Page 17 of Hell Breaks Loose

He hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I saw him.

The guy could give Gavin a run for his money in the ‘broad and ruggedly handsome’ category. Only Norris is a few inches taller and has the skin of a Nubian god. Not to mention the clean-shaven, perfect jaw of a supermodel.

Once upon a time, I could have stared at him for hours…

Okay, I still could.

But I’m helplessly in love with Hellena, so it’s nothing like it once was. I'm not like I once was.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Norris folds his hands, giving me that old side-eye. “I grabbed my bag and ran for the door as soon as you called.”

“I called?”

“Not consciously. Your sense of self-preservation must have kicked in. Dialed my number before going totally comatose.”

“Or I’ve just got really lucky butt-dialing skills.”

“Not funny, Tell. I was running for the door the second you called and I didn’t even realize what I was doing. It was knee-jerk. You know how frustrating that is, to realize I still care that much after all these years?”

“You would’ve come regardless of who it is. That’s who you are, Norris.”

“A sucker?”

“A hero. A healer.”

“You never let me be either for you.” The hurt in his voice is a tiny, razor-sharp dagger in my chest. But it feels way longer to me. So much has happened.

“I wasn’t… the best version of me back then.”

“That was always your excuse. What’s changed?”

“Hellena.”

“Why do I get the impression that it’s you who has the hero complex now?”

“That… is totally Gavin’s fault. He rubbed off on me.”

“Oh, really?”

“Not like… well, a little like that, but not like you think. She’s the… well, I mean, Evan and I… ah, fuck.” I chuckle, flopping my head back on the pillow.

“I think you need to sleep. And then you need to tell me a story or two. But only about her. And… them? Whatever criminal bullshit you're on now, you can keep to yourself.” Norris smiles that smooth, charming grin. Pausing in the doorway, he turns back.

“Thanks for bailing me out, Nor.”

“Thank me by getting better quickly.”

The sleep is sound, deep, and dreamless.

Only when I feel the tug of wakefulness do I see her face, Hella, my goddess. Her lips speak my name, but no sound comes out. Her hands reach for me, but I can’t tell if she’s reaching for help or reaching to save me.

Until she shifts, moving away, and I see that she’s shunning me, her palms outturned.

And her eyes are cold.

Empty.

That blue-gray that once held all of the passion and love…

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