Page 38 of Hell Breaks Loose

“Vag Valley had a nice ring to it. Two girls. One valley.”

“I’m just astounded they let you two be in charge,” I mumble.

“What was that, asshat?”

“Nothing.”

“Welcome home, big guy. Well, at least our home for now.”

“I will say… this is impressive.”

Heading down into the community, I’m finally able to catch my breath. We’re definitely at a little higher altitude, farther inland from Sanctum.

Based on the density of the wilderness, I’d guess the drive took at least three hours.

Or that’s what my burning lack of sleep is telling me. Not. Enough.

Shrugging it off, I let Ora and Alaya show me around.

The cabins are old, but refurbished.

Green panel roofs. The campus is well organized, with a central square, a well, a community center. The new buildings are much simpler. Plywood. Metal siding.

Probably anything they can get their hands on in town on supply runs.

What’s most staggering is the scope. From my limited vantage, I can tell there is so much more. And the number of bodies in the general vicinity means…

“This is…” I start, shaking my head.

“Intense? Overwhelming?”

“Yeah. I was going to say thorough. How long have you been planning this?”

“Granddaddy bought up this land years ago. Been turning it into a backup compound for months.”

“It’s a veritable city.”

“About a third of one, actually,” Alaya interjects, stripping the prosthetics off and shaking out her hair. In moments, she looks like herself, long, messy blonde hair falling over tanned muscles.

It hits me harder than I expect.

The fact that they have been saving people.

Citizens.

While I was hunting for one person, trying to avoid my own guilt.

Not that Evan wasn’t worth looking for. But the reality of what the Block pulled off here floors me.

I should have been with them.

I should have hunted down Marco and killed the motherfucker, ended all of this.

But I didn’t want to face Hellena without knowing.

“Where’s Hellena? Tell?”

Both women turn slowly, Alaya looking a little confused.

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