Page 172 of Hell and High Water

I’ve never seen such a powerful display of destructive force.

The opening in the dam is small compared to the breadth of the structure, but we may as well be ants next to a river.

Gavin waves me over, setting down his pack.

Shouting as loud as he can, I can just make out his words, watching his mouth to read along.

“There’s no way we can shore it up!”

“Oh, really?”

Gavin grimaces at my sarcasm. “We need to check all along the base for another payload. I’ll start near the breach, head that way. Run to the other end and work your way back.”

“Meet in the middle. Got it!” I shoulder my pack, taking off at a run.

His assignment is a wise one. Being lighter and faster, I can make it down to the far end more quickly and back. Not to mention that he’s got way more experience with this sort of thing. If there’s anything that can be done near the break, he’s the one better equipped to analyze it.

A couple of minutes later, I’m huffing and puffing, sweat trickling down my face as I reach the far end of the retaining wall. Scrambling up the embankment, I reach the base, pausing to catch my breath. As I do, I look out across the valley.

The land sweeps away below over the treetops. Just enough moonlight reveals the spread of Sanctum Harbor in the distance.

My town.

And off to the left, back at our base, Hellena.

I hated to leave her, to slip out into the night without saying a word. But looking at her lying there, completely at peace in Tell’s arms…

The phone call came only a few hours after we fell asleep.

I eased out of bed, headed into the living room to answer the blocked number. Something squirmed in my gut, like I knew what was coming.

“Devonde planted bombs. Overlook Reservoir. Danger. Hurry.”

That’s it. A click signaled the line going dead before I could respond, before I could ask any questions.

Despite the voice modification, I could tell it wasn’t automated. Something in the way they said the words was clipped. Strained.

But the garbled voice was all too familiar. I’ve received three other calls like this one over the years, aside from the encrypted texts and emails that usually relay my orders.

My initial instinct was to ignore it. Blow it off.

I can’t trust whoever made that call. Not after what we’ve learned.

However, in this case, knowing what we know, what Devonde said before he died…

I couldn’t let it slide.

Even so, I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. I felt like I should go, check on the threat.

Yet all I wanted to do is go back to her, to Hellena, and forget all of it.

She wouldn’t want that, though.

She would be rushing out the door to save her city. And I won't let her down. Never again.

I want to make this home a safe and amazing place for all of us.

For the first time in my life, that drive isn’t simply my own interest. Sanctum has become an integral part of who I am, where I want to be. The people I have worked with, manipulated, catered to… they’re more than just clients, marks, or patsies.

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