Page 44 of Hell Storm

It took a lot to push Julian to the point of anger, but it seemed he got there in no time at all with his emotions being so heightened.

Felix had gone quiet again and it was all Julian could take.

“Fine,” he seethed. “If common decency isn’t enough motivation to help us, perhaps I canbuythe information from you. Name your price.”

We reached a stalemate. Felix was completely silent on the other end, and it became clear how deep their distrust for us ran.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Felix, playing dead isn’t going to get us anywhere,” said a familiar voice—the girl from last night. “This is Liv. May I ask who I’m speaking to?”

“Julian.”

“And Silas,” we answered.

“Like, representatives of Julian and Silas or …”

Julian took a step back and breathed deep when the question annoyed him.

“No, it’s just us. We found Corina’s com in her purse after she escaped and—”

“She … she made it?” The relief and glimmer of hope in Liv’s tone made it clear she, like Felix, had mistaken the nature of this call. Corina breaking free was not a cause for celebration.

It was a cause for concern.

“You’re not getting it,” I corrected. “Yes, she escaped, but we have reason to believe she’s in trouble.”

Time was so precious right now, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that each minute wasted was one that brought Corina closer to a dim fate—and Levi as well, if he was in fact with her.

“Please, we need to act quickly. So, the sooner you can tell us where she—”

“Why should we trust you?”

The question was surprisingly direct, but I shouldn’t have been caught off guard. It was exactly what Corina would have asked. She wasn’t one for mincing words. Apparently, Liv had the same brashness about her.

“If I’m being honest, you have noreasonto trust us.” That answer was the reason Julian now leveled a menacing glare my way. “Butshetrusts us,” I added.

“Uh-huh.” Liv’s sarcasm could be felt through the speaker. “Which is why she ran away, right?”

I shook my head as if she were in the room to see. “No, she didn’t run away because of us,” I assured Liv and Felix both. “She ran away because of you. Or rather … because she cares about you.” I recalled what Elle had seen in her bag and felt certain I was right about this. “She had a large amount of food with her when she left.”

I took the lack of response to mean I was finally getting through.

“We’ve all sacrificed a great deal for Corina. Your friend.” I sighed, preparing to share things I probably ought not to, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Not only have we put our reputations on the line and brought a fair amount of uncertainty to ourselves, but we’ve also risked our lives.” I turned to Julian and hoped he’d forgive me for what I’d say next. “And one of my brothers—hell, maybetwoby now—have already fallen for her.”

This time, although Liv hadn’t spoken, I heard the heaviness of her breath as she listened.

“So, all that stuff that’s been televised about this bloodbond,and how it’ll, you know, link the four of you to her, it’s all legit?”

Relieved, my eyes fell closed as I thought I might actually be making some headway.

“It’s all true,” I admitted. “And while I don’t claim to know what type of life Corina led before our paths crossed, I feel confident saying she was treated well here. Better than most others will ever know in their lifetime. However, even with my brothers and I offering her the world, it still wasn’t enough for her.”

“Because Corina’s different.” It was Felix who spoke through the com then. “Her loyalty is so powerful, it can sometimes blind her.”

I felt his conviction and didn’t find his description of her hard to believe.

“Then, I think we can all agree she’d do whatever it took to save either of you,” I stated. “Don’t you owe it to her to do whatever it takes to saveher? Even if that means taking a leap of faith, and helping two desperate strangers find her before it’s too late?”

Julian stared as I finished, and we waited. There was no way to ensure they’d agree to what we were asking, but I had to believe they would. Maybe they would sense that we were sincere, and only interested in helping Corina.

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