4. Hellena

4

HELLENA

“ I knew it!” A very high, loud, and shrill voice echoes through the house. One that's also extremely familiar. “What the shit? You guys are naked!”

Gavin’s eyes bug out of his head as he spins to look down at Ora Clive standing in the middle of the living room with her arms crossed, looking up at us. The grin on her face is like pure sunshine.

I’ve rarely seen Gavin thrown off or surprised at all. Maybe when I would wear those ass crack shorts and a tank top cleaning the house back at his place.

The fact that we’re both leaning over the banister completely naked might have something to do with it, but we both freeze for a second, long enough for her to bolt up the stairs as soon as her eyes come to rest on me.

“Hell! Where the fuck have you been?”

“Ora, what are you doing here?”

“I asked first!” She pounces me, dragging me into a tight hug, totally ignoring the fact that I’m nude. “Gah! You look great. I wanna gobble those tits of yours up.”

“Ora!”

“What?”

“Uh…” I pull away, flabbergasted and staring at Gavin for help. He swallows, jawing several attempts at saying something before he devolves into red-faced anger.

“What the hell are you doing here, Clive Junior? No one is supposed to know where we are. How did you find us?”

“The short version is that I’ve been hunting for Hell for over a week since she up and disappeared. The longer version is that I had a bunch of our guys out looking for any sign of you, Tell, or Evan, and one of them spotted you near Severance the other day. It took me some waiting and watching to catch you on grocery day again, apparently. Then I just followed.”

“I didn’t see you tailing me…”

“Cause my granddaddy didn’t raise no fool. And it’s a lot easier to hide a bike than a car.”

“Hmm,” Gavin growls.

“Hey, don’t get mad at me for looking for my best friend or the fact that you’re getting sloppy, old wolf. At least you look good doin it…” She eyeballs him from head to toe.

Gavin gulps, rubbing the back of his neck as he glances down at himself, still rock hard and baring it all. He dashes for the bathroom and the nearest towel, grumbling a string of curses in his gravelly baritone.

“Do you fucking mind?” He glares at both of us as he fights with the towel, the tangled fabric covering almost nothing in his haste.

“Not. At. All,” Ora sings, wagging her eyebrows as she bites her lip and ogles his package. “I wouldn’t mind a go, either.”

She elbows me in the ribs, and I swat her arm, starting to feel a little exposed, myself. “I need clothes. And you need to stop provoking him!”

A little laugh slips out despite my chastising tone, and I wince as my side tightens. “Ouch!”

“Whoa, what the balls happened to your side, Hell?” Ora notices the stitches in my side. Gavin hadn’t had a chance to wrap me up again after our bath.

“It looks worse than it is, apparently,” I reassure her, rolling my eyes at Gavin’s scowl. “Let me put some clothes on first and I'll explain everything.”

“Everything?” Gavin warns me with a look.

“Well, some things, at least!”

“I think we all have a lot of explaining to do. Like why you guys are hiding out up here, or why you’re naked and having a party and I wasn’t invited.”

“It’s a long story,” Gavin rumbles.

“Definitely long.” Ora flicks one last glance at Gavin’s impressive length peeking out from under the towel. “And a thick story too, by the looks of things…”

I never thought I'd see the day when I’d catch Gavin Rorschach blushing.

“Unless you guys want to finish first. I did interrupt…”

“Uh, I…” Gavin fumbles, dashing for his room.

“Or I could watch!” she calls after us as we close our doors. “You guys suck!”

Several rushed dressing minutes later, we’re back downstairs, Gavin pretending like nothing happened and Ora beaming across the counter top at me, her face resting on her palms.

“Ooh! Make us a snack, burly man!” Ora giggles. Gavin just sniffs a chuckle and digs through the pantry. “Hell. You need to spill the beans. Now. I have been worried sick about you!”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been a little…”

“Under the weather,” Gavin finishes.

“Under the weather. That’s a gunshot.” She gives us both a flat stare.

“And I was unconscious for…”

“Just over a week.”

“You call that under the weather? Really?”

“It’s healing up very nicely,” I offer innocently.

“You’re starting to sound as crazy as me, as callous as Rorshak here, and as diluted as Tell!”

“Stop with the compliments, would you?” Gavin drawls, slapping together some sandwiches.

“You know, Granddaddy always said you are a badass, but it turns out you're also a dumbass!” Ora giggles, leaning back in her chair. “Now will one of you please tell me who the fuck shot Hell and what’s going on? Seriously, though.”

“You serious? Wow.” I give her an incredulous look. Gavin scowls his usual disapproval.

“You'd better watch it, Ora. Gavin might not put up with your nonsense like I do…”

“Psh…whatever. The Eraser is a big teddy bear, after all.”

“Do not call me that,” Gavin snaps.

“Sorry, what, then?”

“Try my name? Gavin?”

“Nah… I’ll think of something better eventually.” She winks, brightening the entire room with her presence.

