Page 169 of Hell and High Water

G and E

Dread drops in my stomach, nearly freezing me to the spot before I shake my head, grabbing my phone and trying Evan’s number. The repeating beep has me hanging up, trying Gavin.

Same. Either there’s no signal or…

No. I won’t think that. Marco’s just taken out more cell towers.

“Try the radio!” Ora snaps, running for one of Gavin’s handhelds. She fiddles with it, speaking in muted tones as we stand there in the kitchen.

Fuck this. I bolt toward the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“Hell! What are you doing?”

“Getting dressed. We’re going after them.”

I won’t fall apart. Not a fucking chance.

And I won’t lose my best friends, my lovers.

I need to act.

When I return to the living area, Tell is fully dressed, Alaya and Ora scrambling in the other room and running for their shoes. I’m already heading for the door.

“Whoa! Hold your horses, Hell!”

“No. I can’t.”

“We need more info before we go rushing out into a disaster.” Tell looks at me intently.

Rushing.

Disaster.

“Let me just see if I can?—”

“Do it on the way. I can’t stay here another second and do nothing, Tell.” It’s all I can think about. That Gav and Ev were there, caught in whatever blast…

He nods once, his lips pressing together. His phone buzzes as I turn to go.

“Here, look. Kyle and Jenni just reported signs of water on the west side. Flooding. Apparently, it’s only half of town getting hit so far.”

“Same here.” Ora pops back out of the office, snapping the radio to her belt and hanging up her phone. “The Block’s new location is out of the main path of the water, but they saw the smoke up at the dam and water flooding some of the woods over that way.”

“Which means we aren’t in the path. Yet.” Tell shoulders a bag full of gear, heading toward the door. I’m right on his heels, grabbing the keys to Gavin’s truck. They must have taken the Jeep.

“But if another blast goes off or the dam gives out, this place might be underwater. The valley splits just south of it…”

I still my thoughts long enough to picture the map of town, our location relative to the massive lake. She’s right.

“But there’s nothing we can do if that happens. We need to go try and stop this,” I snap, clenching my fists.

“And help anyone we can,” Alaya chimes in, looking at Ora.

The smaller woman is frowning, looking worried. At the comment, she looks up, nodding.

“Too many of my people are still out there. Plus all of the families. Who knows how many people will be trapped. What do we do?”

“I don’t know!” I spout out before I can stop myself. I was too ready to rush off, right into danger. Now I’m spiraling, locking up.

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