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“I don’t know.” My sister turned her head as the double doors opened. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
THIRTY-ONE
Riven
I heaved the boulders from the pile and twisted to drop them beside me. We were building our fucking way out of there out of the ruins of the tunnel, one or two boulder-stairs at a time. Those stars far overhead sparkled that little bit brighter, and the crisp wash of fresh air was so goddamn addicting it made me work faster, grabbing the next massive chunk of stone from Hunter as he grabbed it from Kane and handed it over.
“Careful!” Kane bellowed, making me jerk my gaze toward him.
The wall in front of me shook, the stones clashing against each other. No…NO! I lunged, grabbing them as one below gave way, slipping free. The rest followed, crashing to the ground.
Kane lunged, driving Thomas sideways.
Boom!
They crashed to the ground in the exact place where Thomas had stood. Dust billowed upwards, leaving my brothers to cough and splutter, yanking their shirts up and over their noses.
Fuck!
FUCK!
I wrenched my focus back to the gaping hole in the goddamn wall in front of me and wobbled. The chunk of wall under my feet was perched precariously at best. You’d better hold, motherfucker. Do you hear me? You’d better hold.
Her wide eyes haunted me as I bent, balancing my weight, and reached out. “Again.”
There was no argument, not even a moment of hesitation. They knew what we fought for. Make no mistake, every second we stood here fighting to get out of this grave was a battle. Thomas lifted a boulder, his body straining as he heaved it up to Kane, then to Hunter who had the task of lifting it the highest, over his head to me.
I grabbed it, the muscles of my back screaming as I moved it into place, trying to find a secure footing. Stone by stone we re-built the wall, until it stretched above as close as we dared to that gaping chasm above.
Screams from the other partygoers echoed and the desperate sounds of roaring engines followed as they ran for their lives. Good. I hope they all fucking die. Some came for canapés and Dom Perignon and to rub shoulders with the city’s elite, but the select few were there for a far more sinister reason…until it all blew to hell.
“Thomas.” I muttered staring at the hole above us, then looked down at him. “You’re first.”
He shook his head. “No, Hunter is first.”
But Kane was having none of it. He grabbed him by the shoulders. “I need you up there to help the rest of us, okay? Think of Helene. That’s all you need to focus on. I’ll be right behind you.”
Thomas gave a nod, letting Kane step away.
My brother climbed the stones, moving up from Kane to Hunter, who steadied him until he reached me.
“You good?” I gripped his arm.
His face was pale, his stare haunted. Still, he gave a nod and helped me maintain my balance as he bent down. “If this all goes to hell,” I grabbed his ankles, letting him hold onto my shoulders. “You make sure you find her. Whatever else happens.”
“I will.” His voice was a croak. “I promise.”
That was all I needed. My body howled, protesting in violent shudders as I lifted my brother, drawing on every ounce of strength I had.
My stomach tensed, my breath holding in my lungs as I heaved him higher, pushing him with all I had. He was a heavy motherfucker. My face burned, the pressure in my head booming. With one last savage cry, I drove him up as hard as I could, and threw him through that hole.
He was gone, kicking out his feet frantically, and was free. Desperation soared inside me. “Thom! THOM!”
“I’m here!” He called, then peeked over the edge of the hole. “The edge is soft, but it’ll hold.”
My pulse raced as I turned. “Kane!”
But I didn’t need to yell. My brother was already moving around Hunter. As much as my body wanted to give up, my mind didn’t let it.
