Page 92 of Hell Breaks Loose

17

HELLENA

Sing’s standing by the car when we reach the gate, looking a little irked.

Or maybe that’s just his usual dead stare.

“Hella!” A familiar voice shouts behind us, and I spin on my heel just in time to get swept off my feet by tall, tan, and sexy.

“Tell! What are you doing here?”

“Just hanging out with my best bro Sing-a-long. Holy swamp-ass, you stink!” He pulls away enough to look down at my sodden front.

These jeans are totally ruined.

“Thanks, new perfume I’m trying out.”

“I’d still hit it,” he smirks, slapping my butt with a wet thwack.

Gavin and Tell exchange a shake and a half-hug.

“How’d you know we were here?” I interrupt, since no one seems to want to give me an explanation.

“Pinged Gavin’s cell. Saw where you were.” Tell shrugs like espionage is an everyday thing.

“And why did you need to find us?” I lead, giving him my best disparaging stare.

“Ah, right. That. Sing, you want to do the honors?”

Tell grins back at him, and Sing raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, exactly! But this time with more detail. Or any. Words. At all,” Tell drawls, glancing back at me with a flat expression. “He’s been an absolute hoot at bonfire socials and open mic night back at camp.”

I cover a snicker at Sing’s bored expression, recognizing the subtle signs of his annoyance.

“Is there a point coming?” Gavin rumbles, crossing his arms.

“I guess we’ll never know…” I roll my eyes.

Tell loses some of his bluster.

“Marco’s here.” Sing drops the bomb.

Instantly, cold sweat breaks across my entire body.

“Like here, here, or here, here?” Gavin looks around, then gestures toward town.

“Like he’s arriving today.”

Fuck.

Super duper fuck.

As in, I won’t be there to welcome him.

As in, he’ll know I snuck out, probably kill Mannie and Jay, and then throw me back in a dungeon until I’m blathering anything he wants to hear about the Sinful.

“Hella, it’s okay. We have a plan.”

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