Page 23 of Hell and High Water

Gavin snickers. “You’ll find somebody who can put up with you eventually.”

“Oh! You dick. Nobody can handle this. And who says I want to settle down?”

“Do you?” I ask.

“Sure, I’ll settle some nights for a guy, another night for a girl. But I'd prefer to have them all!”

I roll my eyes, laughing at her incorrigible and insatiable nature. Remembering the house party she threw a few months back has me blushing again. The girl knows how to get people… hot and bothered at her gatherings.

All I get from Gavin is a questioning glance, and I shake my head. “Story for another time…”

“I still think about you on that couch.” Ora winks.

“Anyway! What else?”

“That’s it. Unfortunately, we don’t have much else. What I wanna know is who the fuck these Sinful assholes are and why they aren’t doing shit to fix our town? I pretty much keep out of politics and running the Block, but even I can see things have gone downhill in the last few years.”

Gavin nods, staring at his cup.

“Almost like nobody is driving the ship.” She eyes me pointedly.

I meet her gaze, wondering if she knows more than she’s saying. After a hasty decision, I answer, “You might be right, unfortunately. Ora, if I tell you some things, some things about me, can you swear to me that you won’t tell anyone? Not even your grandfather. Not yet, anyway.”

For the first time since I’ve known her, Ora gets serious, her brow furrowing, her fingers lacing together in front of her.

She narrows her eyes, really looking at me before making up her mind. “Hell, you can trust me with your life. I swear I won’t share anything you tell me.”

“Okay. The Sinful are… supposedly in charge of Sanctum Harbor, from way back. Like, the founding of the town.” I look at Gavin, asking him with my eyes whether I should continue.

He just tilts his head. It’s up to me.

“My father, Damon Michaels, was one of them. One of what we have found out are Seven leading members of some shadow council behind the scenes.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“No. It’s as mysterious and ridiculous as it sounds. And it gets worse. Or better? Certainly weirder. See, Evan works for one of them.”

“Tell works for one, too,” Gavin adds.

“You sound like you’re not a fan…”

“Fucking cult shit. I grew up here. Lots of rumors. Never wanted anything to do with it. All I know is my old man wanted to get involved with them but never really got anywhere.”

“Apparently, my grandfather is involved with them. And it doesn’t sound like it’s going well,” Ora snips.

“It’s not, from what we know. But there’s more to it. My Aunt Rachelle is… like a representative of the Sinful in some capacity. Not one of the Seven, from what I can tell, but she was there, hosting the party, leading the proceedings between the power players like Clive and Devonde.”

“What the fuck? And you never knew?”

“Nope. I didn’t find out until she stopped me trying to leave town?—”

“You what?”

“I’m sorry… it didn't work out, anyway. I got shot.”

“Definitely need to know about that, but back up.”

“I will. Rachelle apparently took me in with more of a purpose than the kindness of her heart and being family. The Seven pass their… vote or seat or whatever… on to their bloodline. Which means I am, or I was, supposed to eventually take over for my dad.”

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