Page 41 of Hell Breaks Loose

I scowl but don’t have the energy to bicker.

“Yeah, well. Consider all of us a fucking mess, then,” Ora pats my shoulder. “So, I was kinda hoping with you back, that you might have a good idea of what you think we should do next?”

I can’t tell if she’s pandering to distract me or if they really need my input. Either way, I appreciate the midget’s efforts.

“Intel. The best thing for our survival is to find out when that shithead Vice is coming back. Then we need to figure out where this Devo junk is coming from and vaccinate the problem.”

“With bullets?’

“Absolutely. Someone is behind making it and distributing it, and I don’t think it was Sly.”

“That masked nutcase,” Alaya clarifies.

“Damn. I was hoping with him gone, it would fix our zombie problem.” Ora pouts.

“Don’t even start with that post-apocalyptic shit,” I groan, shaking my head.

Before we make any headway, I hear a bit of commotion by the door of the rec center, drawing attention from several tables. I’m on my feet in a flash, apprehension curling in my gut.

I really need to go to bed.

Even the guitar and drums playing in the corner have me on edge.

But as we shuffle toward the gathering at the door, I see him, and my nerve wavers.

“Whoa! Let him through, Jax, he’s one of ours!” Ora shouts, clearing a path. The girl has no idea how much of a natural leader she is, how people defer to her.

Sign of a good captain.

The crowd parts, leaving Tell standing in the doorway.

“Just when I thought you couldn’t get any skinnier…” Ora starts.

“Did you shrink a few inches while I was gone?” Tell snips back.

“Nah, you’re just…”

The two of us stare at each other for a few seconds before he tackles me in a bear hug, clapping me on the back a few times.

“Fuck, man. It’s good to see you. Even if you look like you got hit by a freight train.”

“I was gonna ask if you got put through a meat grinder.”

“Just two or three times.”

“Sounds like a good time.”

“Zero out of ten, do not recommend.”

We get Tell some food, and before long, the two of us are out on the deck, leaning over the rail sharing a couple of beers. The camaraderie is reassuring.

And the familiarity of Tell, of someone else who loves Hellena the way I do, finally lets me relax, just a fraction.

“She’s so fucking stubborn,” Tell mutters after filling me in on their reunion.

“Damn right. And you’re alive because of it.”

“Doesn’t make it feel any better. Worse, actually.”

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