Page 22 of Hell and High Water

“My story is long. And complicated. So… you first.” I tap the counter with one finger. “We need to know what’s going on in Sanctum.”

“Fine. But none of this ‘holding out on me’ bullshit anymore. This is tit for twat.”

“Tit for tat, you mean?” Gavin mumbles.

“What’s the fun in that?” she quips right back. “Okay. Ever since that crazy ass party that I never get invited to, things have been going to shit all over town.”

“Tell us about it,” I murmur.

“Seriously, though, tell us all about it. We haven’t been able to get any info on the Block or the Holy Ghosts lately.” Gavin chimes in, setting down a Martha Stewart platter of sandwiches and iced tea. Ora gives me a look as he does so like she can’t believe it.

“He’s a great cook.”

“Damn. I guess I’ll start with the block, and I don’t know if I should be telling you any of this, but fuck it. You’re practically family. The Block has been in lockdown mode, but you probably already guessed that much. My granddad came back from that soiree in a fucking frenzy, straight up pissed off and ranting. He said some shit went down that wouldn’t stand. That we needed to get ready for a siege.”

“I was there. At the Ball,” I say, munching on one of Gavin’s gourmet turkey and cheese with honey mustard.

“Really? Dammit. I never get to do anything fun. I knew I should have snuck into the back of the Block’s van that night.”

“It wasn’t fun, though. Not really. At least not most of it.”

“Whatever, I bet there was dancing and music and?—”

“And lots of crazy shit, yeah. But I need you to focus, Ora. I promise I’ll tell you all about it when we’re done.”

“Don’t feel bad, half-pint. I didn’t get an invite either,” Gavin says around a mouthful of chips.

Ora sticks out her tongue. “Grandpa got back, yadda, yadda. The past week has been straight up military at the compound. He told us about that guy, Vice, and the threat he may pose, but more immediately, he said that if the Sinful won’t do anything about Devonde and the Holy Ghosts overstepping, or the mayor letting the town go to shit, it was time we did something about it.”

“I got the impression that Devonde was just as miffed about someone else getting access to Sanctum as Xavier.” I offer, tilting my head. “Then again, he didn’t seem opposed to the idea of changing things, expanding.”

“Right. That’s the real issue. Our scouts all say the same thing. The Ghosts are mobilizing. We think they are going to try to take over the town.”

“Drug gang martial law? That sounds fucking fantastic,” Gavin practically spits, his tone thick with sarcasm.

“You're not wrong about that.”

“Doesn’t surprise me, though. Devonde has gotten bold as hell in the past few years, peddling his poison all through the Tri-State area.”

“Hmm,” Ora sniffs, raising an eyebrow. “Hasn’t hurt your pocketbook, has it?”

A deep growl slips out of Gavin, his knuckles tightening on the countertop. “Watch it. I’ve done what I must to get by, just like your biker gang. Don’t try and tell me your hands don’t have blood on them.”

“Not personally.”

“Whoa, both of you take it easy. We’re on the same side.” I feel like I’m caught in the middle of a mediation. Mostly, I don’t want my best friend to get tossed out a window by my giant lover.

Gavin sighs, nodding his apology to Ora, leaning back to drink his coffee.

“Anyway. Where does that leave us?” he accents the word, looking at me.

“As far as I’m concerned, Hell is one of us. And by proxy, any or all of her lover boys.”

This time, both of us flush, my face heating.

“Ora.”

“Hey, don’t pretend to be embarrassed. Not all of us are lucky enough to have three gorgeous men fawning after us all the time.” Ora pouts.

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