Page 162 of Hell Breaks Loose

“You stole my freaking thunder!” Tell throws up his hands.

“Hey, look, he’s wearing the ring in that photo,” Alaya goes on without missing a beat. “Glad I figured that out.”

“Ooh…. You bi?—”

“That’s great work,” I interrupt, resting my hand on his knee. And ignoring the fact that Salazar looks an awful lot like a certain state senator I danced with at his mansion several months ago.

Details for another time.

The next hour slips by with us digging through some of the files Alaya had in her stash house, Tell’s research, and my father’s journal. Our combined knowledge eventually hits paydirt when we manage to connect a few more dots from the hits Alaya executed, stories Damon told Gavin. It’s a group effort.

But at the end of the huddle, we have the two most likely locations.

“Fascinating. What’s next?” Sing looks around the room.

Everyone looks at him at once, always shocked when he speaks.

Ora steps up, raising a hand and acting official. “Thank you, Sing-ding. I was just getting to that. We’re ready to move out. The staging location is set up. Sing’s guys and the Block are locked and loaded. Whenever you give the go ahead, that is.”

She looks at me, tilting her head.

“Now’s as good a time as any. Power is ready to turn back on. Water. Gas. Only thing left is to take back the neighborhoods, drive out the rest of the Ghosts. We can start tonight while we find the last key.”

“And draw Rachelle and throw water on her, hope she melts,” Alaya adds.

“When you say water, you mean bullet, right?” Ora says out of the corner of her mouth. Alaya’s wicked grin in response gives me the heebie-jeebies.

“Something like that. But I want her kept alive. She’s not well. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve justice.”

“That’s what I said.” Alaya plays innocent.

“No revenge. She’s my family. I want her alive. And if Evan went back to her, I want to keep the situation from spiraling out of control. We need him home. I need him.”

“We all do, Hella.” Tell meets my gaze, making me want to devour his luscious lips on the spot.

How did I get so damned lucky?

“If it comes down to one or the other?” Gavin interrupts, crossing his arms. As much as I hate the question, I am grateful he’s here to ask it.

“Evan. No question,” I say softly.

“Damn straight.”

“We head out in an hour. Once we’re in position, Ora and Alaya will coordinate with Sing to put captains in charge of squads reporting back to Jay and Mannie. Tommy-gun and Grizzly will oversee comms.” I check off my list.

“Teams?” Gav clips off matter-of-factly.

“Gavin and Ora will head to the first location… here. Alaya and Sing will head to the secondary location. Check in on the radio if you find the ring, but be subtle about it.”

“Where will you be?” Ora chirps, clasping my hand one last time for reassurance.

“I’ll be in the middle of the base of operations trying to figure out where Dad hid the damn vault or whatever.” In other words, being the boss and doing the most boring job of all. Who would have ever thought I would be the general of this ragtag resistance?

“Ooh, fun!”

“Like a pair of cement roller skates. Everyone ready?”

“Aye-aye, Cap’n!” Alaya salutes. “Ora? Gavvy? Siiiing?”

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