“Do you trust me?”

“I do, but Gav?—”

“Do. Not.” I shove him at arm's length as he steps toward me, trying to take my arms, to comfort me. “Do not say his name. I can’t. Or Evan’s.”

Tell glares at me, his chest rising and falling like I stabbed him through the heart.

Again.

“Just get back there and make sure they are okay. Promise me.”

Tell, falling back into his sickly, sagging doctor persona again, turns away, reaching for the buzzer that will alert the guards that he’s ready to leave.

“I won’t give up. Ever. None of us will.”

Clamping down on my emotions, I steel my voice, clench my fists.

“Do not come back here, Tell. Or I will alert them next time. I’ll have to.”

Because it’s past time for me to get results.

5

---