Page 132 of Hell and High Water

They’re looking right at me. Waiting for an answer. Tell nods to me, encouraging me.

“I… don’t know. Ora mentioned that Devonde was making a move, too, right?”

“Sounds like it.”

“Then we’re already looking at the start of a war. Unless Devonde and Marco are working together, those two forces are going to clash with people, regular people, caught in the crossfire.”

“Clive is working on setting up blockades, security,” Gavin offers.

“That’s great, but it doesn’t help the families with nowhere to go, with no clue about what’s really going on, does it? We’re just barely going on defense. There has to be more we can do to be proactive…”

I let the questions flow, the line of thinking guiding me out of desperation at first, but it’s forming into a solid picture in my mind as I progress.

“What are you thinking, Hell?” Evan rises, joining us as I lead them into the living room, to the dining room table. They spread out, letting me gather my thoughts.

“We start small. Grow from there. But we need to move quickly. Each of you has a specialty, and we need to capitalize on that. Not just for us.”

Tell smirks. “Tell us what to do.”

I hesitate, looking across the table at the three powerful men waiting for orders. Who am I to give them?

Who am I, period?

“I–I hate asking or demanding that you all do any of this.”

The look the three of them give me in response would terrify anyone else. It makes me want to shrink back a bit myself. But it’s also hilarious. Incredulous.

“We have your back to the end, Hellena.” Evan says it so calmly.

Tell and Gav just nod in agreement. Even though they all see my misgivings, the doubts eat at me.

“Gav, you’re so much more qualified. Maybe you should?—”

“No. There's one thing that I've known for a long time, Lena. And that’s that you are meant to do something great. To lead. To change things here. You're not your dad. You're a lot like him in a lot of ways, but you're better than he was. You're stronger than he was. And you trust those around you. You love openly and accept everyone for who they are. Sanctum needs someone like that, now more than ever.”

Evan tilts his head. “I could see it right from the start.”

“And you’ve had me since the second I met you.” Tell grins.

“You're a force to be reckoned with when you want to get something done, Hellena.” Gavin pins me with a stare, bolstering my confidence.

A thrill of excitement, nerves, and something a whole lot like absolute terror zip through me as I meet each of their gazes. But it feels right.

“Okay. Then listen up. Tell, get out there and put your people to work. We need eyes everywhere. And we need to inform people about what’s going on, how to stay safe. We have to create a network of communication, lifelines to one another. An underground that Marco and Devonde have no knowledge about.

“Next, I need players. Leaders. Evan, call in every fucking favor you have in the bank. See who’s willing to step up, business owners, doctors, nurses. Supply lines and safe houses will be crucial to evacuating the danger zones and clearing any useful materials to keep them out of Marco’s hands.

“Last, we need weapons. We need gear. And we need the ability to lock this place down. Gavin, you're our armory. Make sure Tell, Evan, Ora, the Block have anything they need and see how we can get more. Vehicles. The works.”

And just like that, the three of them are off and we’re making strides.

The next few days pass in a maelstrom of phone calls, info flowing in from all over the city.

The people have been waiting, holding their breath.

They’re terrified of losing their homes, their children. They want to fight back.

And they want the leadership we’re offering. They’re desperate for it.

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