“It’s so good to see you, Ora.”

“You too, Hell. I’ve missed you. So. You’re alive. You got into some shit. Start. Talking.”

I take a breath, looking down at my hands for a second.

Can I tell her everything? Should I?

“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.

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.”

“Holy shit. I can’t even… what the fuck, Hell?”

“I really don’t even know what it all means. And I’ve been out for several days, so I haven’t figured any of it out yet.”

“Which comes back to the shooting. We don’t know who did it, but whoever did it was hired or had a vendetta against Hellena and Rachelle. Rachelle is still in the ICU,” Gavin continues for me. “As far as new intel about these Seven, Evan and Tell are doing as much digging as they can, but no word back yet.”

We all sit there for a second, lost in thought. I can tell Ora is grinding, gears turning.

“Tell me something. The trouble you got in a few months back. That was when it all started, huh? When we met in jail?”

“Yep. The drug dealers were Holy Ghosts. I meet you, part of the Block. Aunt Rachelle sends me to Gavin, who works for all of the above in one way or another… and then I get suspiciously followed by a charming spy who puts me in touch with a favor dealer who puts me to work, all apparently preparing me to somehow wind up in service to the Sinful.”

“Fuck.”

“That sums it up pretty well. Working for Evan was just one step in the plan. Or at least that’s what I could gather before we got blown away.”

“Working for him and on him, unless I’m wrong?” Ora snickers.

Gavin’s eye roll says it all.

“I knew it! You’ve been holding out on me, Hell.”

“I’ve been a little busy, and I text you all the time. Or I did. I just didn’t mention… certain things.”

“Fix that shit. We’re neck deep in it now. No more secrets, you hear me?” She wags a finger sharply.

“Yes, Ma’am. On that note, everything sort of culminated at the ball before I ran. Rachelle said something about training me, keeping me where I needed to be when we talked, and I think part of that was being auctioned off to a high bidder.” I avoid bringing up the fact that Evan was the one who did it, still not ready to face that hurt. “Whatever the intention… it wound up being someone I hoped never to see again.”

“It’s okay, Hell.” Ora rests her hand on mine. “Take your time.”

I fight back the tears, the terror.

“My stepfather, Marco Vice, was invited by Mayor Vanderberg. He has the power and the money to become a huge player in Sanctum, and I think he intends a lot worse than that. And as far as I am concerned… he knows I’m here now.”

“Do you think he would have you shot, though?”

“I don’t think so. He wants me for some reason. And he told me that my mother—” I choke, unable to finish the sentence.

Ora’s around the bar in a second, holding me against her small chest, comforting me. Gavin’s hand finds mine, too, squeezing lightly, letting me know he’s there.

“I’m okay, I promise. Thanks, Ora,” I manage after a few moments of letting myself cry. It hadn’t occurred to me to grieve, to face the reality of her not being in this world anymore.

I know it won’t be the last time I cry for her, either. Even if I haven’t seen her in so many years.

“Just another tally of things we’re going to pay Marco back for. But to do that, we need a plan. And we need to know more about the Sinful—who is left of them, who they are, and what they intend to do, if anything.”

“We will figure it out, Lena,” Gavin assures me. “And if not that, we will make our own plan to save this town.”

“Fuck yeah!” Ora chimes in. “This is our home. No way we’re letting it go without a fight. The Block may be putting up walls, but I know my grandfather. Xavier Clive loves this town more than anyone I know. So whatever you come up with, we’ve got your back.”

“You really do have him wrapped around your little finger, huh?” Gavin huffs a laugh.

“Don’t let him hear you say it! He hates that kind of truth.”

“You’re ridiculous. But you make my day. I’m so glad you found us.” I pull her close again. This is what was missing, another piece of the puzzle I need to try and rebuild myself, my life.

Friends.

My loves.

“That’s what we do, Hell. Now, what are you going to do about becoming a cult leader?”

“I don’t know. I can’t believe it’s even real. Or that I could have a hand in running a town, managing people’s lives…”

“Hell, I can’t think of anyone better to save this town than you!”

“She’s right, you know? You gotta give yourself more credit. You’re a damned force to be reckoned with when you set your mind to something.” There’s more than a little sass in the way he says it, the edge of his lips curling in a smile.

I smile too, thinking of how I all but strongarmed him into finally kissing me, flaunted my ass for him to lure him in, and ultimately wore him down to fall for me, like I had for him.

But the realization comes that just a few weeks ago, I was doing good work with Evan, making people’s desires and hopes a reality. Changing lives for the better.

Making big moves and meaningful relationships.

“Alright, then. Where do we start?” I look at two of my favorite people, feeling a hint of hope, a beam of ambition.

“Well, first, we need to get you back to full strength,” Gavin chides, nudging me playfully.

“Mmm… and you just let me know if I can come play too, huh?” Ora winks. “But as far as info goes, I might just know someone who could point you in the right direction.”