Sadie grasped the leather couch arm as she watched the mayhem unfold on TV. Her heart hadn’t stopped hammering since the unexpected alert that the Villains had arrived early with their own agenda.
Beside her, Tenia fingered the small gold cross pendant she always wore. Morris gripped his knees on the far end of the couch. “Why aren’t they fighting back?” he said.
The TV reporter with the aerial view in the helicopter asked the same thing.
The good guys struggled to recover from Squawk’s scream. How had the Villains regained their powers? Something with those metal rings on their suits? Sadie couldn’t explain it even if she wanted to.
A crowd was gathering in the street on TV, but it wasn’t office workers. Weathered faces dressed in black, gloved hands ready for action. The criminal element that had been promised the city from the new Villains. And with the Supers’ powers off…
Oh, no.No.
She lost sight of Joan. What was she doing? Was she okay?
Kade and Zee fought with Squawk while Mark and Ether traded blows. Perry was doing his best to distract Quake. Darlene struggled to get Prowl off of Otis.
Where was Joan?
Sadie couldn’t sit any longer, restless and desperately wanting to help. But she was on the western edge of the city to stay away from all this.
She clasped her hands in front of her mouth, willing the camera to find Spark. Then she spied a woman in black and red running into the mob.
“There.” She splayed her fingers at the TV. “There she is.”
Joan shook her hands, probably trying to find her fire. She veered to the right, dodging punches, doling out a few. She really knew how to fight.
A deep rumble sounded through the whirring of the helicopter and the reporter’s voice. The ground trembled, making Joan lose her footing.
Sadie gasped as Joan slammed into an office tower window. What was she going to do without her fire?
* * *
Joan blinked against the glass. The people inside the lobby startled and moved back. Norms who were worried and watching, unable to do anything about the situation.
She met the eyes of a short woman with curly dark hair. Saw her fear.
Determination welled up in her chest. She pushed off the window and gathered what little flickers of fire burned inside.
The gang was advancing on headquarters, so she got in there and sent heated strikes and kicks to the bodies closest to her. Narrowly missed a big-ass knife—not that it would do much to her suit, but still. She kicked it out of the dude’s hand and tried to melt it, but?—
A huge surge of energy shot through her. Flames blasted out of her palms. Yes!
She liquefied the weapon into the street, then stood tall. Ice shavings shot above their heads, and Otis soared into the air. Gus or Sherrelle must’ve deactivated the tech.
Prowl sprang onto Kade’s broad shoulders. “Get them!” she yelled. “Vector City is ours!”
The guys around Joan hesitated. She flared roaring flames on either side, making them reconsider and go around her. Who wanted to fuck with the one who shot fire?
She used the moment to study the scene. The criminals were mostly going toward Quake. Flanking and protecting.
They flew backward, knocked off their feet and tumbling to reveal Perry blowing a strong gust of wind. It rustled the hair on Joan’s wig and made her flames dance.
But it was Prowl jumping off Kade, calling for action. Prowl who’d said she’d had the plan.Shewas the mastermind, not Quake.
Darlene was doing her best to pursue Prowl. Exactly who Joan needed. She sent a wall of fire to block Prowl, who ran through it with an angry cry. Did it again, slowing her enough for Darlene to grab her arms and absorb feisty feline energy.
“Give her hell, Catch,” Joan said.
Prowl swung around and went to scratch Darlene’s eyes, only Darlene struck her palm into Prowl’s chest and sent her back. She jumped high and took Prowl down to the ground.
