Page 26 of Hell Yes

“I am.”

She shook her head and glanced at Jesse and then Val. The woman was far too observant for her own good. “That’s playing with fire.”

“Fire would be welcome right about now,” Xander hissed. “I think my nipples are frozen and about to fall off. My balls, too.”

Jesse let out a laugh and then shook his head. “Quiet.”

“Just trying to lighten the mood. Bad enough we’re stuck out here in the woods with god knows what animals, going who the fuck knows where.”

“I know where,” Jesse hissed. “Now shut up and move your ass.”

Jesse picked up the pace and Xander did as he was ordered. He wasn’t one for letting someone else take charge, but in this case, in this scenario, he was happy to be in Jesse’s capable hands.

They walked in silence for another half hour until Jesse suddenly stopped and raised a finger to his lips. No one move an inch.

“You hear that?” Jesse asked.

Xander didn’t hear anything. Except maybe the faint echo of water. A river? A stream? He tried to picture the map of the area and remembered that the old road was parallel to a river.

“Water.”

“Exactly.” Jesse nodded. “We’re near the road. Fuck, yes.”

Xander pulled out his phone again and there was one single bar. “Cell service is on but it’s faint.”

They continued walking through the brush, the scene in front of them getting brighter and brighter. There was a clearing ahead. That meant either a road or land that was occupied. Only one way to find out.

Xander checked his phone again and now there were two bars showing on his cell phone. He typed a group text as quickly as his frozen fingers could.

Xander: Krypt jammed all comms on site. They caught us, but we escaped with Sage and Val. Meet us on old route 2. We’re almost there.

Dante: Let me talk to Sage. Now.

Xander: She’s fine. Not until we’re out of the woods. Literally.

Sonny: On our way. We spotted guests fleeing the compound after you guys headed in. Then a whole shitload of the Krypt crew arrived. Twenty or so guys. The place is locked down tight.

Xander: We escaped. Barely. Thank fuck for Jesse

The closer they got to the road, the more Xander’s stomach unclenched. He tapped his tracking device and texted Sonny so he could locate them.

When they stepped out of the woods and unto a paved road, the relief by all was palpable. But the sound of a nearby car had them all on edge.

Sonny: One minute out. I see you.

“It’s Sonny.”

Jesse and Val kept walking, and Sage grabbed my arm. “I’ve never been so relieved.”

“Yes and no. Dante’s gonna rip mine and Jesse’s balls off.”

“He won’t,” Sage replied. “I volunteered for this thing. I knew the risks.”

The SUV came into sight and slowed down.

Sonny rolled down the window. “Get the fuck in and hurry. I spotted a Krypt biker on my tail.”

“Shit,” Jesse replied as we piled into the SUV.