Page 25 of Clean Hack
“This is one fucking giant mess,” I mumbled.
“You’re telling me,” he said and I could almost hear a forced hint of laughter in his tone. He got to his feet and I knew this conversation was over. “I have to get back. I don’t want anyone to get suspicious and it’s a bit of a drive.”
“Thanks, Burke,” I said walking him to the door. “I really mean it.”
“I know,” he replied sadly. “Chin up, doll.”
Then he was gone. However, the buzz of everything he’d told me still hummed inside the walls of my apartment. I couldn’t believe everything that I’d heard.
Like I just couldn’t take it anymore, all my strength fled me and my knees buckled. I ended up a crumpled heap on the floor right next to the closed door. With the last of my energy, I held back the tears. It was like I was so much closer, but there were still miles to go until I could breathe.
It seemed like a lifetime before I was able to pull myself together and even then, I couldn’t force myself up off the floor. I rested my head on the cool, hard floor. I was shivering yet sweating at the same time. I didn’t understand what was going on. When my eyes fluttered closed, I gave up the fight. One minute I was trying to gather my strength and the next I was out like a light.
It was the odd ringing of my phone that pulled me out of the dark. I couldn’t have been out that long, but far too much time had passed by considering what the hell was going on. I snapped to and got to my feet. I was a little shaky as I ran and dove for my phone. I didn’t recognize the number, but my gut told me to answer anyway. I flopped down in my chair as I brought the phone up to my ear. What I saw in front of me made my eyes go so wide I thought they might pop out of my head. There were several bodies throughout the main rooms of the cabin. I couldn’t see what had happened clearly enough to tell who’d taken them down, but I would have bet that it was Nadya. I didn’t know what had happened, but the fact that I couldn’t see either Nadya or the big guy among the damage felt like a good sign.
“Hello,” I finally said and my voice sounded tight and almost raw.
“I’m out, but he’s hurt.” Nadya’s voice echoed in my ear and I couldn’t help but almost want to cry with relief at the first part of her statement. “I can’t take him to a hospital and I need to know where to go.” Her words were rushed and I didn’t miss the panic and fear in her tone.
I wanted to ask how badly he was hurt but I didn’t want to waste time.
“I’ll text you directions,” I said trying to think of the closest safe place for her to go. “There is a chapter of his club a little over an hour away.”
I hung up without waiting for a response because I knew I needed to be quick. Also, I didn’t trust myself not to break down. That was the last thing she needed to add to her plate right at the moment.
Then I made a call. There was a cabin that needed to be cleaned. Sure, I could have waited until the rest of the Steel Paragons showed up to handle the situation. But something in me wanted to go ahead and get it taken care of for them. And for Nadya.
