Page 118 of Hell and High Water

“That, or we might get shot. You didn’t hear back from Ora?”

“Nope. I have to hope she got my message.”

The back slope of wooded land is nearly completely dark when we arrive. It’s a scattered mess of fallen trees leading up to the secret entrance Gavin remembered from making the odd delivery to the compound.

Just about the second I’m going to open my door, a face pops up in my window, her flashlight held to her chin to illuminate her face like a fucking monster and scaring the ever loving shit out of me.

“Gah!”

“Heya, Tattle-Tell!” Ora giggles, clicking off her flashlight as I shove the door open, trying to hit her with it.

“It's about time you guys fucking got here. What took you so long?”

“What do you think took us so long? There's patrols everywhere.”

“Who are these guys?” Gavin circles the jeep, checking his holster unconsciously.

“I'll explain once we get inside, the Girth-quake. Entrance is right up here.”

“What did you just call me?” Gavin growls, standing with his mouth open as we skip up the hill, the two of us cackling softly.

Inside the back gate, Ora hides the entrance again, heading down a dirt track that I would probably miss in the daylight.

“Why are we sneaking in, exactly?”

“Just for fun, mostly. But also because Grandpa is worried about traitors. Moles from that whack job, Vice. He’s bought so many people in town, it’s hard to trust anyone.”

“Good call.”

“That goes for you, too, Tallboy. How do I know it’s really you up there?”

“Use binoculars. And I’m not that tall.”

“Compared to me,” Gavin mutters behind us. “But compared to Ora, everyone is tall.”

“Funny, coming from the guy who’s almost as wide as I am tall!” Ora snips, the smile clear in her tone. “Hellena has been feeding you too much ice cream.”

“I’ll eat you too if you don’t shut it, half-pint. This is pure muscle.”

“Mmm, don’t threaten me with a good time, Rorshak. And you don’t have to tell me. I saw all the goods when I stopped by the house and caught you two fucking on the railing.”

Gavin chokes behind me, sputtering.

I suppress my own hearty laugh at his expense as we clear the trees behind a cabin at the base of a long gravel trail.

“This is my grandaddy’s cabin. We can talk in here without anyone interrupting or barging in.” She flicks on the lights inside, crossing to the fridge and waving for me to shut the door. “Anybody want a beer?”

“Hell yes,” Gavin and I both immediately answer.

“Where is Xavier?” Gavin asks, looking around the quaint but decked out living area. Clive clearly likes his entertainment. Big screen TV. Pool table. Sound system.

“He’s neck deep in shit, trying to figure out how to set up some defense against Marco Vice and his army. Devonde too. The Ghosts are mobilizing. He thinks they’ll make a play for control in the chaos.”

Shit is really hitting the fan.

“So, Marco’s finally here?” I take a sip, shaking my head.

“Yep. They invaded last night, rolled right into town like a freaking freight train. So now, we’re trying to set traps, lead them away from the compound, keep them from finding us.”

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